• 發布日期：2020-04-17
• 發布單位：Bureau Of Consular Affairs
• 資料點閱次數：24669

Due to the impact that COVID-19 border control measures and flight bans have had on foreign visitors to Taiwan, MOFA announced an automatic 30-day duration of stay period extension on March 21, 2020.

In consideration of increased travel restrictions worldwide, MOFA announces that all travelers who entered Taiwan on or before March 21, 2020, on a visitor visa, a landing visa, or through a visa-waiver program and who have not overstayed their legal stay period will now be granted a second automatic 30-day extension. No application is required. The total period of stay cannot exceed 180 days (The day after entry date will be counted as the first day of stay). These conditions are subject to change and may be adjusted as circumstances require.

In addition, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) has announced the Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program. Foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas and turn themselves in from March 20 to June 30 are entitled to penalty relief measures: They will not be detained or receive an entry ban, and will be given only a minimum fine. For further information, please visit the NIA website at https://www.immigration.gov.tw/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How is the duration of stay calculated for foreign visitors who are covered by the 30-day automatic extension measures announced on March 21 and April 17?

A:
The total duration of stay is the period granted by the original visitor visa, landing visa, or visa-waiver program plus 30 days for each of the automatic extensions. The day after entry date is counted as the first day of stay.

Example
A US national entering Taiwan on February 7 under the visa-waiver program was granted a 90-day stay until May 7. Based on the first 30-day extension announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 21, this US national’s duration of stay was automatically extended to June 6. According to MOFA’s announcement of the second 30-day extension on April 17, the duration of stay has been further extended to July 6. The total duration of stay for this US national under the visa-waiver program has thus been extended from 90 to 150 days.

Q2: Will the second 30-day automatic extension be fully granted if it brings the total duration of stay to more than 180 days?

A:
No. Foreign visitors are permitted a maximum duration of stay of 180 days. If the 30-day automatic extension brings the total duration of stay to more than 180 days, the extension will only be partially granted, i.e., enough days to reach the maximum  of 180.

Example
A foreign national entered Taiwan prior to March 21, 2020, on a visitor visa allowing a duration of stay of 140 days. The first 30-day extension automatically increased the duration of stay to 170 days. However, the announcement of the second 30-day extension would bring the total duration of stay to 200 days, exceeding the 180-day limit. For this foreign national, only another 10 days will be granted to bring the total to 180.

Q3: Does the 30-day automatic extension of duration of stay announced on April 17 apply to foreign nationals who entered Taiwan after March 21?

A:
No. The automatic extensions announced by MOFA on March 21 and April 17 are applicable only to foreign nationals who entered Taiwan on or before March 21, 2020, on a visitor visa, landing visa, or through a visa-waiver program, and who have not exceeded the duration of stay accorded by their visa or visa-waiver program.