How to Apply for a Taiwan Visa in Jacksonville

Taiwan – the Pacific Island named “Best Leisure Destination in Asia” by Global Traveler and “2024 Favorite Adventure Destination” by Trazee Travel – is drawing ever-growing– numbers of tourists and businesspeople alike from Jacksonville and other towns throughout Florida.  North American visitors broke records in 2024, including the highest monthly total for U.S. travelers that December.

“Generous like its 23 million people, Taiwan offers wondrous vistas, lively traditions and a culture as luxuriant as Jade Mountain on a sunny day,” Lonely Planet reported. “With dynamic night markets jam-packed with delectable street food, gorgeous beaches, and soaring mountains, Taiwan offers lots in a small package,” the publication continued. “Just 395km (245 miles) from top to bottom, travelers will find futuristic cities, historic temples, and killer surf breaks – all connected by affordable high-speed rail.  As one of the friendliest East Asian countries for LGBTIQ+ travelers, too, it's pretty much got everything.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-in-taiwan)

Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or ROC) consists of 168 islands in the East and South China Seas.  It is located 100 miles west of the People’s Republic of China; less than 100 miles from islands within Japan and the Philippines; and south of Korea.  The main island, Taiwan (also known as Formosa–Portuguese for “beautiful island”–or Chinese Taipei), comprises 99% of the country’s 13,974 square miles.  Two-thirds of the island is covered in mountain ranges, but most people live in the plains areas of the metropolitan area surrounding the capital city of Taipei and Keelung.  Most Taiwanese people are classified as subgroups of Han Chinese, so the ROC is an important center of Chinese culture and an environment where students can study the Mandarin language in a friendly and open society.

The islands of Taiwan have been occupied for more than 25,000 years, with indigenous Taiwanese settling there some 6,000 years ago.  Dutch colonial rule promoted Chinese immigration in the 17th Century, leading to a majority of residents being of Chinese descent. Taiwan was ruled by China’s Qing dynasty before becoming part of Japan in 1995.  The Republic of China, led by Sun Yat-sen on mainland China, took control of Taiwan following World War II.  However, Communists overthrew the ROC government in the Chinese Civil War, so government personnel and some two million supporters relocated to Taiwan in 1949.  Since then, the People’s Republic of China on the mainland and the ROC in Taiwan claim to be the true government of all China -- the mainland and the Taiwanese islands.  The threat of armed conflict with Communist China continues to cloud Taiwan’s future.

During the 1950s, post-war Taiwan was highly depending on aid from the United States.  However, the “Taiwan Miracle” that began in the 1960s transformed the country through rapid industrialization, economic growth, and a transition to a thriving democracy.  Taiwan has since become both an aid donor and a significant investor in other Asian countries (including some $150 billion in mainland China alone).  Despite its small size, Taiwan’s nominal GDP typically ranks as the 21st or 22nd largest in the world, while its GDP per capital normally falls in the mid-teens.  The United States is Taiwan’s second-largest trading partner, exporting exported $54.6 billion in goods and services to Taiwan and importing $105 billion in 2022.  Taiwan is a major exporter of microchips and semiconductors to the U.S. market, making it an important trade partner for Florida's industrial and aviation and aerosapce manufacturers.  Best known as the world’s top producer of semiconductors, the republic’s top business sectors include technology, agriculture, healthcare, energy, and biotechnology. “{The} best opportunities for U.S. exporters include commercial drones with military applications, electric power equipment and energy, ICT {information and communications technology} & telecommunications equipment, machinery and tools, medical devices, education, franchising, travel, and tourism,” the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) stated.  Top prospects for Jacksonville-based businesspeople dealing in agriculture-related products include fresh fruit and beef and beef products, the ITA added. (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/taiwan-market-opportunities).

While tourism only accounted for about 3% of economy, it is still considered one of Taiwan’s major industries.  International visitors exceeded eight million people in 2024, and the government is targeting 10 million visitors annually.  Visitors from the United States and Canada totaled more than 760,000 that year as the number of direct flights to Taiwan expanded.  U.S. visitors exceeded 650,000, making the United States Taiwan’s fourth-largest international visitor market, the Taiwan Tourism Administration stated. (https://www.cbs42.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/792322726/taiwan-tourism-administration-reports-record-high-u-s-arrivals-in-2024-showcasing-strong-north-american-market-growth)

Taipei, the most visited destination for Jacksonville-based travelers, is a modern metropolis known for its futuristic skyline, unique cultural attractions, bustling street life, active night markets, modern architecture, ancient incense-filled temples, museums, and distinctive cuisine. “Taiwan is an island of food lovers where snacking is the national pastime, no matter the time of day,” Lonely Planet reported. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/what-to-eat-and-drink-in-taiwan) Taipei’s National Palace Museum contains one of the largest collections of Chinese artifacts in the world.  Other top attractions in and around Taipei include the baths at Beitou, one of Taiwan’s 130 volcanic hot springs; the 101-story Taipei 101 skyscraper and its panoramic city views; the Nangang District hiking trail to Elephant Mountain; Taipei Zoo; and Yangmingshan National Park.  The Ximen district is known for high-end fashion shops, gay bars and clubs, saunas, and pop stars sightings.  Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second-largest city, blends energetic streets with tranquil parks, temples, and pagodas. Lotus Pond features 20 temples, such as Kaohsiung Confucius Temple, the largest Confucius temple in the country.  You can also visit romantic Love River or indulge in street food at Rueifong Night Market.  The port city of Keelung is known for its fresh seafood dishes and the Kanziding Fish Market.

While Taiwan offers cultural and natural treasures, it has no sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list due to political tensions with China.  However, it has proposed 14 sites which are on the UNESCO tentative list.  They include Taroko National Park, home of waterfalls, marble cliffs, and 12-mile-long Taroko Gorge; the otherworldly landscapes of Penghu Columnar Basalt Nature Reserve; and the 20-plus dormant volcanos of the Datun Volcano Group.  Yilan is a haven for nature lovers, with hot and cold springs, scenic hikes, whale-watching tours, and the Divine Trees Garden at MaKau Ecological Park.  Sun Moon Lake is great for biking, hiking, and boating.  Penghu archipelago draws tourists to its white sand beaches and pristine coral reefs, while Green Island lures scuba divers and snorkelers with hundreds of species of colorful coral and fish.  Surfers flock to the fishing village of Jinzun, which features world-class waves throughout the year.

Requirements for Obtaining a Taiwan Visa

Passport holders from the United States and more than 60 other countries living in Jacksonville and the Northeast Florida region are not required to obtain a visa to visit Taiwan for short trips.  Those citizens can stay up to 90 days for such reasons as tourism, business, family visit, or exhibits.  People from other visa-exempt countries can stay from 14, 30 or 90 days, depending on their nationality.  A list of visa-free countries can be found at https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-149-4486-7785a-2.html.  Taiwan has 17 air and sea ports of entry.

Passports from most countries’ citizens must be valid for at least six months from the date they enter Taiwan.  However, for U.S. citizens, the requirements are that the passport is valid for the number of days you will stay in the country, and it must contain at least one blank page, according to the U.S. State Department. (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Taiwan.html).  You may also be asked to present your return airplane ticket proving you are leaving within 90 days.  Most visa-free visits cannot be extended beyond 90 days, although Canadian and UK passport holders can extend their stay to 180 days.  Travelers must also complete and submit a free online arrival card within three days of arrival, as detailed at https://twac.immigration.gov.tw/.

If you are visiting Taiwan for other reasons not listed above, for longer visits, or if you passport is from a non-visa-exempt country, you will need to apply for a traditional visa.

Apply for Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Passport holders from more than 20 countries that are not visa-free can apply for an online electronic visa (e-Visa).  The e-Visa is valid for three months and allows visitors to enter Taiwan once and stay up to 30 days.  The e-Visa is only issued for tourism, business, family visits, attending international conferences, and sporting events.  Eligible countries, fees, and other details are listed at https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/BOCA_EVISA/MRV04FORM.do.

Apply for Traditional Visa through Taiwanese Government Offices

If your trip is not eligible for visa-free travel or the e-Visa program, you can also apply for a traditional visa through one of the 12 Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offices (TECROs, or TECOs) in the United States or the Bureau of Consular Affairs in Taiwan.  (Because of Taiwan’s contested status as a self-ruled nation that is also claimed by mainland China, its overseas offices are not called embassies or consulates.)  TECO locations include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.  Residents of Jacksonville and anyone else living in Florida will apply for their visa using the Miami office.

The Republic of Taiwan offers a number of visa options, including visitor, study, entrepreneur, resident, working holiday, and employment-seeking, as listed at https://www.boca.gov.tw/np-137-2.html.  For example, the visitor visa allows foreign nationals to stay up to six months in Taiwan for tourism, business, transit, family visit, conferences, or other short-term purposes.  The resident visa for studying Mandarin Chinese allows you to stay up to seven months and can be extended.  Other types of visas have varying requirements and lengths of stay.

The visitor visa allows you to stay in Taiwan for 14, 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on your trip details.  Requirements for the visitor visa (https://www.boca.gov.tw/np-147-2.html) include:

  • Passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank page. (Passport rules for foreign nationals from countries that Taiwan does not have reciprocal visa agreements vary from three months to one year.)
  • Completed application form (available through link above).
  • Two photos taken within the last six months.
  • Outbound airline ticket or proof of steamship ticket.
  • Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay.
  • Any relevant documents verifying your purpose for visiting. For example, if you are coming to Taiwan for business purposes, you may need to submit an invitation from a Taiwanese company.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Taiwan.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒Order Now.

For those living in the Jacksonville area who wish to study Mandarin, (https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-166-285-041cb-2.html) the visa requirements are the same as above, plus:

  • A health certificate issued by a hospital. Details about hospitals providing the certificate can be found at https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En.
  • Certificate of enrollment and registration from a university-affiliated Mandarin Chinese Learning Center. You must attend classes at least 15 hour per week; complete studies within four months; and continue study for at least three more months.
  • Bank statements or similar records from applicant or relatives showing funds for at least three months of living expenses.
  • Study plan and motives.

Upon completion you must also supply school transcripts and attendance records.  You may also apply for an extension of your visa after completing seven months of study.

Fees vary by nationality and type of visa.  For example, for U.S. passport holders, the visa fees are $185 for a single-entry and multiple-entry visa visitor visa; $185 for single-entry resident; and $315 for a multiple-entry resident or single-entry visa for investment purposes.  For non-U.S. passport holders, fees range from $25 to $66 dollars.  A downloadable PDF of visa fees can be found at https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-76-32-4a369-1.html.

Once you complete your online application, print it out and gather your supporting documentation.  You can submit the application to the nearest Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offices (TECO) location.  Links to all the TECOs can be found at https://www.boca.gov.tw/sp-foof-countrylp-01-2.html.

Procedures vary by office.  For example, for those living in Jacksonville who will use the Miami office, you can visit in person or mail your application package. “If your application is sent by mail, all fees must be paid by money order or cashier check (Payable to TECO in Miami),” the office stated (https://www.roc-taiwan.org/usmia_en/contact_us.html).  Also, for mail-in applications, “A self-addressed envelope with return postage by Priority mail or Express mail is required (stamps only, no meter postage).  If you use FedEx, UPS, the return label must include applicant's mailing address as both sender and recipient.  (Do not put TECO in Miami address on return label.) ”

You can also call your nearest office and inquire about making an appointment to review your application with office staff.  For example, the address and phone number of the Miami TECO office can be found at https://www.roc-taiwan.org/usmia_en/contact_us.html.

 We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Jacksonville or anywhere in the state of Florida, you can also use a courier service such as Visa Supply to obtain a visa to visit Taiwan.  We can answer questions about the requirements; plus help you complete and submit your application.  Our couriers can also deliver your paperwork to the appropriate government office and then retrieve your passport and visa (for an additional charge).  For more information, feel free to schedule a telephone consultation at https://www.timetap.com/book/BOOKVS1

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

  • Taiwan Visitor Visa
  • Taiwan Resident Visa
  • Taiwan Student Visa
  • Taiwan Business Visa
  • Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa
  • Taiwan Working Holiday Visa
  • Taiwan Medical Insurance
  • Taiwan Flight Tickets
  • Taiwan Hotel Accommodations