Do you need a visa to travel to Taiwan?

Whether you need a visa for Taiwan depends primarily on your passport and the purpose and planned length of your stay. Many visitors travelling with eligible passports can enter under Taiwan’s visa-exemption programme for a short visit. Other travellers must obtain an appropriate visa or entry permission before travel.

Visa-free entry is not the same as having no entry formalities. Eligible visitors must still meet the applicable passport, onward-travel and immigration requirements. They will also normally need to submit the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) before arrival.

A visa exemption, a visa and the Taiwan Arrival Card are separate requirements. Holding one does not automatically replace the others that may apply to your trip.

Visa-free travel for common English-speaking passport holders

For eligible short visits, travellers using several passports common among an English-speaking audience can normally enter Taiwan without a visa for up to 90 days. This includes ordinary passport holders from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, as well as eligible holders of a United Kingdom passport with British Citizen status.

  • United States passport: a short visa-free visit is generally available for up to 90 days. A US passport valid for the intended period of stay can be accepted for visa-exempt entry, including an emergency passport.
  • Canadian passport: a short visa-free visit is generally available for up to 90 days. Canadian visitors have a specific option to apply for an extension of visa-free stay, subject to the applicable rules and approval.
  • United Kingdom passport: a short visa-free visit is generally available for up to 90 days only for holders with British Citizen status. British visitors should check the nationality status shown in their passport.
  • Australian, New Zealand and Irish passports: a short visa-free visit is generally available for up to 90 days when the visa-exemption conditions are met.
  • Other passports: visa-exempt stay periods can be 90, 30 or 14 days depending on nationality, while some travellers need a visa or a different entry permission before departure.

These examples concern short visits under the visa-exemption rules. They do not establish eligibility for every traveller, passport type or travel purpose.

Passport and travel documents to prepare

For most visa-exempt visitors, Taiwan requires a formal passport with at least six months’ remaining validity on the date of entry. There are limited passport-specific exceptions: US and Japanese nationals may be eligible with a passport valid for their intended stay. Emergency, temporary and other informal travel documents are generally not eligible for visa-free entry, except where an official exception applies.

Visa-exempt travellers must also normally hold a confirmed return or onward air or sea ticket, together with a confirmed reservation for their departure. Where an onward destination requires a visa, the traveller must have that visa as well.

How long can you stay?

Your permitted stay depends on the passport and the entry basis used. For many visa-exempt nationalities, including the English-speaking passport examples above, the maximum stay is 90 days. Some nationalities have a 30-day or 14-day visa-exempt period instead.

For visa-exempt entry, the permitted stay normally begins on the day after arrival. Visitors must leave by the end of their authorised period. A visa-free stay is generally not extendable or convertible into a visa-based stay, although limited exceptions apply, including a specific extension route for eligible Canadian and British Citizen passport holders.

The Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC)

The Taiwan Arrival Card is an online immigration arrival declaration. It is not a visa and does not determine whether you qualify for visa-free entry or need a visa.

Foreign travellers normally need to submit the TWAC before arriving in Taiwan unless they fall within one of the exempt categories, including certain holders of Taiwanese residence or diplomatic documents. The current submission window is within seven days before arrival. Travellers entering with a visitor visa or under visa exemption are among those commonly required to submit it.

The arrival-card requirement also differs for some travellers from the Mainland Area, Hong Kong and Macao, as their entry permissions and arrival-card rules can be different. For form instructions, see our guide on how to complete the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC).

When might you need a visa instead?

You may need a visa before travel if your passport is not included in Taiwan’s visa-exemption programme, if you plan to stay beyond the visa-free period, or if the purpose of your trip does not fit the conditions of visa-free entry. Activities requiring separate qualifications or permissions, including certain work-related or religious activities, may require a visa obtained before entry.

A visitor visa may also be relevant where a traveller cannot rely on visa exemption because of the type or validity of their travel document. Do not assume that an ordinary passport rule applies to an emergency passport, temporary passport or travel document.

Practical examples

  • US passport holder visiting Taipei for one week: this traveller can generally use visa-free entry for a short tourist trip if the visa-exemption conditions are met, has a passport valid for the intended stay, holds confirmed onward travel and submits the TWAC before arrival.
  • Australian passport holder planning a two-month holiday: a stay of up to 90 days can generally fall within visa-free entry if all conditions are met. The traveller should ensure the passport has at least six months’ validity when entering and should not overstay the permitted period.
  • British traveller planning a three-month visit: visa-free entry can generally be available for up to 90 days if the passport holder has British Citizen status. A longer stay should be checked before travel rather than assumed to be covered by visa exemption.
  • Traveller using a passport not listed for visa-free entry: the traveller may need a visitor visa or another applicable entry permission before departure. The TWAC alone does not replace a visa.

Important points that can change the answer

Your entry formalities can change according to the exact passport and nationality status, passport type, intended length of stay, reason for travel and whether you hold Taiwanese residence documentation. Entry rules for travellers from the Mainland Area, Hong Kong and Macao also follow separate arrangements.

In case of dual nationality, do not assume that one general passport rule settles the issue. Your nationality, status and travel document can all matter. Check the formalities for the document and trip you will actually use.

Common misunderstandings to avoid

  • “Visa-free” means no preparation is needed: eligible visitors still need to meet passport and onward-travel conditions, and the TWAC normally remains required.
  • The TWAC is a visa: it is an arrival declaration, not a visa or a visa exemption.
  • A 90-day exemption can be extended by default: visa-free stays are generally not extendable. Limited exceptions should be checked before relying on them.
  • A passport with any expiry date will work: most visa-exempt travellers need at least six months of passport validity at entry, subject to the limited nationality-specific exceptions.

Check the requirements for your own trip

These are the main rules for common travel situations, but the correct formalities can change with your passport, document type, length of stay and purpose of travel. Use Go2entry to check the entry formalities that may apply to your actual Taiwan trip before departure.