The Republic of China or Taiwan is located on the island of the same name in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of mainland China. Partially recognized, the state maintains relations with many countries. Therefore, information about how a visa to Taiwan is issued is of interest to citizens from all over the world, including Russians. The modern metropolis of Taipei attracts students and businessmen. Taiwanese resort towns beckon tourists who want to admire Buddhist temples, natural parks and ancient architecture, relax on quiet beaches.
Introduction of a visa-free regime
In 2021, Russian citizens received the right to stay in Taiwan without a visa for 14 days. The visa-free regime was introduced on September 6, 2021, and is currently being tested. Therefore, a visa to Taiwan for Russians in 2021 is not yet needed - until July 31. After the end of the test period, a decision will be made to extend or terminate the visa-free regime.
Conditions for visiting Taiwan without a visa
A visa is not issued if the purpose of the visit is tourism, participation in business events, visiting relatives, international exhibitions. For trips lasting more than 14 days, you must apply for a visa. For CIS citizens, the rules of entry to the island have not changed - a visit is possible after obtaining a visa.
Required papers
In order to freely enter the island, Russian citizens need to prepare documents. To go through border control, you will need to provide:
- a foreign passport valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into the country;
- return flight ticket (ship ticket) or booked ticket to the next destination (if there is a transfer) and a valid visa (if necessary);
- hotel booking confirmation or contact details of a person residing in Taiwan;
- confirmation of solvency.
One of the main conditions is the absence of a criminal record. The Taiwanese authorities have the right to check whether the visitor has been convicted of a crime. According to travelers' reviews, verification is usually not carried out.
For a trip with a child
If children travel with two parents, it is enough that a child under the age of 14 is entered in the foreign passport of one of the parents or has its own passport. In a situation where a minor enters Taiwan with one parent, the notarized consent of the father or mother will be required.
When a child leaves without parents with relatives or as part of a group, you need to prepare a notarial permission to leave from both parents indicating the person who will accompany the child on the trip.
It is recommended that you bring a certified copy of your birth certificate with you if:
- the minor and his parent traveling with him have different surnames;
- the child travels abroad on a separate foreign passport.
How many days can you stay on the island
The period of stay in Taiwan begins on the day of entry. The visa-free regime does not provide for an extension of the period of stay: Russian citizens are required to leave before the end of the established period.
For violation of the terms of stay, Russians face a fine. Persons planning to stay on the island for more than 14 days must apply for a visa in advance.
Types of entry visas
Depending on the length of stay, the following types of visas are issued:
- single-entry and multiple-entry guest (issued to foreigners planning to stay in Taiwan for no more than 6 months);
- resident (for more than 6 months).
A visitor visa is issued for the following purposes:
- tourist trip;
- visiting relatives or friends;
- making a commercial, business or business trip;
- training for a short period;
- doing business;
- participation in international conferences, exhibitions;
- temporary employment;
- treatment in Taiwanese medical institutions;
- transit.
The visa is issued for a period of 14, 30, 60, 90 days. The period of validity of the visa is from 3 months to 1 year.
A visitor visa, on the basis of which one can stay in Taiwan for 60 and 90 days, is extended by 90 or 120 days if there is no NO EXTENSION mark.
Renewal documents must be submitted to the local office of the National Immigration Agency before the visa expires.
Persons who entered the island on a visitor visa, and then officially got a job, can change their visa to a resident one.
Visas can be single-entry and multiple-entry. A single entry visa is issued for a period of up to 3 months, as a rule, to persons applying for a guest visa. Multiple entry allows you to enter the country several times, is issued for six months or a year. The maximum period of stay on the basis of a single or multiple entry visa is from 14 to 30 days with each entry.
A resident visa to Taiwan is issued to foreigners who plan to work, study, conduct research, and travel with the aim of family reunification. The validity of the permit is 3 months.
Persons who entered the country on a resident visa are required to obtain a certificate of a foreign citizen permanently residing in Taiwan - Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). An application for a document is submitted to the branch of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days from the date of entry.
What papers need to be prepared
Information on what documents must be prepared for obtaining a visa to Taiwan can be found on the website of the Representative Office of the Taipei-Moscow Coordination Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation.
The list of documents depends on the type of visa. The standard package includes:
- foreign passport valid for more than 6 months;
- color photographs in the amount of 2 pieces, size - 30x40mm;
- a completed online application form to be printed;
- documents confirming the purpose of the stay.
The Taiwan visa application form is filled out online at the specialized website Visawebapp.boca.gov.tw. The applicant has 30 minutes to fill out each page of the questionnaire.
Fields of the questionnaire in dark blue are required; fields in pale blue can be left blank.
Depending on the purpose of the trip, you must additionally provide:
- for visiting relatives - an invitation issued by a person who lives in Taiwan, a copy of the identity card of the inviting party or a certificate of a foreigner;
- if a tourist visa is being issued - a travel plan, a document confirming the hotel reservation (indicating the name and address of the hotel), a certificate of salary from the place of work, a certificate from the bank about the state of the account;
- for family reunification (married couples, parents and minor children) - marriage certificate or birth certificate of children, documents must be notarized;
- if you need a business visa - a salary certificate, documents confirming business ties with a Taiwanese organization (copies of the invitation, certificate of registration of a Taiwanese company, identity card of the head who signed the invitation);
- for training in courses, in universities or for the purpose of studying the Chinese language - an invitation letter from an educational institution, a Chinese language center (institutions must be recognized by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan), a bank statement confirming solvency;
- if a work visa is issued for employment - an employment contract (copy), a document confirming the right to work (issued by the Labor Council in Taiwan). To conduct business, you will need a certificate of professional qualifications (notarized and legalized by the consular department);
- if transit is through Taiwan - a ticket to a third country, a valid visa (if necessary).
The cost of the visa and the period of consideration of documents
The cost of a visa and the processing time depend on its type, as well as on how urgently it is necessary to obtain it. If the examination of documents is carried out in the usual manner, the visa is issued within five working days. You can urgently apply for a visa to Taiwan in two working days.
Payment for registration is made in US dollars. You need to pay:
- if not urgent: $ 50 - for a single entry, $ 100 - for a multiple entry;
- for an urgent visa: $ 75 - for a single entry, $ 150 - for a multiple entry.
Where to submit documents
The consular department of the Taipei-Moscow Coordination Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation is in charge of the examination of documents and the issuance of visas in Moscow. The organization is located at: st. Tverskaya, 24/2, building 1, entrance 4, Moscow, 127006.
You can apply for a visa every day from 10.00 to 13.00, issuance is made from 10.00 to 17.00. Days off - Saturday and Sunday.
Citizens who live in St. Petersburg or another large city in Russia can apply to one of the visa centers. On the website of the Unified Visa Application Center, you can find out at what address the representative office of the federal company is located.
In St. Petersburg, the visa center is located at: pl. Alexander Nevsky, house 2, lit. E.
Entry rules for citizens of other countries
Visa to Taiwan for Kazakhstanis or other citizens of the CIS, as mentioned above, The package of documents is standard, depending on the type of visa.
There are no diplomatic missions of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on the territory of the CIS countries. You can submit documents only at the consulate in Moscow (Taipei-Moscow Coordination Commission) or in a travel agency that deals with the issuance of visas to this Asian region.
A visa is also needed for Ukrainians. The representative office of Taiwan in Moscow issues visas to citizens of Ukraine who reside both in the Russian Federation and in Ukraine. Minor difficulties are associated only with the preparation of papers.
Persons who live in the Russian Federation, in addition to the main documents for a visa, must provide a migration card (copy), a document confirming registration at the place of residence, a patent (if any).
Those living in Ukraine will need documents translated into Russian, English or Chinese. The translation must be certified by a notary. In the list of wages or the state of the bank account, the amount of income should be indicated not only in hryvnia, but also in dollars, euros or rubles.
Information on what documents need to be submitted for obtaining a visa to Taiwan for Uzbeks, Belarusians, Armenians, Kyrgyzstanis can be obtained by contacting a visa center or travel agency in Russia or in the applicant's home country.
For example, in Belarus, some companies offer visa processing services without requiring redeemed air tickets, confirmation of hotel reservation, notarized translation of documents. But the bank requires a certificate issued in English with a round seal (not an extract). May be asked to provide health insurance.
Restrictions on the import of goods
When entering Taiwan, you must comply with customs regulations, in accordance with which there are prohibitions and restrictions on the import of certain goods. It is prohibited to bring into the territory of the island:
- drugs;
- firearms and edged weapons, ammunition;
- wild animals, as well as animals and plants that are under threat of extinction;
- counterfeit banknotes, securities;
- artistic values.
Be sure to draw up a declaration upon import:
- goods with a total value of more than NT $ 20,000;
- alcoholic beverages over 1 liter;
- tobacco and tobacco products (over 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars);
- foreign currency in cash, if the total amount in equivalent exceeds 10 thousand US dollars, Taiwanese dollars more than 100 thousand, Chinese currency over 20 thousand yuan;
- jewelry, jewelry made of gold, the value of which exceeds 20 thousand US dollars;
- traveller's checks in the equivalent of more than 10 thousand dollars.
For what reason may they not be allowed into the country
Subject to the provision of a complete set of documents, a visa to Taiwan is provided to all tourists wishing to visit it. It is worth remembering that the consular department has the right to call the applicant for an interview, demand additional certificates or refuse to issue a visa without explanation, shorten the validity period or the period of stay under the issued authorization document.
Particular attention is paid to the examination of documents submitted by girls under the age of 30-32. This is due to the illegal activities carried out by this category of persons in Taiwan.
It is possible that the visa processing will take longer than usual, or additional paperwork will have to be provided.
Visa can be refused for various reasons, including:
- incorrectly executed questionnaire;
- providing false information;
- violation of the visa regime, committing illegal actions on the territory of the country on a previous visit.
Whether or not you have a visa, the Taiwanese authorities reserve the right to decide whether or not to allow a foreigner to enter the country. Persons who do not have the necessary documents for entry may not be allowed: a return ticket, confirmation of a hotel reservation, funds for staying in the country.
Conclusions
Applying for a visa to Taiwan is a simple procedure if you understand the intricacies of the process. Until the end of July 2021, Russian citizens are allowed to stay in this country without a visa for 14 days. A visa is required for a longer trip.
Those who are puzzled how to get a visa to Taiwan on their own should remember that the diplomatic organization of Taiwan, located in Moscow, is engaged in the registration.
If the submitted documents are submitted in full, in 2-5 working days you can expect to receive a permit.
