How to extend a visa in Taiwan: step-by-step (visitor visa and ARC)

Two different extensions

There are two separate procedures depending on your document:

• Visitor visa extension — for people holding a visitor (tourist) visa who want a longer stay. This is handled with the entry visa document itself and is issued quickly.
• ARC stay extension — for foreigners holding an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) who want to renew their period of residence. This is handled at the National Immigration Agency (NIA) with a longer processing window.

Knowing which document you hold determines the office, the deadline, the fee and the processing time, so check the plastic card or visa sticker in your passport before you go.

Step 1 — Check your deadline

The timing rule differs between the two types.

• Visitor visa: you can apply no later than 15 days before the visa expiry date. Applying earlier is better, because the extension is decided from the expired date and you avoid a stay-overlap.
• ARC: you should apply no later than 3 months before the expiration date. Waiting until the last month creates a gap risk if processing is longer than expected.

Both deadlines are strict, so mark the date in your calendar the day your document is issued, not the week before it expires.

Step 2 — Find the right service point

Extensions are handled by the National Immigration Agency (NIA).

• For visitor visa extensions you visit an NIA Service Center office (there are 25 across Taiwan). Some city offices also run one-stop counters for extensions in their local hall.
• For ARC extensions the standard route is also the NIA Service Center in your area of residence, so your registered address usually decides which office handles the case.
• Office hours are typically Monday to Friday, around 08:00–17:00. Some service points accept visitors during the lunch break, but it is safer to book an appointment online to hold a slot.

There is no fully online submission for the standard visitor and ordinary-residence extension cases, so plan a physical visit.

Step 3 — Prepare the documents

Bring the following for a visitor visa extension:

• Completed application form (외국인체류허가·여행证件신청서 등 NIA form)
• Passport with the original visa
• Current visa sticker
• Proof of reason for the longer stay (travel plans, accommodation, business letters, etc.)

For an ARC stay extension you additionally need:

• Passport and the existing ARC card
• A recent photo for the new card
• Proof of residence purpose (employment certificate, enrollment letter, family proof)
• Proof of address (utility bill or rental contract or record of the registered domicile)

The exact form numbers are printed on the NIA webpage, so re-check the current version before you go.

Step 4 — Pay the fee and wait

Fees and processing time differ by type.

Application	Fee	Processing
Visitor visa extension	NT$300	Usually same day (documents returned the same visit)
ARC extension	NT$1,000 for 1 year, up to NT$5,000 for 5 years	About 10 working days; the new ARC is collected in person

For the visitor visa the counter often finishes the case in half a day — you leave with the extended visa stamp. For the ARC the office keeps your application while it processes the new card, so note the collection date on your receipt rather than assuming you will walk out with a new card the same day.

Step 5 — After approval

Once the extension is approved:

• Visitor visa: the extension is stamped through your passport or on a separate entry record, and it is valid for the period granted (usually the maximum the law allows for that visa class).
• ARC: the new card shows the extended residence validity. Collect it at the service center on the date stated in your receipt.
• Keep every receipt and decision notice together with the card, because your employer, school, bank and the NHI all ask for the current document.

If your application is rejected, ask the officer for the written reason and whether a written appeal or a new application with corrected documents is available — do not simply re-file the same application and queue again.