Taiwan to grant Filipinos visa free entry for 14 days starting Nov.1

October 16, 2017

Starting Nov. 1, Filipino visitors enter Taiwan visa free for a duration of up to 14 days, Taipei’s representative office in Manila said Monday.

“Philippine nationals who intend to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the purpose of tourism, business, visiting relatives, attending functions or events can enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan, ROC, for a duration of stay up to 14 days,” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) said in a statement.

The visa-free initiative, aimed at “building closer people-to-people exchange between the Philippines and Taiwan,” will have a nine-month trial period until July 31, 2018, according to TECO .

“The Philippines is not only Taiwan’s closest neighbor but also Taiwan’s important partner of ‘new southbound policy,’” said Gary Song-Huann Lin, Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines.

Manila and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties. Taiwan is represented by TECO, which acts as its de-facto embassy in the country.

A Filipino visa-free visitor must meet the following requirements:

1.    An ordinary/regular passport with remaining validity of at least six months from the date of entry ( Diplomatic & official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment) ;

2.  A return ticket or a ticket for the traveller's next destination and a visa for that destination if it is required;

3.  No criminal record in Taiwan

4.  A proof of accommodation, such as booking or host/sponsor’s contact information /or arrangements of tour, travel, visit, events and meeting

Those who intend to stay in Taiwan for more than 14 days or for the purpose of study, work, missionary, employment and other gainful activities are required to obtain appropriate visas.

With its new policy, Lin urged the Philippines side to reciprocate Taiwan’s “goodwill and friendship”  by also granting visa-free treatment to Taiwan nationals.

“Through these significant efforts, we will surely enhance our bilateral tourism, economic, cultural, educational and other areas of cooperation and exchanges which will eventually bring mutual benefits to the peoples of Taiwan and the Philippines” Lin said.

Such visa-free policy, he said, “enhances the mutually beneficial bilateral tourism, trade, investment, technology, agriculture, economic, cultural, educational and people-to-people cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines.” DMS