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Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China(Taiwan)

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Operating Directions for the Issuance of Entry Certificates

  • Created:2023-02-02
  • Data Source:Bureau Of Consular Affairs
  • Counter:7904

Operating Directions for the Issuance of Entry Certificates

1. These Operating Directions for the Issuance of Entry Certificates (hereinafter referred to as the“Directions”) are prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the issuance of Entry Certificates in accordance with Article 26 of the Passport Act (hereinafter referred to as“the Act”).

2. ROC nationals with household registration in the Taiwan Area who have not lost ROC nationality and are not a citizen of the Mainland Area may apply to an ROC embassy, consulate, representative office, or office overseas (hereinafter referred to as“overseas mission”) for an Entry Certificate where any of the following circumstances apply:
2.1. ROC nationals abroad who have been denied a passport or whose passport has been seized or cancelled in accordance with Articles 23 to 25 of the Act.
2.2. Male ROC nationals abroad who have not performed compulsory military service and do not meet the schooling requirements for an exemption from such service.
2.3. ROC nationals whose valid passport has been lost and who cannot wait for a replacement to be issued by an overseas mission.
2.4. ROC nationals whose passport has expired and who cannot wait for reissuance due to a pressing need to return to the ROC.
2.5. ROC nationals whose passport does not include a National Identification Number.
2.6. ROC nationals who have traveled abroad as a crew member on a fishing vessel and return to the ROC by aircraft or other mode of transportation without having an ROC passport.
2.7. ROC nationals whose passport is still valid but who cannot use the passport to return to the ROC due to special circumstances.

3. ROC nationals who apply for an Entry Certificate to an overseas mission shall complete the application form for the Entry Certificate and submit two 2-inch color photos and the following documents:
3.1. Identification document showing household registration in the Taiwan Area or other document(s) proving ROC nationality.
3.2. Documents that the overseas mission deems necessary to inspect in accordance with the application purpose.

If the applicant in the preceding paragraph is unmarried and under the age of 18, an identification document and the written consent of a legal guardian shall be submitted.

4. The Entry Certificate issued by an overseas mission shall be stamped with the dual-circle consular seal and bear the signature of the issuer. The validity period of the Entry Certificate shall be limited to 30 days from the date of issuance. However, in the event of special circumstances approved of by the competent authority, the validity period of the Entry Certificate shall not be subject to the aforementioned limit.

5. The application for the Entry Certificate shall be paid for in accordance with Paragraph 3 of Article 2 of the Standard for Charges and Fees for Ordinary Passports of the Republic of China. However, if an overseas mission issues an Entry Certificate to assist a national with returning to the ROC in accordance with the law or in response to an emergency as defined in Point 3 of the Directions for Handling Emergencies Involving ROC Nationals Traveling Abroad, the fee may be waived in accordance with the Charges and Fees Act.

6. ROC nationals holding an Entry Certificate shall enter the ROC during the validity period and present the certificate to the Border Affairs Corps of the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter“the National Immigration Agency”) for inspection upon arrival at an air or sea port. After entry, they may apply for a passport or for moving-in household registration with the verified Entry Certificate.

7. If mistyped information on the Entry Certificate is not attributable to the applicant, he/she may apply to an overseas mission for a reissuance free of charge, or, upon his/her arrival at an air or sea port in the ROC, the National Immigration Agency shall annotate corrections on the certificate free of charge.

8. ROC nationals with household registration in the Taiwan Area who lose the Entry Certificate before boarding a flight shall apply at an overseas mission for a replacement for a fee prior to returning to the ROC. For those who lose the certificate after boarding, upon arrival at an air or sea port in the ROC, the National Immigration Agency shall issue an entry document for a fee.

9. ROC nationals whose Entry Certificate has expired shall apply at an overseas mission for a reissuance for a fee prior to returning to the ROC; for those who return to the ROC with an expired Entry Certificate, upon arrival at an air or sea port in the ROC, the National Immigration Agency shall issue an entry document for a fee.

10. ROC nationals with household registration in the Taiwan Area who lose their passport before entering the ROC (for example, on the airplane or ship or at an air or sea port) or who lose their passport or whose passport expires while in the Mainland Area, upon their arrival at the air or sea port, the National Immigration Agency shall issue an entry document for a fee, on the strength of which the document holder may enter the ROC and apply for a passport or moving-in household registration.

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