More foreign nationals will be able to enter Taiwan under new regulations announced July 19 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote social and economic exchanges while safeguarding public health.
Starting July 25, foreign nationals can enter Taiwan for international exchange programs, internships, religious study, volunteer and religious work, as well as working holiday programs. They will still need to apply for a special visa for their visits at an ROC (Taiwan) overseas mission, the ministry said.
Government statistics show that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 10,000 plus foreign nationals visited Taiwan for the aforementioned reasons on a yearly basis.
According to the MOFA, the changes are in response to the announcement by the Central Epidemic Command Center earlier the same day regarding government efforts to gradually open the country’s borders in preparation for the post-pandemic era.
Currently, foreign passport holders are allowed to enter Taiwan to conduct business and investment, engage in employment, fulfill contractual obligations, join family members and visit relatives, study and learn Mandarin, as well as for emergency and humanitarian reasons or other special cases approved by the CECC.
All foreign visitors will need to go through the same COVID-19 quarantine protocols as other arrivals by staying in a designated facility for three days, followed by four days of self-initiated epidemic prevention, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
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