Taiwan’s online arrival card is the Taiwan Arrival Card, or TWAC. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) says it officially replaced the paper card on 1 October 2025. You fill it in on your phone or laptop before you fly. It records who you are, how you arrive and where you will stay, and does not decide whether you are let in.
Is it free?
Yes. The NIA’s FAQ calls it “completely FREE of charge” and says the only official website is twac.immigration.gov.tw.
It also warns that “The official platform will NEVER request credit card details or any form of payment information.” If a page asks you to pay, check the address in your browser. The NIA tells travelers to avoid third-party sites, to prevent fraud and the compromise of personal data.
Who has to file
- A foreign national who does not hold an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), a Resident Visa or a Diplomatic Identification Card.
- A mainland China resident holding a multiple-entry permit for tourism.
- A Hong Kong or Macau resident holding a multiple-entry permit.
- A Republic of China passport holder without household registration in Taiwan and without a Taiwan Area Resident Certificate.
Who does not
The NIA’s notice page lists these as not required: holders of a Republic of China (Taiwan) Resident Certificate, foreign nationals with a resident visa or an Alien Resident Certificate, and holders of diplomatic ID cards issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mainland China and Hong Kong or Macau residents outside the permit categories above are not required either.
Transit passengers depend on what they do. The FAQ says you do not need a TWAC if you are strictly transiting without passing through immigration. You do need one if you clear immigration to collect bags, or check in at a departure counter in the public area. In that case choose “Transit” in the “Accommodation in Taiwan” field.
When to file
File within the 7 days before you arrive, counting the day of arrival. The NIA’s example is a 7 October arrival, which opens for filing on 1 October.
Each submission is valid for one entry only. On your next trip, file a new card within 7 days of that arrival.
What you need to fill in
The FAQ says to have four things ready:
- The passport you will enter with.
- A valid email address.
- Your occupation and phone number.
- Your trip details: arrival and departure dates, flight numbers, and where you will stay, such as a hotel name or a residential address.
The form also asks for your English name, date of birth, nationality, country of birth, place of residence, visa type and purpose of visit. Some details to know:
- The English name field accepts only English letters and spaces.
- You can upload a photo of your passport page to fill in the passport details automatically. The NIA says this is optional, and you can type the details in if it fails.
- Fields must be completed in Chinese or English. The interface is also available in Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai.
- If your airline code is missing from the drop-down, choose “NONE OF ABOVE” and type the full flight number.
- If your reason for visiting is not listed, pick the closest option or choose “Others” and explain.
You start by verifying your email. The NIA’s user manual says the code is valid for 5 minutes, so open your inbox before you request it. If it does not arrive, check spam or try another address. The form warns that email services from mainland China may fail to receive the code.
Return or onward ticket
The departure flight and date are mandatory fields. The FAQ says visitors entering visa-free or on a visitor visa must have a confirmed return or onward ticket, by air or sea, ready for inspection. Book it before you file.
Families, children and groups
Every traveler files their own card, “including infants and children”. There is no age cut-off.
You can file for several people in one session. The web form takes up to 10 travelers, and an Excel import takes up to 16. From the second traveler onward you can tick “Same as Lead Traveler”, so one email address receives everyone’s confirmation. Family members or a travel agent may submit for you. Keep the confirmation email, because an officer may ask to see it.
After you submit, and fixing mistakes
A confirmation email arrives with your electronic arrival card. You do not need to print it, and you show it only if an officer asks, so keep it on your phone. If you submit twice, only the most recent submission is kept.
Until you go through immigration clearance, you can use “Update Arrival Card” on the TWAC site. You need the Arrival Card Number, date of birth and nationality from the original submission. The system then sends a new confirmation email, and that newer one is the version to use.
The declaration you tick says incomplete, inaccurate or fraudulent information may lead to a prohibition on entry.
If you cannot file in advance
The NIA says a traveler without a device or internet access, or who cannot receive the email code, may complete the TWAC on a tablet in the Immigration Hall on arrival, or ask an officer for help. The official sources we checked state no penalty for arriving without a card and mention no paper alternative. The FAQ says filing in advance helps you avoid unnecessary delays during immigration.
The NIA’s e-Gate page lists travelers whose required arrival card has not been completed or submitted online as ineligible to use e-Gates. Filing does not give you e-Gate access by itself. The FAQ says only citizens of countries with a reciprocal agreement can use it. The NIA’s list of partners includes Australia, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States (valid Global Entry members only), each with an electronic passport.
How the TWAC fits with visas and entry permits
The FAQ says “the TWAC is not a visa”. You still need whatever entry permission applies to your passport.
Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs lists the passports that can enter without a visa:
- Up to 90 days: EU member states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
- Up to 30 days: Singapore and Malaysia.
- 14 days: Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei, under a program running until 31 July 2027.
Some entries carry conditions, so read your own country’s line. The general requirements are a passport with at least six months of validity on the day you enter and a confirmed return or onward ticket. Thai, Philippine and Brunei passport holders must also show proof of a hotel booking, a host or sponsor’s contact details and sufficient travel funds. The visa-exempt page also tells visitors to complete the online arrival card within seven days before arriving.
Citizens of India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar and Laos can apply online for a Travel Authorization Certificate through the NIA. Hong Kong, Macau and mainland residents still need a valid entry permit.
After you land
Customs is separate from immigration. Read Taiwan’s duty-free allowance and its NT$200,000 pork fine before you pack. If you plan to ride high speed rail, when a THSR visitor pass beats one-way tickets is worked through with fares.