Taiwan Tourist Visa Application: A Detailed DIY Guide & Experience Sharing (2024)
Sharing My Experience: Navigating the Taiwan Tourist Visa Application Solo
It was through reading everyone's shared experiences that I successfully obtained my tourist visa for Taiwan, and now I'm eager to pass on my knowledge to help others embarking on this journey. Essential Documents to Prepare
1. Temporary Travel Itinerary: Create a preliminary plan outlining your arrival and departure dates. From my perspective: * The more detailed, the better. List specific activities and destinations you plan to visit. * Include a list of your travel companions: Full names, dates of birth, ID/Passport numbers, and their visa status (currently applying, approved, or e-visa). * Print out the e-visas or sticker visas of your companions who have already been approved and include them in your application. * If you've already booked flights, print out those flight tickets as well. * Outline your estimated budget. 2. Round-trip Flight Booking Confirmation: Opt for a flight booking with deferred payment. I used Vietnam Airlines; if the booking wasn't confirmed within 24 hours, it would be automatically canceled. Vietnam Airlines sends a booking confirmation email, which you should print and include. 3. Hotel Booking Confirmation: Choose hotels with free cancellation and deferred payment options. I booked through Agoda. Print out the hotel booking confirmation to submit with your application. 4. Leave Application Letter with Company Seal: Ensure your company endorses your leave request with an official red seal. 5. Employment Contract: Provide the original employment contract along with an un-notarized photocopy. If you have an indefinite contract, submit photocopies of all its addendums. 6. Letter Confirming Employment: Request a letter from your HR department confirming your current employment, bearing the company's red seal. 7. Health Insurance and Social Insurance Records: * Health Insurance: Access your VssID app, navigate to the health insurance card section, take a screenshot, and print all your health insurance contribution history. Don't forget to include the first page displaying your photo ID. * Social Insurance: Open the VssID app, go to the social insurance section, take a screenshot, and print all your social insurance contribution history. * When submitting your application, be prepared to open the VssID app for verification by the staff. 8. Bank Savings Book: Only physical savings books are accepted. They should have a term of 3-6 months or more, with a minimum balance of 80 million VND. Provide an A4 photocopy of your savings book. 9. Bank Account Balance Confirmation: While some applicants are asked for this, others are not. I prepared it just in case. 10. Complete the Online Visa Application Form: * Visit the official website: https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw/BOCA_EVISA/ * For a detailed guide on filling out the visa form, refer to this resource: https://visana.vn/khai-visa-dai-loan/ 11. Passport-Sized Photos (2): * Two 4x6 cm photos with a white background. * Paste both photos onto the visa application form, typically in the top left corner. * Important: Do not crop the photos; paste them directly onto the form, ensuring they don't obscure any essential fields. 12. Valid Passport and Photocopy: * Ensure your passport is valid and has sufficient blank pages. * On the last page, fill in your information using a pencil. * The third page of your passport must contain your signature and full name. 13. Visa Fee Payment: * The standard fee is $50, or $75 for expedited processing. * Use clean, unmarked bills. Be meticulous when exchanging currency; I had an issue with a bill marked with an ink flower design, which the Consulate staff refused. Although I read reviews suggesting they only accept two $20 bills and one $10 bill, they accepted my $50 bill. * Note: All documents should ideally be prepared in English or be bilingual. Photocopies and prints should be single-sided on A4 paper. Submitting Your Application
Day 1: Obtaining Your Application Appointment * Once all your documents are prepared, head to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office located at 336 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 4, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, to queue for your application submission appointment. * The office is incredibly busy, so I arrived as early as 5 AM. I joined the queue on the left side of the entrance (near the bus stop), as the right side is for marriage-based applicants. * I parked my motorbike at Ms. Mai's water stall on the corner, adjacent to the Consulate. You can also find parking opposite the Consulate. * Be aware that some visa service agents arrive very early to secure the first spots for their clients. It's good to acknowledge their effort. However, be firm with other service agents who might try to cut the queue, especially those who arrive late but attempt to join the line right behind the first agent's clients. * Some vendors sell drinks and offer chair rentals while you wait. Around 7:30 AM, people start to gather inside as the Consulate opens. * Important: Always wear a mask upon entering the Consulate grounds. * Proceed to the reception desk. The required documents are your visa application form, passport, and national ID card. The receptionist will stamp your application with your submission appointment date. My appointment was set for seven days later. Day 2: Submitting Your Application * I arrived early again, around 5 AM, to queue. I strongly advise going early; arriving late means a longer wait inside. If you submit close to lunchtime and are missing documents, it might be difficult to sort out in time, potentially requiring a return in the afternoon. * Once inside, the reception staff checks your appointment date on the visa application form and gives you a queue number for submission. I waited and watched the numbers displayed at the counter, and my turn was at counter number 6. * After submission, if all documents are in order, you'll receive a bill for the visa fee and a notification of the expected result date. * If any documents are missing, there's a photocopy counter. However, I noticed they often direct applicants to photocopy services outside the Consulate. Therefore, it's best to be thorough with your document preparation. It's better to have too much than too little, especially if you don't reside in Ho Chi Minh City. Missing documents can lead to frustrating trips back and forth for photocopies. * Original documents are returned to you, while photocopies and your passport are retained. Day 3: Result Collection Day * The processing time for my application was 7 days after submission. * The result collection was scheduled for 1:30 PM, but I still had to queue from 11:30 AM due to the high volume of applicants collecting results. The afternoon can be quite sunny, so consider bringing a jacket, hat, a fan, or a portable fan. This was my first time applying for a sticker visa and my first time navigating the visa application process independently, without any agency assistance. Initially, it was quite stressful, and it required taking time off work or arriving late to queue. If you opt for a service agent, you won't need to go on the first day as they will handle securing your appointment. You'll only need to be present on the second day for submission, and they can also collect your passport with the visa result. Service fees vary, so it's advisable to research and negotiate with different agencies.
