Taiwan tourist visa for Santomeans
Santomean citizens who want to visit Taiwan must obtain a tourist (visitor) visa in advance. This visa is valid for 90 days and only allows a single entry. You must apply in person at the nearest Taiwanese consulate or embassy.
Taiwan Arrival Card for Santomeans
From October 1, 2025, Taiwan will completely abandon paper arrival cards (which were previously filled out on the plane or at the airport).
Instead, a digital system called Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) will be introduced.
Who needs it?
All foreigners who do not have resident status in Taiwan. That is:
- tourists
- business travelers
- students on short-term programs
- other visitors without a Resident Visa, ARC (Alien Resident Certificate), or diplomatic documents.
How to obtain an arrival card?
1. Fill out the form online on the government portal. It is recommended to do this 3 days before departure (but you can also do it at the airport).
The form must include:
- passport details
- flight or ship number
- date of arrival
- contact details
- address of stay in Taiwan
- purpose of travel.
You can submit a group application (up to 16 people on one form). There is a data update function if your plans change.
After submission:
2. You will receive a confirmation email with a QR code.
3. At passport control, it is usually sufficient to simply scan your passport (the QR code is a backup option).
4. If you did not have time to fill it out in advance, there will be kiosks and staff at the airport to help you do it online.
How Santomean citizens can apply for a Taiwan tourist visa?
If you’re a Santomean citizen planning to visit Taiwan, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa in advance. The process starts with an online application. Here’s what you need to do:
- Your personal details (name, citizenship, date of birth, gender, marital status, address, and contacts).
- Your passport details (number, type, issue and expiration dates).
- The visa type you need.
- The diplomatic mission where you will submit your application (choose from the list).
- Your trip’s purpose.
- The contact details of your host in Taiwan.
- Whether a third party is submitting the application for you.
Print and sign the completed form before proceeding with the next steps.
Taiwan visa requirements for Santomean citizen
- A completed and printed application form.
- A passport with at least six months of validity remaining.
- Two recent passport-size photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm).
- A bank statement proving sufficient funds.
- Proof of accommodation and flight bookings.
- Health insurance (optional but recommended).
- Proof of consular fee payment (around $50 USD).
Extra documents for children:
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate.
- A notarized consent letter from parents/guardians.
- A sponsorship letter confirming coverage of travel expenses.
Submitting a Taiwan visa application
After gathering all the required documents, Santomeans must submit them to a Taiwanese consulate or embassy within 30 days of completing the online form.
- Select an embassy or consulate while filling out your visa application.
- Pay the required consular fee when you apply.
- If there are no issues, you will be informed when to pick up your passport with the visa.
- If additional checks are needed, your documents may be sent to BOCA for further processing.
Submission options:
- Some diplomatic missions require in-person submission.
- Others allow applications through a representative.
- If you want your passport returned by mail, provide a prepaid return envelope with your address.
What documents are required to import an animal into the country?
- The animal must be implanted with a microchip consisting of 15 digits and conforming to the ISO 11784/11785 standard. The microchip number must appear on the health certificate;
- The animal must have been vaccinated against rabies from 30 days to 12 months before entering the country;
- If your pet (cat/dog) was born and raised or spent more than 6 months in Japan, Great Britain, Sweden, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Norway (except Svalbard), Hawaii, Guam or Singapore, it will not need a rabies test. Animals entering from all other countries will need a test done between 180 days and 12 months before entry and this test must be done no earlier than 30 days after the last rabies vaccination.
Importantly!
- This analysis can only be done at an approved Taiwanese quarantine bureau, BAPHIQ.
- After the test, 180 days must pass before the Taiwanese authorities will allow your pet to enter the island. The result must also show at least 0.5 IU/ml, otherwise you will have to re-vaccinate and re-test your pet.
- Please note that if you bring your pet to Taiwan before the end of the 180 days, the local authorities have the right to either send the animal back or place it in the appropriate institution for quarantine until these 180 days have passed, or use more radical methods.
- Veterinary certificate completed by a licensed veterinarian in your country before travel;
- Required permit for import into the country. You can get it in real-time on the website of the Council of Agriculture, "Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine". The received permit is valid for three months. Also, it should be received no later than 20 days before the estimated animal import date to Taiwan.
- Treatment for parasites before entry is not mandatory, but it is better to do it;
- Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, amphibians, rodents are not subject to rabies vaccination requirements, but may be subject to other requirements. This should be clarified with the relevant authorities of your country/country of destination;
Importantly! Before importing a pet (unless it is a dog, cat, or ferret), you should make sure that it is not under the protection of the International Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). If so, then you will need to apply for additional documents.
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Notes.
Cats from Australia
A cat entering Taiwan from Australia must comply with the following regulations:
- Before export, the cat must spend 28 days in quarantine at an approved facility in Australia under the supervision of the country's government quarantine authority.
- During this time, the animal is subjected to two serum neutralization tests for the Hendra virus. Both results must be negative, and no more than 21 days must pass between the two tests.
- The veterinary certificate for a cat imported from Australia must also state the following:
- The cat comes from an area that has been free of Hendra virus for the past six months;
- Pre-export quarantine of the animal must be for at least 28 days;
- 24 hours prior to travel, the cat had no clinical signs of Hendra disease.
Free entry by persons over 20 years of age:
- 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 454 g of tobacco;
- One bottle (no more than 1 liter) of alcoholic beverages;
- Reasonable amount of perfume;
- Goods imported for non-commercial purposes with a value of up to TWD 20,000 (for persons under 20 years of age – TWD 10,000).
Passengers are required to fill out a baggage declaration, where valuable items (photo and video equipment, jewelry, etc.) must be indicated; the declaration must be presented again upon departure.
It is prohibited to import:
- Narcotic substances, poison;
- Firearms and ammunition (including toy guns);
- Items for gambling;
- Pornography;
- Printing publications promoting communist ideas;
- Live animals (except cats and dogs);
- Products of animal origin, except for dried and processed marine products;
- Live plants, fresh vegetable products and fresh fruits;
- Electronic cigarettes.
Special rules apply to the import of gold and silver.
Free export of gold jewelry up to 62.5 g, silver jewelry up to 625 grams. Prohibited: Gold and silver bars or coins.
Currency
Rules for importing currency:
Allowed:
- local currency (New Taiwan Dollar -TWD): up to 60,000 TWD;
- Chinese currency: up to 20,000 yuan;
- foreign currency: up to USD 10,000 or its equivalent;
- bearer's checks, other types of checks, promissory notes, drafts or other forms of negotiable instruments in the amount of up to $10,000.
Larger amounts must be declared upon arrival.
Rules for the export of currency:
Allowed:
- local currency (New Taiwan Dollar -TWD): up to 60,000 TWD;
- Chinese currency: up to 20,000 yuan;
- foreign currency: up to USD 10,000 or its equivalent;
- bearer's checks, other types of checks, promissory notes, drafts or other forms of negotiable instruments in the amount of up to $10,000.