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Resident Visas for Foreign Students(Exchange students)

Created：2017-08-01Data Source：Bureau Of Consular AffairsCounter：1152373
Resident Visas for Foreign Students(Exchange students)
REQUIREMENTS DESCRIPTION
Application form Go to website: https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw .  Fill out the application form online and print it out.  Make sure the application form shows a bar code on it.  Sign the application form.
Two color passport-size photos Paste on the application form two color passport-size photos with a white background taken within 6 months.
Passport and one photocopy of the passport The passport must be valid for at least 6 months and there are blank pages left in it.  One photocopy of the passport bio-page including the holder’s picture is required.
Original and one photocopy of health certificate
  1. The health certificate should be issued within 3 months by one of the local hospitals designated by the Centers for Disease Control of  Ministry of Health and Welfare of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) or a foreign hospital.  Health certificates issued by foreign hospitals must be authenticated by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission.
  2. Visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control at https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En for health checkup items and the list of designated local hospitals.
Original and one photocopy of letter of approval issued by university /college or competent authorities of education
  1. During their stay, exchange students are required to follow the instructions of the “Regulations Regarding International Students Undertaking Studies in Taiwan.”
  2. For university/college exchange students, a letter of  approval issued by the university/college they intend to enroll in is required.
  3. For senior high school students, a letter of approval issued by the Ministry of Education or city/county Bureau of Education is required.
Original and one photocopy of admission permit or record of enrollment and registration
  1. For university/college exchange students, an admission permit issued by the university/college they intend to enroll in is required.
  2. Students already studying in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) on a Visitor Visa and wishing to apply for a Resident Visa are required to present the record of enrollment and registration.
Original and one photocopy of the overseas school’s record of enrollment The record of enrollment or student ID issued by the overseas school which the student is originally from.
Other supporting documents To be decided on a case-by-case basis.  Students who apply for a Resident Visa after having arrived in the R.O.C.(Taiwan) are required to present also one photocopy of the Visitor Visa and the immigration entry stamp.

 

Application Procedure

  1. Applicants outside of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) who meet the requirements for students’ Resident Visa are advised to apply for the visa from an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission.
  2. Applicants who enter the R.O.C. (Taiwan) on a Visitor Visa which qualifies the applicants for Resident Visa application for the purpose of undertaking studies must apply for a Resident Visa 8 work days before the duration of stay expires.  Applicants may apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs or any of its Central, Southwestern, Southern, or Eastern Taiwan Offices.

 

Notice

  1. Visa issuance is an act of sovereignty.  According to the “Statute Governing Issuance of R.O.C. Visas in Foreign Passport” and “Enforcement Rules for the Issuance of R.O.C. Visas to Foreign-Passport Holders,” the R.O.C. reserves the right not to issue a visa and is under no obligation to disclose the reason. Application fee for no-issuance cases is non-refundable.
  2. Processing of Resident Visa application inside the R.O.C. (Taiwan) takes 8 work days.  Resident Visa applicants are advised to apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs 8 work days before the duration of stay expires.  Application will be turned down and fee not refunded in the event that required documents are not submitted in full within 7 days after the applicant is informed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs. In the event that the applicant’s duration of stay expires while the Resident Visa is under processing and eventually rejected, the applicant is to assume the sole responsibility of overstay and the penalty therefore imposed.

  3. Original documents are to be returned after review.  Documents produced outside of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) must be authenticated by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission; if produced in Mainland China must be authenticated by Straits Exchange Foundation. Documents that are in languages other than Chinese or English must be accompanied by a Chinese- or English-translation version.  The original-language documents and the accompanying Chinese- or English-translation version must be authenticated by an R.O.C. (Taiwan) overseas mission or attested by District Court or Notary Public.

  4. For visa application fees, please refer to “Standard Fees for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Visas in Foreign Passports”(pdf file).

  5. Those who enter the R.O.C. (Taiwan) without a visa or with a landing visa and those who enter the R.O.C. (Taiwan) on a Visitor Visa not for the purpose of undertaking studies may not apply for a Resident Visa or an extension of duration of stay on the ground of undertaking studies.  Those not enrolled as full-time students may not apply for a Resident Visa on the ground of undertaking studies.

  6. Those who enter the R.O.C. (Taiwan) on a Resident Visa or get a Resident Visa after  having arrived in the R.O.C. (Taiwan) must apply for an Alien Resident Certificate and Re-entry Permit at local service centers of National Immigration Agency. The former must apply within 15 days from the next day of arrival, and the latter must apply within 15 days from the Resident Visa issuance date.  Duration of stay is noted on the Alien Resident Certificate.

  7. Obtaining a school admission permit does not guarantee the issuance of a Resident Visa.  Obtaining a Resident Visa does not entitle the visa holder to enter the R.O.C.(Taiwan).

 

ABBREVIATIONS

  1. BOCA - Bureau of Consular Affairs
  2. R.O.C. - Republic of China
  3. R.O.C. overseas missions- R.O.C. embassies, consulates and representative offices, or other agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the R.O.C.
  4. MOFA -Ministry of Foreign Affairs