Taiwan passport
The Republic of China passport (Chinese: 中華民國護照 Zhōnghuá Mínguó hùzhào) is the national passport issued to citizens of the Republic of China (ROC) and eligible Overseas Chinese. It is more commonly known as the Taiwanese passport,[2][3][4][5] as the ROC has been commonly known as 'Taiwan' since the 1970s.
Eligibility for holding ROC passport
The Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912 governing the whole of China. Since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, ROC has only retained control of the territory of Taiwan and two counties of Fukien, while the rest of the original territory has been controlled by the People's Republic of China (PRC). The ROC constitution does not recognise the PRC so the ROC still legally considers itself as the sole government of China. The territory under ROC control are constitutionally defined as the Free Area (also known as "Taiwan Area"), while the territory outside of the Taiwan Area is defined as the "Mainland Area". The ROC constitution allows the ROC government to make laws for one Area of the country without affecting the other Area.
ROC citizens who also hold household registration in the Taiwan Area are eligible for the ROC passport. However, the ROC passport is not conclusive evidence that the holder is a citizen of the Republic of China as, according to the new nationality law of ROC,[6] there is no implication of citizenship. Overseas Chinese are eligible to receive the ROC passport. Additionally, not all ROC passport holders have the right of abode in the Taiwan Area. Ethnic Chinese residents in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau are also likely to be considered as ROC citizens, and they may also obtain a ROC passport, provided they have permanent residence status in a country outside the ROC constitutional claims, regardless of whether they have lived or even set foot in the Taiwan Area. (see here for an explanation on its rationale)
The ROC passport does not automatically grant the holders right of abode in the Taiwan Area. Only ROC passport holders who also hold household registration in the Taiwan Area are exempt from immigration restrictions in Taiwan. Other ROC passport holders are issued landing visas upon arrival in Taiwan and are subject to deportation.
It is the Republic of China National Identification Card, which is only issued to ROC citizens with household registration in Taiwan, that is used to exercise citizenship rights such as through voting. Passports of overseas Chinese (as opposed to passports of ROC citizens with household registration in Taiwan) are issued only in ROC embassies, consulates, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices and not in Taiwan itself and contain a special stamp indicating overseas Chinese status (which also exempts the holder of conscription). Passports holders with household registration will also include the holder's national identification number. Similarly, not all British passport holders have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
The validity of an ROC passport is 10 years for general holders, 5 years for minors aged under 16, or 3 years for young male adults who have not yet served the ROC conscription.
Style
Regular passport's cover is dark green in color with gold lettering. The National Emblem of the Republic of China and the wording "Republic of China" and "Passport" in Chinese and English are printed on the cover. However, in September 2003, then-President Chen Shui-bian, who pursued de jure independence, decided to add the word "Taiwan" on the ROC passport cover with the stated reason that "immigration officials may confuse citizens of the democratic Republic of China (ROC) with citizens of the communist People's Republic of China (PRC)"[citation needed]. The premier when asked during question time in the Parliament stated that this was to facilitate travel and did not change the name of the nation.
The first page of the passport is the passport note page and printed:
中華民國外交部部長茲請各國有關機關對持用本護照之中華民國國民允予自由通行，並請必要時儘量予以協助及保護。
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China requests all whom it may concern to permit the national of the Republic of China named herein to pass freely and in case of need to give all possible aid and protection.
The interior is in traditional Chinese and English. Until the mid-1990s, the passport also contained an entry for provincial citizenship, stating the Chinese province and county of one's ancestral home, but this field was eliminated amid the Taiwan localization movement. However, the Chinese province and county of birth is still listed in the birthplace entry if the passport holder was born in either mainland China or Taiwan.
It should be noted that ROC passports identify the issuing country with the ISO code "TWN" for "Taiwan, Province of China", where PRC, HKSAR and MSAR passports all bear China's code "CHN".
On November 25, 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of China announced that it will be starting to issue biometric passport on December 29, 2008[7]. The "Taiwan" wording on the cover will still be kept.
Limitation in usage
Even though the Republic of China maintains official relations with only 23 countries, the ROC passport is still accepted as a valid travel document in virtually all the countries of the world, although in practice some countries (e.g. Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam) opt not to directly stamp on ROC passport. Instead, these countries issue visa on a separate sheet which is stapled to the ROC passport, and only stamp entry and exit stamps on the visa so as not to compromise the legitimacy of the People's Republic of China.
The ROC passport is not accepted by the People's Republic of China. Taiwan residents visiting mainland China must use the PRC-issued "Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permit" to enter. (ROC passports may be required to be presented to PRC immigration officials but they would not be stamped by the PRC.)
Taiwan residents who travel to Hong Kong do get their ROC passports scanned by the Hong Kong immigration officers. However, the stamps are placed on a separate sheet of paper that is stapled to the passport.
During both Portuguese and the PRC administration, Macau authorities regard ROC passports as valid travel document[citation needed], although Macau immigration officers do not stamp ROC passports. Instead they place an entry and exit stamp onto the Arrival/Departure card, which shall eventually be recalled upon visitor's departure from the territory. [citation needed] Macau authorities unilaterally grant ROC passport holders 30-day visa-free access to Macau.
Visa-free access
Approximately 59 countries grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival privileges to Taiwanese passport holders.
Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
United Kingdom 6 months[76]
Oceania
Transit Only
Anguilla 24 hours for transit[94]
Bahamas 3 days for transit[95]
Barbados 48 hours for transit[96]
Belize Visa-free for transit[97]
Brunei 72-hour transit visa issued upon arrival for BND 5[98]
Cayman Islands 24 hours for transit[99]
Netherlands Antilles 48 hours for transit[101]
Kazakhstan 3-day transit visa issued upon arrival[102]
Mauritius 24 hours for transit[103]
Sudan 6 hours for transit[104]
Suriname 5-day transit visa issued upon arrival for US$10 if transit time is longer than 24 hours[105]
Tonga Transit visa issued upon arrival if transit time is longer than 24 hours[106]
United Arab Emirates 96-hour transit visa issued upon arrival if transit time is longer than 8 hours[107]
Yemen 168 hours for transit[108]
For diplomatic/official passport
| Country | Diplomatic | Official |
|---|---|---|
 Bangladesh[109]
|
30 days | 30 days |
 Bolivia[110]
|
No visa | Visa required |
 Cambodia[111]
|
3 months | Visa required |
 Cape Verde[112]
|
No visa | Visa required |
 Chile[113]
|
90 days | 90 days |
 Dominican Republic[114]
|
90 days | 90 days |
 Egypt[115]
|
Unlimited stay visa issued upon arrival for US$15 | 30-day visa isseud upon arrival for US$15 |
 Equatorial Guinea[116]
|
No visa | No visa |
 Ghana[117]
|
60 days | Visa required |
 Jordan[118]
|
No visa | Visa issued upon arrival for JOD 10 |
 Lebanon[119]
|
Visa issued upon arrival | Visa required |
 Mali[120]
|
One month | Visa required |
 Mauritania[121]
|
No visa | Visa required |
 Paraguay[122]
|
90 days | 90 days |
 Peru[123]
|
15 days | 15 days |
 Sierra Leone[124]
|
Visa issued upon arrival | Visa required |
 Uganda[125]
|
3-month visa issued upon arrival for free of charge | 3-month visa issued upon arrival for free of charge |
 Zambia[126]
|
Visa issued upon arrival for free of charge | Visa issued upon arrival for free of charge |
 Zimbabwe[127]
|
No visa | Visa required |
Countries that do not accept Republic of China passport
Bulgaria: Admission refused, if holding diplomatic/official passport
Brazil: Admission refused, if holding diplomatic/official passport. Specific laissez-passer are issued to tourist or business visitors.
Canada: Official, Service & Diplomatic passport not recognized but entry may still be allowed[128]
People's Republic of China: Taiwan Compatriot Pass required (does not apply for Hong Kong and Macau)
- Template:CRG: Admission refused[129]
New Zealand: Admission refused, if holding diplomatic / official passport
Serbia: Admission refused. In case of academic, business or tourist purposes, travelers can apply upon arrival a tourist pass, presenting a formal invitation letter.
Travelling to Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau for Taiwan travellers
Hong Kong Visa-free access for 7 days if holding Taiwan Compatriot Pass with valid entry/exit endorsement for the mainland
Macau Visa-free access for 30 days, but the ROC passport is not stamped in general.
- If holding Taiwan Compatriot Pass: ROC passport (must be valid for at least 3 months), return ticket and 2-photo required, fee is 100 RMB (available at airports in Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xiamen)
- If not holding Taiwan Compatriot Pass: ROC passport (must be valid for at least 3 months), ROC ID card, return ticket and 2-photo required, fee is 150 RMB (available at airports in Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao, Sanya, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xiamen)
The ROC passport is not accepted by the mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau authorities, as Taiwan travellers are considered by the respective authorities as Chinese citizens and the travel is not considered international. These authorities never stamp ROC passports, but still require them to be shown with the Taiwan Compatriot Pass.
(Exception: The Macau authority stamps on ROC passports only when the Taiwanese travellers exit Macau (through airport checkpoint) for a foreign country, i.e. not the mainland, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Such action may seem violating "one China Principle", however it has been said that Macau authority does so in order to comply with international rules and regulations and does a favour to Taiwanese travelers in case such travelers are questioned by a foreign immigration officer about their origin of boarding city.)
Visit to the USA
The US B1/B2 visa refusal rate of ROC passport was 3.1% in 2006.[131] However, the rate increased to 4.6% in 2007.[132] Both figures are lower than the 10% requirement for the Visa Waiver Program.
Notes and references
- ^ "台灣新版護照封面 將加註ISSUED IN TAIWAN 字樣 (The new version of the passport cover in Taiwan will be marked with an "issued in Taiwan" remark)". Epoch Times (in Traditional Chinese). January 14, 2002.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ "St. Lucia customs woes show utility of new passport". Taipei Times. December 2, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ^ "Taiwanese Passport Move Denounced". China Internet Information Center. June 14, 2003. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ "Taiwan passport change angers China". BBC News Online. 13 January, 2002. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "ISECO-Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei". Iseco.org.tw. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ "條文內容". Laws and Regulations Database of the Republic of China. January 27, 2006. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ^ 晶片護照來了 12.29發行[dead link]
- ^ Benin, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Burundi, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Burkina Faso, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Cape Verde, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Comoros, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Djibouti, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Egypt, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ a b c d e 中華民國國民適用以免簽證或落地簽證方式前往之國家或地區 (Visa requirements for ROC nationals), Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- ^ Gambia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Kenya, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Madagascar, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Malawi, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Mozambique, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Rwanda, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ São Tomé and Príncipe, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Senegal, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Seychelles, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Entry requirements, Swaziland Government Ministry of Tourism
- ^ Tanzania, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Togo, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Uganda, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Zambia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Bermuda, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Colombia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Costa Rica, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Dominica, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Dominican Republic, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Ecuador, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Template:PDFlink[dead link]
- ^ Guatemala, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Haiti, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Honduras, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Jamaica, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Nicaragua, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Panama, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Visas, Peruvian Embassy to the United States
- ^ Peru, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Saint Kitts and Nevis, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Saint Lucia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Turks and Caicos Islands, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Armenia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Azerbaijan, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Bangladesh, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ 簽證及入境須知: 巴林王國 (Visa and immigration information: Kingdom of Bahrain), Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- ^ Cambodia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ 證照辦理查詢 (Licence inquiries), EZTravel.com.tw
- ^ 內政部入出國及移民署全球資訊網
- ^ Georgia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Indonesia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Kish Island, Wikitravel
- ^ A Guide to Japanese Visas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- ^ Jordan, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Immigration Guide: Foreigners, "Hi Korea!" (government website)
- ^ Laos, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Malaysia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Department of Immigration & Emigration, Republic of Maldives
- ^ Tourist visa, Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal
- ^ Nepal, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Oman, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Visa requirements, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Government
- ^ Visa information, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka
- ^ Syria, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Visa on arrival, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand
- ^ Timor-Leste, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Visitor information, TNRC Tourism[dead link]
- ^ Travel tips, Visit Kosova
- ^ Visa and entry rules, Travel information for the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica
- ^ Visa-free access for Taiwanese visitors to the UK from 3 March 2009 (09/02/2009) from UK Border Agency
- ^ Frequently asked questions, Australian Electronic Travel Authority
- ^ Facts and Information, Cook Islands Government Online
- ^ Fiji, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Entry and Exit Formalities, VisitGuam.org
- ^ Visa requirements, Guam Tourism Bureau in Taiwan
- ^ Visa Requirements for Kiribati, Kiribati National Tourism Office
- ^ Entry requirements, VisitMicronesia.com
- ^ General Information, Marshall Islands Visitors Authority
- ^ Nauru, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Niue, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Northern Mariana Islands, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Palau, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Papua New Guinea, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Samoa, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Solomon Islands, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Tuvalu, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Vanuatu, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Antigua, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Bahamas, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Barbados, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Belize, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Brunei, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Cayman Islands, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Chad, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Antigua, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Kazakhstan, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Mauritius, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Sudan, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Suriname, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Tonga, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ United Arab Emirates, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Yemen, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Bangladesh, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Bolivia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Cambodia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Cape Verde, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Chile, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Dominican Republic, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Egypt, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Equatorial Guinea, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Ghana, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Jordan, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Lebanon, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Mali, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Mauritania, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Paraguay, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Peru, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Sierra Leone, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Uganda, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Zambia, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ Zimbabwe, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ "OP 16 — Passports and Travel Documents" (PDF). Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ^ Montenegro, Delta Air Lines visa information by Timaticweb
- ^ 證照辦理查詢 (Licence inquiries), EZTravel.com.tw
- ^ Template:PDFlink, United States Department of State
- ^ Template:PDFlink, United States Department of State
See also
- Taiwan Compatriot Pass
- Visa policy of the Republic of China
- Foreign relations of the Republic of China
- People's Republic of China passport
External links
- Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Visa-free access for Republic of China passport holders
- ROC(Taiwan) Passport
- Picture of the covers of the old and the new passports
- Taiwan Reciprocity Schedule, USA
- IATA Passport and visa information provided by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
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