Newsletter
New Chinese Entry Law
A new set of regulations entitled "Regulations Governing the Entry Permission to Taiwan Area for the People from Mainland China" (the "Regulations") took effect on 1 January 2014. The Regulations streamline the entry of Chinese people to Taiwan, making it more convenient for Chinese nationals to visit Taiwan.
The Regulations, which are combined/promulgated under the Ministry of the Interior's amendment to the previous four regulations ("Regulations Governing the Entry Permission to Taiwan Area for the People from Mainland China", "The Rules Governing Permits for Professional Personnel from Mainland China Engaging in Professional Activities in Taiwan", "Regulations Governing the Approval of Business People of the Mainland Area Visiting Taiwan for Purposes of Engaging in Business Activities", and "Regulations Governing Application of Mainland Chinese Transfers of Transnational Enterprises for Entry") governing entry permission for Chinese nationals to Taiwan, are aimed at encouraging cross-Taiwan Strait exchanges, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
According to the National Immigration Agency (NIA), under the Regulations, Chinese nationals making professional or business visits to Taiwan for periods of less than 30 days will no longer need to have their visa applications reviewed by the authorities at their destinations. This will shorten the time for obtaining entry permits to Taiwan from ten to three working days for Chinese professionals, and from five to three working days for Chinese business people. These short-term applicants will also no longer have to provide documents such as forum agendas or theses for review, the NIA added.
Meanwhile, parents of Chinese nationals studying in Taiwan can apply to make short visits to see their children from 1 January 2014, according to the Regulations; and parents of a Chinese national who is married to a Taiwanese may visit Taiwan under the same scheme.