Documents Required for a Taiwan Visa: The Complete Checklist

Where the requirements come from

Taiwan visa requirements are set by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are published on the official visa pages (boca.gov.tw). Applications are lodged at a ROC (Taiwan) overseas mission in your country of residence.

The list below reflects the published requirements as of August 2026. Because the details can change and missions may ask for additional documents in individual cases, always confirm the current list with the mission that will process your application before you prepare anything.

The core document set

Every visa applicant submits this core set, regardless of purpose.

• Completed and signed application form — filled in online at the official visa application site (visawebapp.boca.gov.tw), printed with the bar code showing, and signed
• Two passport-size photos — 45 mm high and 35 mm wide, in colour, taken within the last six months, with a white background
• Passport — the original plus a photocopy, valid for at least six months with blank pages
• Proof of stable financial resources — commonly a bank statement
• Travel itinerary — for tourism, the planned stay in Taiwan
• Return ticket — a ticket, electronic ticket or proof from a travel agency that you intend to leave Taiwan

Applications are lodged in person at a ROC overseas mission, and an interview may be required when necessary.

How the purpose changes the list

The core set is fixed; what changes is the proof of purpose.

Tourism — the core set plus the itinerary and return ticket above.

Visiting relatives — add:

• Proof of the relative’s residence in Taiwan: a household registration transcript within the last three months, or the relative’s Alien Resident Certificate or Permanent Residence Certificate
• Proof of the relationship: a birth certificate, household registration or other recognised documents

Visiting (business or invited) — add:

• An invitation letter from the inviting organisation or person in Taiwan

Employment and study move into the resident-visa track, which has a separate document set (the employment approval or admission letter, health checks and further proof). Resident visas are a different category from visitor visas and lead to the ARC — see our Taiwan resident visa guide and ARC guide for those requirements.

Submitting the application

The application has two stages:

1. Online — complete the application form on the official site, print it, and confirm the bar code is visible.
2. In person — lodge the printed form with the required documents at the ROC overseas mission in your country of residence, and pay the statutory visa fee.

Practical points:

• Book the right appointment. Many missions operate by appointment, and requirements such as how to submit (in person, by mail or through an agent) vary by mission — check the mission’s own page.
• A fee is not refundable. Taiwan has the right to refuse a visa application without explanation, and the visa application fee is not refunded in that case.
• The stay clock. The permitted period of stay for a visitor visa starts from the day after entry, and you must leave before it expires. Extension is a separate process with its own rules — see our visa extension guide if you need to stay longer.

If you are not sure whether you need a visa at all, or whether visa-free entry applies to your passport, our Taiwan visitor visa guide covers who can travel visa-free and the general visitor rules.

Documents for minors

Applicants under 18 add documents to the core set:

• Original birth certificate
• The parent or legal guardian signs the application form on the minor’s behalf
• If the minor travels alone, a letter of authorisation from both parents or legal guardians, plus copies of their identification
• If the minor travels with one parent only, a letter of consent from the other parent is generally required, with proof of the reason if the other parent is absent (such as custody papers or a death certificate)

As with adult applications, the mission may request additional documents for further review, so confirming the current list with the processing mission is the reliable step.