| Article 1 |
The Statute is stipulated to exercise national sovereignty, uphold the
national interest, and regulate the issuance of visas on foreign
passport.
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| Article 2 |
The issuance of visas in foreign passports, unless as otherwise provided
in treaties or agreements, is governed by the Statute. For circumstances not stipulated
in the Statute, the provisions in other laws may apply.
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| Article 3 |
The term “foreign passport” in the Statute means any valid travel
documents issued by foreign governments, intergovernmental
organizations or autonomous governments, and recognized or accepted by
the Republic of China ( hereinafter referred to as the ROC. )
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| Article 4 |
The term “visa” in the Statute means the permission to enter the ROC
issued in foreign passports by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or ROC
embassies, consulates, representative offices, offices, or other
agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( hereinafter
referred to as ROC overseas missions. )
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| Article 5 |
The competent authority of the Statute is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The issuance of ROC visas in foreign passports is administered by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs or ROC overseas missions. Subject to the
Statute, resident visa applications shall not be approved by ROC
overseas missions unless first approved by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
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| Article 6 |
Foreign passport
holders shall enter the ROC with a valid visa. Notwithstanding this
visa requirement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may grant
visa-exempt entries or landing visas to citizens of specific
countries, or in special circumstances.
The eligibilities, requirements, and other related items regarding application for the
aforementioned visa-exempt entries and landing visas shall be
established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after consultation with
other related agencies.
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| Article 7 |
Types of Visas issued in foreign passports:
1. Diplomatic visa
2. Courtesy visa
3. Visitor visa
4. Resident visa
The duration of the visa and length of stay, the number of entries, the
purposes, the application requirements, the required documents, and
other related items regarding the aforementioned types of visas are
stipulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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| Article 8 |
Diplomatic visas may be issued to the following foreign passport holders in
possession of diplomatic passports or laissez-passer:
1. Heads of state and deputy heads of state, prime ministers, deputy prime
ministers, and ministers of foreign affairs and their dependents.
2. Personnel dispatched to the ROC by foreign governments and their dependants and
entourage.
3. Officials dispatched to the ROC by foreign governments on short-term missions
and their dependants.
4. Senior foreign officials such as administrative heads or deputy heads of
international intergovernmental organizations dispatched to the ROC and their dependants.
5. Diplomatic messengers sent by foreign governments.
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| Article 9 |
Courtesy visas may be issued to the following foreign passport holders:
1. Former heads of state and deputy heads of state, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers, ministers of foreign affairs and their dependents.
2. Personnel dispatched by foreign governments to the ROC on official duties and their dependants and entourage.
3. Foreign employees other than the senior employees referred to in Paragraph 4 of Article 8 who come to the ROC for public duties and their dependants.
4. Foreign employees of international intergovernmental international organizations invited by the ROC government and their dependants.
5. Foreign passport holders who visit the ROC at the invitation of the ROC government or who have made great contributions to the ROC and their dependants.
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| Article 10 |
Foreign passport holders who are in possession of foreign passports and intend
to stay in the ROC for a short-term period may apply for a visitor visa.
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| Article 11 |
Foreign passport holders who are in possession of foreign passorts and intend
to stay in the ROC for a long-term period may apply for a resident visa. |
| Article 12 |
When processing visa applications, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and ROC overseas missions shall take into consideration the national interest,
the individual status of applicants, and the relations between the resident countries of the
applicants and the ROC. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC overseas missions may refuse
to issue visas to an a foreign passport holder who：
1. has a criminal record within or outside the ROC, or has been denied entry, ordered to leave or deported by the ROC government.
2. has entered the ROC illegally.
3. has a contagious disease, mental illness or other diseases, which may be detrimental to public health or social order.
4. has made a false statement or withheld a fact relating to the purpose of entry into the ROC as declared on the visa application.
5. has overstayed a visitor or resident visa or worked illegally in the ROC.
6. is believed through convincing evidence to lack financial support or intends to engage in unauthorized employment in the ROC.
7. is in possession of a foreign passport that is not recognized by the ROC government, or whose foreign status is not recognized by the ROC
government.
8. is in possession of a foreign passport that has expired or that if lost, cannot be reissued
or extended.
9. is in possession of a foreign passport or other travel document that was illegally obtained,
forged or tampered with.
10. is believed through convincing evidence to be intending to evade laws in order to come to the ROC.
11. is suspected of engaging in terrorist activities.
12. is believed through convincing evidence to be detrimental to the national
interest, public safety, public order, or the morals of the ROC.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC overseas missions are not required
to give any reason to a visa applicant for refusal based on any of the
above stipulations.
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| Article 13 |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or ROC overseas missions
may revoke and invalidate a visa under any
one of the following circumstances:
1. The visa holder falls under any of the categories
referred to in Paragraph 1 of the previous Article.
2. The visa holder engages in activities in the ROC that are not in accordance with the purpose ( s )
of the visa.
3. The visa holder engages within or outside the ROC in fraud, drug trafficking, subversion, violence
or other activities endangering the ROC national interest, law enforcement, good customs or
social stability.
4. The original purpose for the visa application no longer exists.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may authorize other agencies to revoke or
invalidate a visa.
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| Article 14 |
Diplomatic visas and courtesy visas are issued gratis.
Application fees and/or other stipulated charges apply to all
other visas unless otherwise regulated by treaties or agreements, or
approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on the principle of
reciprocity, or based on the needs of public duty. The visa fee rates
shall be stipulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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| Article 15 |
Regulations
for the implementation of the Statute shall be stipulated by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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| Article 16 |
The
Statute shall enter into effect on the date of its promulgation.
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( In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese and English texts of the
Statute, the Chinese text shall prevail ) |
