Trial period: Taiwan OKs visa-free entry for Filipinos

For the next nine months, Filipinos will be allowed visa-free entry to Taiwan for short visits of not more than two weeks, the country’s de facto embassy announced on Monday.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) said Filipinos could enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan for visits of up to 14 days from Nov. 1, 2017, until July 31, 2018.

9-month trial

“This visa-free initiative shall undergo a nine-month trial period until July 31, 2018, as part of Taiwan’s goodwill and efforts (under) the ‘New Southbound Policy’ to build closer people-to-people exchange of visits and an economic community between Taiwan and the Philippines,” Teco said in a statement.

Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines, Gary Song-Huann Lin, said Teco hoped the Philippines would also grant visa-free visits to Taiwan nationals.

Holders of valid regular passports can avail themsleves of visa-free visits, but diplomatic and official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment, according to Teco.

Those who intend to stay in Taiwan for more than 14 days or for the purpose of study, work, employment and missionary activities are still required to apply for visa before entering Taiwan.