Roberta Aguirre
If you're wondering whether you can leave Taipei Airport without a Taiwan visa, the answer depends on your nationality and the purpose and duration of your visit. Generally, a Taiwan visa is required for visiting the country, but there are visa exemption programs for nationals of certain countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and several European countries, allowing them to stay for up to 30 or 90 days without a visa. If you're just transiting through Taipei Airport and won't be leaving the transit area, you typically don't need a visa. However, if you plan to leave the airport during your layover, you may need a visa, depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. It's recommended to have at least a 6-hour layover if you want to leave the airport and explore nearby cities like Taoyuan or Taipei.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa-free entry to Taiwan | Passport holders from 65 countries, including the US, UK, and most EU countries, do not need a visa to enter Taiwan and can stay for up to 90 days. Nationals from Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. |
| Visa requirements for Taiwan | If you do not hold a passport from one of the visa-exempt countries, you will need to apply for a Taiwan visa to pass immigration and leave the airport. |
| Minimum layover time recommended to leave the airport | 6 hours |
| Free Taipei tour offered by the airport | Minimum 7 hours layover time required |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Visa exemption for 65 countries
If you are planning a layover in Taipei, Taiwan, and want to leave the airport, you will need to check whether you need a visa for Taiwan. Nationals of certain countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay of up to 90 days. These include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- UK
- USA
- Vatican City State
Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay of up to 30 days:
- Australia
- Canada
- Republic of Korea
- Malaysia
- Singapore
Nationals of Turkey can obtain a visa on arrival without charge for a stay of up to 30 days. Chinese nationals with residency in mainland China require prior approval from the Taiwanese government and must hold an Exit & Entry Permit (a de facto e-visa) before travelling to Taiwan.
If you are not leaving the transit area of Taipei airport, you do not need a visa.
Checking Bags Early: How Far Ahead is Possible?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Visa-free entry for tourism, business, etc
If you are planning a layover in Taipei, Taiwan, and want to leave the airport, you will need to check if you require a visa. Many nationalities can enter Taiwan without a visa, but some do need one. If you are not leaving the transit area, you do not need a visa.
Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a stay of up to 90 days:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- UK
- USA
- Vatican City State
Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a stay of up to 30 days:
- Australia
- Canada
- Republic of Korea
- Malaysia
- Singapore
If you are planning to stay longer than 90 days, or if you plan to work or reside in Taiwan, you will need to apply for a visa before travelling. It is recommended that you have a minimum of 6 hours for your layover if you want to leave the airport. The Taipei airport offers free half-day city tours if your stopover is 7-24 hours.
Airports and Dogs: Leash Laws and Rules
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Visa requirements for work or residence
In general, you will need a visa to enter Taiwan. However, passport holders from 65 countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay of up to 30 or 90 days. Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a stay of up to 90 days:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- U.K.
- U.S.A.
- Vatican City State
Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a stay of up to 30 days:
- Australia
- Canada
- Republic of Korea
- Malaysia
- Singapore
If you are planning to work in Taiwan, you will need to apply for a work visa. The Taiwanese government only issues Taiwan work permits to specific categories of workers, including specialized or technical workers in certain fields, and directors or managers of businesses established or invested in by overseas Chinese or foreign nationals. Before applying for a work visa, you must first have a job offer in Taiwan.
To apply for a Taiwan Work Visa, you must complete the Taiwan Work Visa Application Form online, print and sign it, and submit it in person at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission within 30 days of completing the online application. Along with the application form, you must submit the following documents:
- Two passport-size pictures, taken within the last six months with a white background and dimensions of 35mm by 45mm without a border.
- Your passport, valid for at least another six months and with at least three blank pages.
- A Health Certificate issued in the past three months.
If you are already in Taiwan on a Visitor Visa for employment purposes, you can apply to turn your Visitor Visa into a Resident Work Visa at the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Once the work visa is issued, you must apply for a Taiwan Residence Permit (also known as an Alien Resident Certificate or ARC) at a local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days. The ARC is valid for one year and can be renewed for up to three years for extended residency.
Where to Buy Seat Belt Extenders: Airport Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Minimum layover time to leave the airport
If you're planning to leave Taoyuan Airport during your Taipei layover, it's important to consider the time you'll need for transportation to and from your destination, as well as any potential delays or time spent at immigration.
The minimum recommended layover time to leave the airport is generally considered to be around 6 hours. This will give you just enough time to explore Taipei city centre for about 1 to 1.5 hours. However, it's worth noting that this assumes you don't need to pick up any checked luggage and that you already have a boarding pass for your next flight. If you need to collect your luggage, you'll need to add an extra 15-30 minutes to your layover time. To be safe, it's recommended to allow at least 1.5 hours for transportation and arrival at the airport before your flight.
If you're considering a night market visit or taking advantage of the airport's free half-day city tour, a 7-hour layover is recommended. This will give you more flexibility and ensure you have enough time to enjoy these experiences without feeling rushed.
It's also important to check whether you need a visa to enter Taiwan. Many countries are part of the visa exemption program, which allows passport holders from certain countries to enter Taiwan without a visa for a specified duration. However, if you're not eligible for the visa exemption program, you will need to apply for a visa if you plan to pass through immigration and leave the airport.
Immigration and Criminal Records: What US Airports See
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Free Taipei tour by the airport
If you are a national of one of the following countries, you can enter Taiwan without a visa and take advantage of the free Taipei tour offered by the airport: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, and Vatican City State. Nationals of Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay of up to 30 days.
The Taoyuan International Airport offers a free half-day city tour if your stopover is between 7 and 24 hours. The tour lasts around four hours and departs twice daily. There is also an occasional evening tour, but it only accepts group reservations. The daytime tours include locations such as Yongkang Street, Lungshan Temple, National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and Yongkang Street in the morning, and Yingge Pottery Street, New Taipei City Art Museum, and Sanying Spatial Art District in the afternoon. The evening tour includes a gourmet guided tour with a night market, Li Jing Ding Ren Hai Temple, and Zhongli Tourist Night Market.
To book a tour, go to the Tourist Service Center in the Arrival Lobby of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. You can also register online before boarding the tour bus. It is advisable to book your tour in advance, but it is not necessary. There are only 18 spaces available on each tour, so be sure to try and book well in advance. Passengers who join the free tours are also exempt from airport tax.
Vitamins: Airport Security Clearance?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Nationals of 65 countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, are eligible for the visa exemption program, which permits a duration of stay up to 30 or 90 days. If you are not a national of one of these countries, you will need to apply for a Taiwan visa if you want to pass immigration and leave the airport.
It usually takes around 1 hour from landing to exiting the airport, so a 6-hour layover is the absolute minimum recommended to leave the airport.
Taipei's Taoyuan Airport is well-equipped with things to do for travellers during a layover. The airport offers free half-day city tours for those with a 7-24 hour stopover.
