TAIWAN’S Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has announced a one-year extension of its trial visa-free entry for citizens of Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, and Russia from Aug. 1, 2020.
It was among decisions made during a meeting held in May by MOFA with related government agencies concerning visa measures for nationals from New Southbound Policy partner countries and Russia.
Topics of discussion were whether to extend trial visa-free entry for nationals from Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, and Russia and whether to adjust the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries and the Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate for nationals from Southeast Asian countries (the latter also referred to as conditional visa-free entry).
Aside from then extension, the agencies also decided that the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries will continue for another year, lasting until Dec. 31, 2021.
From Aug. 1, 2020, those applying for conditional visa-free entry who hold visas for Japan or South Korea must present a record of entry into one of these countries.
In line with epidemic prevention measures, MOFA has announced entry regulations for foreigners during the epidemic. The adjustments to visa measures for nationals from New Southbound Policy partner countries and Russia are based on previously existing policies and do not take precedence over temporary border control measures put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether restrictions on foreign nationals (other than the exempted groups listed above) coming to Taiwan for tourism purposes will be relaxed depends on the assessment of the worldwide development of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the aforementioned visa measures were first implemented, the number of visitors from related countries has risen steadily. According to statistics from the National Immigration Agency, the number of nationals from Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, and Russia visiting Taiwan under these measures in 2019 increased by 34.49, 100.37, 41.32, and 407.55 percent respectively, indicating that the measures have had a considerable effect in attracting foreign travelers.
