Taiwan Extends Visa-Free Privilege for Filipinos from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020

According to a post by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines on their website, the country of Taiwan released an announcement on July 2, 2019, that the Philippines will be having the privilege of visa-free entry to Taiwan from August 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines also said that the privilege is Taiwan’s way of showing its harmonious relationship with the Philippines. Also, it is the country’s way of increasing the convenience of Filipinos in traveling to Taiwan for purposes like leisure, business, and other short-term reasons. The visa-free entry of the Filipino people to Taiwan also aims to increase the ties the two countries have for each other like in the fields of tourism, trade, investment, education, agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, and more.






They also stated in the website that the Philippines is not the only country closest to Taiwan but also a priority partner for Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy” which targets to create stronger bilateral relations and easy connectivity of the people from both countries. The first implementation of the visa-free entry of Filipinos to Taiwan started on November 1, 2017. It increased the Filipino visitors of Taiwan which in 2018 reached an amount equal to 419,000 Filipino visitors. Compared to 2017, it increased by 44% in 2018. Regional Airlines from both countries have created more direct flights and opened new routes to the major cities of the Philippines and of Taiwan. Filipinos had saved more time and money because they are given more options. They can travel to Taiwan from Manila, Puerto Princesa, Clark, Cebu, Kalibo.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines encourages more Filipinos to fully enjoy the visa-free privilege and visit Taiwan as often as their means permit them to do so. Filipinos is encouraged to enjoy Taiwan’s famous attractions, the wide variety of shopping and dining options and hospitality.





According to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines, they are urging the Philippine government to also issue a free-visa entry to the nationals of Taiwan for reciprocity purposes.

In the website, they included the following as conditions set by Taiwan to be followed by the Filipinos in their stay in Taiwan which could last up to fourteen days (not extendable and starts at the following day of arrival to Taiwan):

1. Filipinos must have an ordinary or regular passport with remaining validity of at least 6 months from the date of entering the country.

2. They should possess a confirmed return plane or boat ticket, together with a valid visa, for an onward destination.




3. The Filipino traveler should give the confirmation of hotel reservations or an address and contact details for their stay in the country, as well as a financial statement

4. The Filipino traveler should possess no criminal record and it should be verified first by immigration upon his or her arrival at an airport or seaport in Taiwan.