- MOFA Press Release
- Starting February 10, 14-day home quarantine to be required for travelers transiting through China, Hong Kong and Macau and granted entry into Taiwan; restrictions on direct flights to and from China, Hong Kong and Macau to be implemented and flights from certain airports to be suspended
Starting from 0:00 am of February 10, 2020, travelers who transit through China, Hong Kong and Macau and are granted entry into Taiwan and will be required to be under home quarantine for 14 days.Pursuant to the request proposed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan for disease prevention, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications will impose a temporary ban on cross-strait passenger flights between Taiwan and certain airports in China starting 0:00 am of February 10 to 11:59 pm of April 29. Except for the flights to and from Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, cross-strait flights to and from the remaining airports in China will be suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
I. Visas and residency
Q1:
If foreign nationals have entered or resided in the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macao, within the past 14 days, and are eligible for visa-free, landing visa, or e-visa treatment, or are in possession of a valid visa, are they still barred from entry into the Republic of China (Taiwan)?
A:
They are barred. Any foreign national who has entered or resided anywhere in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, within the past 14 days may not enter the Republic of China (Taiwan) even if eligible for visa-free, landing visa, or e-visa treatment or if in possession of a valid visa.
Q2:
If foreign nationals have entered or resided in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, over the past 14 days but have a special reason to enter Taiwan, may they apply at ROC missions abroad for a visa?
A:
They may not. The Central Epidemic Command Center has announced that from February 6, all areas of the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, are listed as being severely affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak (areas of level 2 or higher). Thus, even where special circumstances exist, ROC missions abroad will not accept visa applications for anyone having entered or resided anywhere in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, within the last 14 days.
Q3:
May foreign nationals in possession of a valid Taiwan Resident Certificate who have entered or resided in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, over the past 14 days return to Taiwan?
A:
They may. However, as all areas of the PRC are now designated level 2 or higher—severely affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak—anyone who has entered or resided in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, shall, after passing through immigration, abide by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) Measures for Following Up on Persons at Risk of Infection and self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
※ Notes concerning home self-quarantine: (CECC Feb. 5 update)
- Where the relevant authority has issued a Novel Coronavirus Health Declaration and Home Quarantine Notice, the individual is to wear a surgical mask and return home for home quarantine.
- The local borough chief or borough clerk shall call the individual every day during the 14-day period to ask about the individual’s health status, and shall record the information obtained on a Health Status Record.
- During the quarantine period, the individual is to stay at home (or designated location) and not go out, and may not leave the country or use public transport.
- Symptomatic individuals will be sent to designated medical facilities for tests; the relevant health authority will also begin active monitoring.
- Individuals not adhering to the CECC’s prevention measures will be penalized under the Communicable Disease Control Act and, where circumstances warrant, be forcibly placed.
For other information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website at https://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the Communicable Disease Prevention and Reporting Hotline at 1922.
II. Immigration and inspection
Q4:
May foreign nationals, who ever transited through the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, be allowed to enter Taiwan?
A:
They may. However, foreign nationals who ever transited through the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, in the past 14 days before arriving in Taiwan shall self-isolate at their home and be under home quarantine for a period of 14 days.
※ Notes concerning home self-quarantine: (CECC Feb. 5 update)
- Where the relevant authority has issued a Novel Coronavirus Health Declaration and Home Quarantine Notice, the individual is to wear a surgical mask and return home for home quarantine.
- The local borough chief or borough clerk shall call the individual every day during the 14-day period to ask about the individual’s health status, and shall record the information obtained on a Health Status Record.
- During the quarantine period, the individual is to stay at home (or designated location) and not go out, and may not leave the country or use public transport.
- Symptomatic individuals will be sent to designated medical facilities for tests; the relevant health authority will also begin active monitoring.
- Individuals not adhering to the CECC’s prevention measures will be penalized under the Communicable Disease Control Act and, where circumstances warrant, be forcibly placed.
For other information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website at https://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the Communicable Disease Prevention and Reporting Hotline at 1922.
Q5:
May foreigners who have entered or resided in China enter Taiwan if they have stayed in one or more other countries for 14 days or longer since leaving China?
A:
The current temporary visa and entry restrictions apply to foreigners who have entered or resided anywhere in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, within the past 14 days. If, upon arrival in Taiwan, a foreigner has not entered or resided in the aforementioned regions in the last 14 days, the original regulations shall apply.
Q6:
How is the 14-day window calculated with respect to these entry restrictions?
A:
The 14-day window refers to the 14 days prior to entering Taiwan. For instance, if one were to enter Taiwan on February 15, the 14-day window would extend from February 1 to February 14.
Q7:
How will the government determine whether or not a foreigner has visited the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, in the past 14 days?
A:
This will be determined based on the foreign traveler’s passport entry/exit stamps or airplane/ship ticket(s) from the previous trip(s).
Q8:
May ROC citizens who possess dual citizenship and have entered or resided anywhere in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, in the past 14 days enter Taiwan using a foreign passport?
A:
No. Foreign passport holders who have entered or resided anywhere in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, in the past 14 days and do not possess a valid Taiwan Resident Certificate may not enter Taiwan.
Q9:
Will foreign travelers be stopped from entering Taiwan and deported at the airport if they have entered or resided anywhere in the PRC, including Hong Kong and Macao, in the past 14 days? And if the airlines mistakenly allowed them to take their flight, or the travelers were unaware of the current restrictions, will such foreign travelers be allowed to travel to a third location?
A:
All foreigners failing to abide by related ROC (Taiwan) regulations shall be deported to the country from which they arrived. They may be deported to a third location depending on airline arrangements and their own eligibility.
III. Other questions
Q10:
Were these measures based on those of another country? If not, what standards were used in their formulation?
A:
When formulating these regulations, epidemic information released by the World Health Organization and the border control measures taken by European countries, the United States, and neighboring countries were taken into consideration. These regulations may be adjusted as the situation evolves.
Q11:
How will foreigners traveling to Taiwan be notified about these regulations? Where can the latest updates be found? If foreigners have related questions, what telephone numbers can be used to obtain information?
A:
1. The latest updates on visa and border control measures will be announced on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Consular Affairs, and ROC missions abroad.
2. For questions about the coronavirus, callers in Taiwan may use the 1922 hotline to obtain information. For questions about visa and border control regulations, callers may use the following numbers to obtain information (callers from abroad should add 886 to the number and not include 0 in front of the 2):
(02) 2343-2921, (02) 2343-2895, (02) 2343-2850, (02) 2343-2876, and (02) 2343-2900.
Q12:
Should the current situation worsen, will further steps be taken regarding foreigners traveling to Taiwan?
A:
The related regulations will be adjusted as the situation evolves. Should the coronavirus outbreak worsen, the government will take whatever border control measures necessary regarding the countries in question.
