ROC citizens may soon be granted Schengen visa-free travel following the passage of a European Commission proposal to include Taiwan on the list of countries enjoying this privilege July 5.
The resolution, which has been under review for nearly two years, will exempt ROC passport holders from current visa obligations when visiting EU member states for stays of up to 90 days.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the progress is a result of government efforts to tighten visa-issuance procedures and the introduction of biometric passports.
“This move should be seen as a significant step forward in government efforts to bring the nation one step closer to Schengen visa exemption,” the MOFA said. “We appreciate this recognition of Taiwan’s national development and hope the measure can be passed as soon as possible.”
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the proposal will enter into force once it has been adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. "But there is still a long road ahead before this measure becomes law," they said.
Cecilia Malmstrom, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, believes the resolution will further enhance EU-Taiwan relations. “We expect this initiative to strengthen our trade, investment and people-to-people ties,” she said.
“The EU is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner and its first foreign direct investor,” Malmstrom said. “Easier travel conditions for businessmen from Taiwan will boost investment in what is already the biggest single market in the world.”
In response, the MOFA announced that visa-free privileges would be extended to citizens from non-Schengen nations such as Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania once the initiative is passed into law by the European Parliament.
The MOFA said all Schengen nations now enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan. These are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.(JSM)
Write to Chiayi Ho at chiayi@mail.gio.gov.tw