Beyond The Islands

Visa-free entry for Filipinos in Taiwan, Extended

According to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) on July 2, 2019, Taiwan is extending its 14-day visa-free entry privilege for Filipinos until 2020.

“The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on July 2, 2019 that the visa-free privilege for the nationals of the Philippines will continue for another year from August 1, 2019, through July 31, 2020,” said TECO in a statement.

It also added that, “This privilege is a display of Taiwan’s amity with the Philippines as the country continues to boost the travel convenience for Filipinos to visit Taiwan for leisure, business, or other short-term purposes.”

Taiwan’s visa-free prerogative aims to elevate its relations with the Philippines, specifically in areas of tourism, trade, investment, education, agriculture, fisheries, and healthcare.

Taiwan’s Priority Partner

Not only is Taiwan considering the Philippines as its closest neighbor but also as its “priority partner” to its “New Southbound Policy” which seeks to strengthen its relations and people-to-people ties with its neighboring countries.

According to TECO, the visa-free program has been going on since November 2017 and has since been resulted in a rapid increase of Filipinos visiting Taiwan.

Visitors from the Philippines has reached 419,000 in 2018. Resulting in a 44 percent increase in comparison to the data in 2017.

In addition, both countries have added more direct flights and new routes to its major cities.

More routes, more opportunities

Filipinos can now efficiently choose to depart from Manila, Puerto Princesa, Clark, Cebu, and Kalibo if they wish to travel to Taiwan.

“The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines encourages more Filipino friends to maximize the visa-free status and to visit Taiwan as often as possible to enjoy its beautiful attractions, the wide variety of shopping and dining options and the warm hospitality,” said TECO.

In return, TECO urges the Philippine government to grant visa-free entries to Taiwan, to reciprocate the attraction of both tourists and businessmen from each countries.

This could further be emphasized through strengthening the friendship and mutual benefits to Taipei and Manila.

With the extension of the privilege, Filipino could enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 14 days until July 31, 2020, granted they comply with these conditions:

 

  1. Possess and ordinary/regular passport with remaining validity of at least six months from the date of entry;
  2. Hold a confirmed return plane or boat ticket, or a confirmed plane or boat ticket, along with a valid visa, for an onward destination;
  3. Provide the confirmation of hotel reservations or an address and contact details for their stay in Taiwan, as well as a financial statement;
  4. Have a clean criminal record, as verified by immigration upon arrival at an airport or seaport in Taiwan.

TECO reminded that the 14-day visa-free entry cannot be extended and will begin on the following day after the arrival in Taiwan.

For more information regarding their visas, interested applicants are encouraged to visit their website or their Facebook page Taiwan in the Philippines.

 

via Philippine News Agency / Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

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