The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Republic of China (Taiwan) has announced that starting from October 7, 2016, Philippine passport holders who wish to travel to Taiwan are now eligible to apply for an E-visa (online visa). This simplified visa policy will facilitate the processing and save applicant's time, traffic hassles, and economic cost. The applicant doesn’t need to physically appear in the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines.
Philippine passport holders who intend to visit Taiwan for the purpose of tourism, business, visiting relatives, attending international conference and participating in sport events can apply for the e-visa (with the required non-refundable fee by credit card payment). When an e-visa application has been approved, applicants are required to present the print-out of e-visa at the immigration checkpoint for verification upon arrival in Taiwan. An e-visa will be valid for 3 months upon approval with duration of stay up to 30 days.
In order to enhance the security features of online payment, MOFA has launched 3-D secure authentication and added reminder messages in eVisa application system on July 3, 2017. In addition, MOFA has put reminder messages in the same system to request applicants to check their filling-in information to reduce the cases of incorrect applications, which may cause applicants holding an eVisa that is not fully identical with their passport information to be denied to enter the ROC.
MOFA reminds eVisa applicants that all information filled in eVisa application system, including surname, given name, date of birth, passport number, nationality and sex, must completely match the information on their travel document. The applicants are responsible for any mistakes made in their applications. The applicants should make sure the information they have provided is identical with that on their passport before submitting eVisa application. If the information applicants fill in does not fully match the information on their travel document, the eVisa is invalid. The online payment for this invalid visa will not be refunded. The applicants must reapply and repay the visa fee in order to obtain a new eVisa. Holders of an invalid eVisa will be denied entry into Taiwan by immigration officers at ports of entry.
The e-visa policy will be put on a trial basis for 1 year. Visitors may still file for their visa application at Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines.
Moreover Taiwan has eased its visa-free requirements for Filipinos who possess one of the following documents issued by ROC(Taiwan) Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, any of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States: (1) a valid resident or permanent resident card; (2) a valid entry visa (electronic visa included); or (3) a resident card or visa that has expired less than 10 years prior to the date of arrival in Taiwan. Successful applicants are qualified to apply for the ROC (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate which allows multiple-entries to Taiwan valid for 3 months with every stay up to 30 days.
Through the implementation of these two visa relaxing measures launched by the ROC (Taiwan) to the Philippine nationals, it is expected that it will greatly enhance the convenience of traveling between Taiwan and Philippines, and further promote bilateral economic, cultural and other exchanges between the two countries.
⇒For further information, please click here
⇒To apply an E-Visa, please click here
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