The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City has just notified travel agencies about adjusting the conditional visa exemption policy for citizens of six countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia, including Vietnam.
Specifically, from August 1, 2019, citizens of Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and India, if they have a valid or expired visa, including a long-term residence card from the US, Canada, UK, EU or a Schengen, South Korea, or Taiwan visa within the past 10 years, will be considered for visa exemption to enter Taiwan with a stay of 14 days.
In case citizens with e-visas from Australia or New Zealand want to apply for "conditional visa exemption" to enter Taiwan, the visa must be valid.
If using a Japanese visa to enter under the "conditional visa exemption" category, visitors entering Taiwan must present an exit-entry stamp to Japan, or must present a plane ticket (train ticket) for the next leg to Japan.
Those who meet the above conditions and have never been to Taiwan to work and want to apply for a conditional visa exemption must first go to the website of the Taiwan National Immigration Agency, go to the "Online Pre-screening System for Citizens of Southeast Asian Countries" section to log in their personal data. If they are not approved online, they must go to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam to apply for a visa directly.
Once approved by the system, passengers must print and present this entry permit when boarding the plane to Taiwan. In case a traveler enters the country with a passport that is not valid for more than 6 months or fails to present the above documents, entry will be denied.
The adjustment of the conditional visa exemption policy does not apply to visitors applying for a Guan Hong visa. Travel agencies assess that this move by Taiwan will directly affect the group of independent tourists who do not go through travel agencies.
Currently, there are three types of visas issued to Taiwan: regular visas, advanced e-visas, and Kuan Hung e-visas. Kuan Hung e-visas are issued to travel agencies to promote tourism in Taiwan. However, the "conditional visa exemption" policy from August 1 will not apply to Kuan Hung visas, although Taiwan has reopened this visa policy for Vietnamese tourists since March 15, 2019.
Previously, Taiwan allowed citizens of eight countries, including Vietnam, with valid visas from the US, Canada, Japan, Schengen, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea or those that expired within 10 years of the date of entry, to be considered for a 30-day visa exemption to Taiwan.
Images of the case of 148 Vietnamese tourists who went missing while on a tour in Taiwan at the end of December 2018
This year, Taiwan’s visa policy for Vietnamese tourists has changed several times. After a group of 148 tourists went missing while on a tour in late December 2018, Taiwan suspended the Kuan Hung visa policy for Vietnamese travel companies. In March, the policy was reopened with many strict conditions.
