Visa-free travel for several countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, delayed by Taiwan
Taiwan has reversed its earlier decision to grant visa-free entry to Singapore, Malaysia, and several other countries, which were initially included in a new list announced by Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.
On September 5, Taiwan published a table showing that nationals from Singapore, Malaysia, and other nations were eligible for visa-free entry starting September 12, allowing them to stay for up to 30 days. Japan and South Korea were also among the countries included in the broader group eligible for visa-free travel, with a stay of up to 90 days.
However, just a day later, Taiwan updated the information to announce a temporary suspension of visa-free entry for visitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Israel, Nicaragua, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, and Russia.
The Taipei Representative Office in Singapore clarified that there had been a misunderstanding following the original announcement. The office explained that the press release issued on Monday had been misinterpreted, and after communication with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the situation was corrected.
Taiwan had initially decided to resume visa-free entry as part of its efforts to ease COVID-19 restrictions, following the global reopening of borders. This move was aimed at balancing epidemic prevention with the resumption of international travel, economic activities, and social exchanges.
Despite the suspension of visa-free entry for some countries, Taiwan’s new border control measures will still require visitors to undergo three days of quarantine and a PCR test upon arrival. The cap of 50,000 arrivals per week will remain, though the requirement for pre-departure PCR tests has been lifted.
Prior to the pandemic, Taiwan was a favoured destination for tourists from Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, with these regions representing the largest sources of visitors.
