Taiwan grants visa-free entry to Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos will be granted visa-free entry to Taiwan starting Nov. 1, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines announced yesterday.

It said those who intend to visit Taiwan for purposes of tourism, business or visiting relatives can enjoy visa-free entry for 14 days. 

The visa-free initiative will undergo a nine-month trial period that will last until July 31, 2018 and is part of Taiwan’s goodwill and its “New Southbound Policy” to build people-to-people exchange of visits and an economic community between the Philippines and Taiwan.

A Filipino visitor must have a passport with remaining validity of at least six months (diplomatic and official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment); a return ticket or a ticket with visa if needed for the next destination; no criminal record in Taiwan; and proof of accommodation.

Those who intend to stay for more than 14 days to study, work or do missionary work and other activities are required to obtain the appropriate visas before entering Taiwan.

Taiwan Representative to the Philippines Gary Song-Huann Lin said the country is not only Taiwan’s closest neighbor but also an important partner in the “New Southbound Policy.” 

Granting the visa-free privilege to all Filipinos, he said, is one of his longtime visions to build strong bilateral relations and a closer living economic community between the Philippines and Taiwan.

He added that it is aimed to enhance both countries’ mutually beneficial bilateral tourism, trade, investment, technology, agriculture, economic, cultural, educational and people-to-people cooperation and exchanges.

Lin said the historical visa-free initiative would attract more Filipino visitors to Taiwan and lay solid foundation for a genuine friendly bonding between the two nations.

To reciprocate Taiwan’s goodwill and friendship, Lin urged the Philippine government and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) to grant visa-free treatment to Taiwan nationals as the Philippines has already given visa-free treatment to citizens of many other countries. 

“Through these significant efforts, we will surely enhance our bilateral tourism, economic, cultural, educational and other areas of cooperation and exchanges which will eventually bring mutual benefits to the peoples of Taiwan and the Philippines,” Lin said.

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