How to Apply for a Taiwan Visa in Houston

Greater Houston is the fifth most-populous metropolitan area in the United States and has a population of over 7 million residents.  Houston is one of America’s most ethnically diverse cities.  With over 145 different languages being spoken in this global city, it is no surprise that Houston has plenty of great restaurants offering delicious cuisine from all over the world, including some of the country’s best Chinese cuisine.  This is a fast-growing and youthful city that attracts entrepreneurs, corporate businesspeople, international investors, and students.  Greater Houston encompasses nine counties and includes the cities of Sugar Land, Baytown, Conroe, Pasadena, Pearland, The Woodlands, and Galveston.  Houston has over 100,000 ethnic Chinese, with about half of those residents either immigrating from Taiwan or whose parents or grandparents came from Taiwan starting in the early 1970’s.  Taiwan is solidly represented in this city through active organizations like the Taiwanese Heritage Society of Houston and the Houston chapter of the Taiwanese Association of America, which organizes events like “Taiwan Yes Houston” that celebrates Taiwan’s night market culture.  Ties with Taiwan are further cemented through direct flights from Houston to Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei) on EVA Air.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is a self-ruled island located 100 miles east of China.  Taiwan also administers several outlying islands, including Great Kinmen Island, which is only 1.2 miles from China.  Taiwan’s other neighbors are the Philippines and Japan.  Taiwan’s population of 23.5 million is composed mostly of subgroups of Han Chinese who speak Mandarin, Hokkien (Taiwanese), and Hakka, along with 16 officially recognized indigenous groups of Malayo-Polynesian peoples.  Despite its small size, Taiwan is a major player in the global economy and companies like Foxconn, Formosa Plastics, Applied Optoelectronics, and others have invested over $10 billion in the state of Texas.  Taiwan is also a wonderful tourist destination that residents of Houston should not overlook when planning a trip to East Asia.  The island has its own cultural peculiarities and unique characteristics that separate it from its neighbors.  Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, has a lively night scene and many tourists from China and other parts of Asia come here just to enjoy the island’s many interesting foods.  Outside of Taipei, the southern city of Kaohsiung should be explored as well as Kenting National Park.  Kaohsiung is easily accessible from Taipei using the high-speed train.

Obtaining a Taiwan Visa from Houston

Visas for Taiwan are issued by the government of Taiwan in the United States.  The government of Taiwan is represented by their diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. along with twelve economic and cultural representative offices located throughout the United States.  To apply for a visa from Houston, you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to their office located in Greenway Plaza, between Downtown and Uptown Houston.  You can also ship your documents to their office by FedEx, UPS, or USPS.  Here is the address:

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2006
Houston, Texas 77046

You should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or office. 

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Taiwan representative office website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to their website that provides detailed information: https://www.roc-taiwan.org/ushou_en/post/1741.html

TRAVEL TO TAIWAN IS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO HOLD A VALID ALIEN RESIDENT CERTIFICATE (ARC) AND BUSINESS TRAVELERS WHO HOLD A SPECIAL ENTRY PERMIT.  MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE: CECC imposes entry restrictions and quarantine measures for non-R.O.C. nationals starting from January 1, 2021, and tightens quarantine measures for travelers coming to Taiwan starting on January 15, 2021 - Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov.tw)

Other things to consider:

  • U.S. citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days if they are traveling for tourism purposes, short-term business meetings, or visiting family, however, they may be asked to show an onward/return ticket that shows they are leaving Taiwan within 90 days.
  • U.S. citizens must have a passport that will remain valid for your intended length of stay in Taiwan.
  • If you are a U.S. citizen and reside permanently in the United States, and plan to work or study in Taiwan, you must apply for the appropriate visa within the United States before your departure.  A change of status inside of Taiwan is not permitted.  In other words, if you arrive to Taiwan without a visa as a tourist and decide to pursue a teaching job during your visit, you will need to return to the United States to apply for a resident visa. 
  • Please visit the website of the American Institute in Taiwan for the latest information regarding the virus situation: COVID-19 Information - American Institute in Taiwan (ait.org.tw)
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Taiwan Citizens in Houston 

If you are a citizen of Taiwan living in the Houston area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the Taiwan representative office in Houston by calling 832-654-6041.  Their number for general inquiries during normal business hours is 713-626-7445  If you need to renew your Taiwan passport, please visit the following link for information: https://www.boca.gov.tw/lp-139-2.html

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Houston or anywhere in the state of Texas and have difficulty applying for a Taiwan visa or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Taiwan visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Taiwan.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Taiwan visa services for our customers in Houston:

  • Taiwan Visitor Visa (for business or tourism purposes)
  • Taiwan Resident Visa (for work or education purposes)
  • Taiwan Hotel Accommodations