Taiwan Visa for Indians in 2026: the Free Travel Authorization Certificate and the Visa Route
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer tracks East and Southeast Asia visa policy for Indian travellers — the moving parts most guides get wrong: who actually qualifies for the online shortcuts, which 'e-visa' sites are real, and how a Schengen or US visa in your old passport can unlock a country you assumed needed a sticker.) · Published · Last updated · 11 min read
Taiwan's best-kept secret for Indians: if you hold (or held in the last 10 years) a visa or residence card from the US, UK, EU, Schengen, Japan, Korea, Canada, Australia or NZ, you can get a FREE online Travel Authorization Certificate. If not, you apply for a visitor visa. Here's both routes.
Quick answer
Indians need pre-approval to visit Taiwan, and there are two routes. If you hold — or held within the last 10 years — a valid visa or resident/PR card from the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or any EU/Schengen country, you can apply online for a free ROC (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) at the official portal niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw. The TAC is free, valid 90 days with multiple entries (max 6 entries a year), and allows a 14-day stay per visit. If you don't qualify, you apply for a visitor visa at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India — there is no e-Visa for ordinary Indian passports; the fee is around ₹3,800 (single entry) as of June 2026. See our Taiwan visa page for the summary.
The Travel Authorization Certificate — the free shortcut most Indians miss
This is the single most useful thing to know about Taiwan: many Indians already qualify for a free, online entry permit and never realise it. Taiwan extends its ROC Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) to nationals of India (and a handful of New Southbound Policy countries) who can show a connection to a major developed economy. You do not need a sticker visa, a TECC appointment, bank statements or an interview — just an online form and a qualifying document.
If you've travelled to the US on a B1/B2, studied in the UK, worked in Germany, or hold a Schengen tourist visa from a recent Europe trip — even an expired one, as long as it lapsed less than 10 years ago — you're very likely eligible. The TAC is issued online, usually within a business day, and printed at home. It's the closest thing Taiwan has to an e-Visa for Indians, and it's free of charge. Check live Delhi-Taipei fares in the FlightGPT chat once you know you qualify.
TAC eligibility — the exact rules
Per the official Taiwan immigration / TECC criteria, an Indian applicant must meet all three basic requirements:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity from your date of arrival in Taiwan
- A confirmed onward or return air/ferry ticket
- You have never been employed as a blue-collar worker in Taiwan
AND at least one of the qualifying documents:
- A valid or expired (within 10 years) entry visa or resident/permanent-resident card issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, the UK, the US, or any EU/Schengen country; or
- A valid ROC (Taiwan) entry visa or resident card, or one issued within the past 10 years, with no record of immigration violations in Taiwan.
Important nuance: a US visa must generally be valid (not expired) under the current criteria, while visas/PR from the other listed countries can be expired up to 10 years — read the requirement text on the portal carefully for your specific document, as the wording is precise. Apply at the official site only: niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw (the National Immigration Agency 'Southeast' portal). Avoid paid intermediaries charging for a free certificate.
TAC validity, stay and entry limits
Once approved, the numbers to remember:
| TAC feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Validity | 90 days from issue |
| Entries | Multiple — up to 6 entries in a one-year period |
| Stay per visit | 14 days, counted from the day after arrival |
| Where to apply | niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw |
So a single approved TAC can cover a 90-day window with several short trips — handy if you're combining Taiwan with Hong Kong or Japan on a multi-stop itinerary. Carry a printed copy of the approved TAC plus the qualifying document (e.g., the passport page with your US/Schengen visa, or the residence card) — airline check-in and Taiwan immigration can both ask to see it. If you need more than 14 days or you're visiting for non-tourist purposes, you'll need a proper visitor visa instead. For a side trip, our Hong Kong-Macau itinerary pairs neatly with a Taiwan leg.
If you don't qualify — the TECC visitor visa route
No qualifying US/UK/EU/Schengen/Japan/Korea/Canada/Australia/NZ document and no recent Taiwan visa? Then you apply for a visitor visa at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India — Taiwan's de facto consulate. Note that ordinary Indian passport holders are not eligible for Taiwan's e-Visa; you submit a physical/in-person application.
Typical requirements: application form with photo, passport (6+ months validity), return ticket, hotel bookings, proof of funds, and an itinerary. As of June 2026 the single-entry visitor visa fee is around ₹3,800, with an express service for roughly ₹5,700 — confirm current fees with the TECC before applying, as consular fees are revised periodically. Processing is usually a few working days. The standard visitor visa allows a longer stay than the TAC's 14 days, so it's also the route to choose if you genuinely need 30+ days. TECC operates offices including Chennai and New Delhi — check which serves your region.
Documents and arrival tips for Taiwan
Whichever route you take, line these up:
- Passport with 6+ months validity and a blank page
- Approved TAC printout + your qualifying visa/PR document, OR your visa-stamped passport
- Return/onward ticket within your permitted stay
- Hotel booking and a rough itinerary
- Funds — a card plus some cash; Taiwan is card-friendly but night markets are cash-first
Taiwan also runs an optional online Arrival Card you can fill before landing at the National Immigration Agency site to speed up immigration — not mandatory if you fill the paper card, but it saves time at Taoyuan (TPE). EasyCard (the transit/payment card) is your best friend for the Taipei MRT and convenience stores. The New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) is easy to withdraw at airport ATMs with Indian Visa/Mastercard debit cards. For the formal data summary and neighbouring East Asia visas, keep our visa hub open.
Common questions Indians get wrong about Taiwan
- 'Taiwan has an e-Visa for Indians' — it does not for ordinary passports. The online route is the Travel Authorization Certificate, which needs a qualifying third-country visa/PR. Without that, it's a TECC visitor visa.
- 'My expired Schengen won't count' — for most listed countries an expired visa works if it lapsed under 10 years ago. (The US visa generally needs to be valid — check the exact text.)
- 'A Taiwan visa lets China see my travel / vice-versa' — Taiwan and mainland China have entirely separate visa regimes; a Taiwan TAC or visa is unrelated to a China L-visa. Plan them independently.
- '14 days isn't enough' — if you need longer, skip the TAC and apply for a visitor visa, which can grant a longer stay.
- Paying a third-party for the TAC — it's free on niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw. Don't pay an agent for a free certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Taiwan in 2026?
Indians need pre-approval. If you hold or recently held a visa or residence card from the US, UK, EU/Schengen, Japan, Korea, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can get a free online Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC). Otherwise you apply for a visitor visa at the TECC in India — there is no e-Visa for ordinary Indian passports.
What is the Taiwan Travel Authorization Certificate and is it free?
It's an online entry permit (TAC) Taiwan offers to eligible Indians, applied at niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw. It is free, valid 90 days with multiple entries (max 6 a year), and allows a 14-day stay per visit. You must hold a qualifying visa/PR from a listed developed country, an onward ticket, and 6+ months passport validity.
Can I use an expired US or Schengen visa to get the Taiwan TAC?
For most listed countries (UK, EU/Schengen, Japan, Korea, Canada, Australia, NZ), a visa or residence card that expired less than 10 years ago qualifies. The US visa generally needs to be valid rather than expired. Always read the exact requirement text on the official portal for your specific document.
How much does a Taiwan visa cost for Indians?
The Travel Authorization Certificate is free. If you don't qualify and apply for a visitor visa at the TECC, the single-entry fee is around ₹3,800 (about ₹5,700 for express) as of June 2026. Confirm current fees with the TECC before applying.
How long can I stay in Taiwan on the TAC?
14 days per visit, counted from the day after arrival, with multiple entries allowed inside the 90-day validity (up to 6 entries in a year). If you need a longer stay, apply for a visitor visa instead.
Is the Taiwan visa linked to a China visa?
No. Taiwan and mainland China run completely separate visa systems. A Taiwan TAC or visitor visa has nothing to do with a China L-visa, and holding one does not affect the other. Plan each independently.