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EN
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City has just informed travel companies about the adjustment of the conditional visa exemption policy for citizens of six Southeast Asian and South Asian countries, including Vietnam.
Specifically, from August 1, 2019, citizens of Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and India who possess a valid or expired visa, including long-term residence permits from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, or Schengen visas, South Korea, and Taiwan issued within the last 10 years, will be considered for visa-free entry into Taiwan for a stay of 14 days.
In the case of Australian or New Zealand citizens holding e-visas who wish to apply for a "conditional visa waiver" to Taiwan, the visa must still be valid.
If using a Japanese visa to enter Taiwan under the "conditional visa-free" scheme, visitors must present entry and exit stamps from Japan, or show a flight (or train) ticket for the onward journey to Japan.
Those who meet the above conditions and have never worked in Taiwan before, and wish to apply for a conditional visa exemption, must first visit the Taiwan Immigration Department website and go to the "Online Pre-approval System for Citizens of Southeast Asian Countries" section to log in with their personal data. If online approval is not granted, they must go to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam to apply for a visa in person.
Once approved by the system, passengers print and present this entry permit when boarding the plane to Taiwan. If a traveler's passport is not valid for more than six months or they fail to present the aforementioned documents, they will be denied entry.
The adjustment to the conditional visa exemption policy does not apply to tourists applying for the Quan Hong visa. Travel companies believe this move by Taiwan will directly affect independent travelers who do not go through travel agencies.
Currently, there are three types of visas issued to Taiwan: regular sticker visas, advanced e-visas, and Quan Hong e-visas. Quan Hong e-visas are issued to travel agencies to promote tourism in Taiwan. However, the "conditional visa waiver" policy, effective August 1st, will no longer apply to Quan Hong visas, even though Taiwan reopened this visa policy for Vietnamese tourists on March 15th, 2019.
Previously, Taiwan allowed citizens of eight countries, including Vietnam, who held valid or expired visas from the United States, Canada, Japan, the Schengen Area, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea (expired within the last 10 years of the entry date) to be considered for a 30-day visa-free stay in Taiwan.
Images from the case of the 148 Vietnamese tourists who went missing during a tour in Taiwan in late December 2018.
This year, Taiwan's visa policy for Vietnamese tourists has changed several times. Following the disappearance of a tour group of 148 people in late December 2018, Taiwan temporarily suspended the Quan Hong visa policy for Vietnamese travel companies. In March, the policy was reinstated with stricter conditions.
