Taiwan Business Visa for Indian - Definitive Guide

There are certain formalities and documentation to be done before travelling to another country whatever be the reason. When it comes to doing business in Taiwan, there are certain procedures to be followed as well. A business visa for Taiwan will allow you to carry out different kinds of business errands like business meetings, conferences, exhibitions, deals with foreign companies, and others. However, you do not need a visa for the initial 90 days. You can visit Taiwan with a passport valid for 6 months ahead of the date of travel. In the case of a visa, it comes with a validity of three to six months depending on the type of the visa. The single-entry visa is valid for three months and the multiple-entry visa is valid for 6 months allowing a stay of 60 days per visit.

The process of obtaining a business visa for Taiwan is mainly offline. However, there is an online application that is to be filled out before carrying on the rest of the application process. But you first need to match the eligibility criteria to be able to apply for the business visa. The process for obtaining the visa is given as follows:

1. You can start by visiting the official website of Taiwan Immigration.
2. You can then fill out the visa application form for Taiwan business visa.
3. When the form has been filled out correctly, download and print the form.
4. Attach the photographs as per the photo specifications.
5. Attach the supporting documents as per the list of documents provided.
6. Submit the form to the visa application centre
7. Pay the required visa fee and wait for the final verification

When you are filling out the form, you need to make sure that the information provided on the visa application form checks out with the details on your passport and other documents. If there is any incorrect or unverifiable information, there are chances that the visa application may get rejected. This kind of visa rejection can even affect your future applications for any further application for a business visa for Taiwan or any other kind as well. To avoid such an incident, you can even acquire consultation from the professionals to make sure not to make a mistake that could have consequences.

Before applying, you need to have all the required documents and match the other parameters as well. Some of the important pointers are given below:

You must have proof of business ownership and purpose of visit

1. You must have proper proof of your business enterprise to show it to the authorities.
2. If you have been invited to a business conference or to attend a business or client meeting, an invitation letter from the company must be provided to the embassy.

You must meet the health requirements

• • 1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Taiwan.
    2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.

You must meet the character requirements

• • 1. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind doing business in Taiwan.
    2. You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

You must have sufficient funds

1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Taiwan.
2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

There are several documents that are required at the time of issuing a business visa for Taiwan. A list of Taiwan business visa requirements for Indian citizens is given as follows:

• Original passport with validity at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel
• Completely filled visa application form
• Two photos as per the photo specifications
• Travel Itinerary
• Proof of confirmed travel dates - Air tickets
• Proof of sufficient funds to support your stay in Taiwan - ITR, Bank Statement
• Proof of accommodation - Invitation letter, Hotel reservation
  

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 2 inches x 2 inches.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 60-70% of the frame - 32mm x 36mm.
• Head should well-centred.
• A gap of 2mm to 6mm must be kept between the top of the head and the frame.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The processing time required for the issuance of the Taiwan business visa is about 3 to 5 days. The time will still vary depending on certain factors like the workload at the consular office, the staff availability, whether the documents are complete or the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others. The time increases and decreases affected by these parameters. An additional factor that might affect if there is a requirement document attestation for commercial documents.

There are various aspects on which the Taiwan business visa fee is dependent upon. These include the type of visa, the validity of the visa required, the urgency of the visa issuance, etc. The fee includes the charges paid to the Taiwan Consulate and the visa services that you avail. The fees can be paid online or offline as per the instructions.

At the time of document and application form submission, you need to remember the following points -

• The documents to be submitted must be in good condition.
• There is no need for an appointment for the submission. 
• The completely filled and signed visa application form can be submitted to the visa application centre or directly to the Consulate. 
• You can submit the documents to your nearest branch of the visa application centre. 
• The application form must be submitted in person. If in case you are more than 200 miles (300 km) away from the Consulate, or if you do not have access to a nearby visa application centre, you can mail the documents through a registered courier service. 
• If you are mailing the documents, you must make sure to mail them in a special envelope and the parcel must be self-addressed and prepaid so that you can get your documents and passport back safely.
• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.
• The visa fee is generally not refundable.

In order to know the status of your business visa for Taiwan, you can visit the website of the visa agency through which you have applied or the visa application centre website. Alternatively, you can even do it offline by calling the embassy with the visa application number and enquire about the status.

When you have your visa issued, you need to remember a few things. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

Before you travel

• Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Taiwan within the validity of your visa to be able to cover the stay of 60 days.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.

At the Border

• Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
• Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

When you enter Taiwan

• Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
• The business visa does not permit you to employ the residents or reside in the country.
• It is a permit that allows you to only perform business and business-related operations in the country. You are still permitted tourism.
• The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for the visa extension in time.