How to Quickly Get a Taiwan Visa in the Philippines

Do you want to explore Taiwan’s stunning national parks, great beaches, high mountain ranges and beautiful electric urban landscapes?  Pinay Travel  has a blueprint on how Pinoys can secure a Taiwanese tourist visa in a fast, hassle-free and efficient way. And believe us, you don’t want to miss these informative tips!

Important Note: Starting September 2017, Filipinos may enter Taiwan visa-free. The visa-free grant will be implemented on a one-year trail basis, in an attempt to lure more tourists from Southeast Asia.

How to visit Taiwan without a visa

Philippine passport holders are, in general, required to secure visas before going to Taiwan, even for those who are traveling for leisure purposes. But, there are a few exemptions to this rule.

Filipinos with permanent resident cards and valid visas to any of the following countries below will get an ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online for free as well as be allowed to bypass the whole visa application process

• New Zealand
• Australia
• EU Schengen
• United Kingdom
• Japan
• Canada
• United States

Additionally, you must not have been employed in Taiwan before as blue collar workers, and are only allowed to stay there for 30 days with the Travel Authorization Certificate.

Are you qualified to travel to Taiwan visa-free? Then, make sure to encode your personal data and register your passport online at the Official Taiwanese Immigration Website, and proceed to apply for approval.

Just fill out the form on the website, and print out the Authorization Certificate once your application is approved. You can, then, present the certificate to the airline counter as you check in.

How to get a tourist visa to Taiwan

Don’t have a valid visa to any of the countries mentioned above? Then, heed these tips and instructions, for a smooth and convenient Taiwan visa application process.

Step 1: Apply online

• Head to their website
• Click “General Visa Application”
• In the “Select Where You Will Be Applying for Your Visa” tab, choose “Asia” and “Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines"
• Select right visa type in the “category” tab
• Fill up all the required details (don’t leave blanks, and indicate N/A if not applicable
• Print (A4 paper) and sign the form

Step 2: Gather the requirements

• 2 passport-size photos (1.5 x 2 inches) with a white background, and must be taken within the last 3 months. Put your signature at the back of the photos, and paste one of them on the printed form. Put the other in a clear plastic, and attach it to the form.
• Philippine Passport must be valid for at least 6 months (include a photocopy of the first page)
• NSO birth certificate
• NSO marriage contract (if applicable)

Step 3: Prepare supporting documents

Gather supporting documents that are related to the purpose of your visit as well as your financial capability, such as:

• Booking certificate or confirmed round-trip plane ticket
• Certificate of employment, and proof of leave from the employer or letter of permission
• Certificate of business registration (if you’re self-employed)
• Photocopy of your company ID (for employed individuals)
• Income Tax Return (ITR Form 2316)
• Recent bank certificate
• Pay slip
• Hotel reservations or booking
• Planned itinerary

For those who are traveling for business purposes, you’ll also have to submit the following documents:

• Certificate of your round-trip airplane ticket details issued by a travel agency
• Invitation letter from a Taiwanese organization or company in official Chinese letterhead that clearly outlines the duration of your stay and purpose of your visit
• Trading records or business letter from a Taiwanese company
• SEC registration and Certificate of business name registration (if you’re the company owner)
• Seminar program (if applicable)
• Request letters or official letters from relevant authorities for the official trip

Step 4: Submit your form and requirements to TECO

After filling out the form and collecting the requirements, head to Taipei Economic Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO), and file your application.

Taipei Economic Cultural Office in the Philippines

• Address: 41 F, Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
• Contact number: (02) 887-6688
• Fax number: (02) 887-7828
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM (except holidays)
• Applications: Monday to Friday, from 8:45 AM to 11:45 PM (except holidays)
• Releasing: Monday to Friday, from 1:45 PM to 4:45 PM (except holidays)
• Email: phl@mofa.gov.tw
• Website: taiwanembassy.org

Step 5: Wait and pray Once you have submitted the documents and paid the fees, you will be given a receipt that you will have to present after 3 days, to claim with your passport, hopefully with the approved visa.

Taiwan visa processing fees

The visa processing fees are payable once you have submitted your application at TECO.

• Multiple entry: 4,800 PHP
• Single entry: 2,400 PHP

Need to rush the approval process? There are expediting fees (1 working day to process) you have to pay in addition to the mentioned fees above.

• Multiple entry: 2,400 PHP
• Single entry: 1,200 PHP

Other important things to take note:

• The visa processing fees are non-refundable
• Submit the form together with the other documents within 15 days. Otherwise, you will need to fill up another online form again
• Unlike the visa-free entry, tourist visas to Taiwan are good for single-entry only, and allow a maximum stay of 14 days per person
• Tourist visas are valid for 90 days from their date of issues, meaning the earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months prior to your trip
• You need to leave a valid government-issued ID at the reception area to enter TECO, so be sure to bring one during your application filing