Foreign students who wish to study at a Taiwanese institution need a student visa. Taiwanese universities offer many courses in English.

What are the types of Taiwan student visas?

A Taiwan student visa is a type of resident visa. This is a type of visa issued for a long-term stay.

The following types of student visas for Taiwan are offered:

• visa for foreign full-time students (PhD, MA, BA, high school and others);
  
• visa for international exchange students;
• visa for overseas Chinese students who wish to study in Taiwan (at a Taiwanese university, college, vocational school, high school or junior high school);
• visa for foreigners who want to learn Chinese.

What are the requirements for a Taiwan Student Visa?

Necessary documents:

• The questionnaire is filled out online, printed, and signed.
• Your passport that is valid for at least another six months and has at least three blank pages.
• Two passport-size photographs taken within the last six months.
• Confirmation of enrollment in an educational institution in Taiwan.
• If you are already studying in Taiwan on a visitor visa and wish to change to a resident visa, you must also provide proof of registration and enrollment, as well as school records.
• Health certificate issued in the last three months (original and photocopy). You can obtain a health certificate from a hospital designated by the Center for Disease Control of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan or from a hospital in your country. If you receive a health certificate from a hospital in your home country, it must be legalized at a Taiwan diplomatic mission.
• For full-time international students:

- if you will study in Taiwan high school or below, you must be from a visa-free country;

- confirmation of financial support (original and photocopy);

• For international exchange students:

- confirmation of enrollment at the school or university in which you are already enrolled (original and photocopy);

• For a high school student:

letter of approval from the Ministry of Education of Taiwan;

For Chinese language learners:

- a certificate of registration issued by one of the Chinese language training centers;

- proof that you have completed four months of training and are registered for at least another three months;

- confirmation that you have attended at least 15 hours of classes per week (from Monday to Friday);

- confirmation of attendance, which shows that you did not miss more than a quarter of the total number of hours (original and photocopy);

- school certificates (originals and photocopies);

- study plan;

- confirmation of financial support (original and photocopy);

• For foreign Chinese students:

- if you are an foreign Chinese student who wishes to study in Taiwan, the Foreign Communities Council must identify you as a qualified person;

- you need a letter of approval issued by the Overseas Communities Council and a notice of appointment issued by the Ministry of Education.

All documents you submit must be in English or Chinese, translated by an official translator, and certified by Taiwan's overseas diplomatic mission.

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How to get a Student Visa to Taiwan?

You can get a student visa to Taiwan in two ways:

• In official representations of the country (embassy, ​​consulate, etc.).
• Upon arrival at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or any of its offices.

In both cases, you must be accepted to a Taiwanese institution before applying.

Applying abroad at the diplomatic mission of Taiwan:

• Fill out the online form, print it, and sign it.
• Collect the necessary documents.
• Submit the application and documents in person at the diplomatic mission of Taiwan within 30 days.
• When you complete the application form, you will need to select from a menu which diplomatic mission you are applying to. You can apply to any mission, but we recommend that you apply to the mission in your country. If there is no Taiwanese diplomatic mission in your country, please get in touch with the nearest one.
• Wait for the Taiwan student visa to be processed.
• Take your passport. If your application is approved, the visa will be issued in your passport.
• After entering Taiwan, apply for a Taiwan residence permit at the local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days.
• Application in Taiwan: Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA).

You can apply for a Taiwan student visa upon arrival in Taiwan only if you have obtained a Taiwan visitor visa for the purpose of study. If you are only in Taiwan for tourism or visiting purposes, you will not be able to obtain a student visa when you arrive in the country.

• If you meet the criteria to apply for a Taiwan student visa at BOCA, you must do so at least 8 working days before your current visa expires.
• If your visa application is approved, you must apply for a residence permit in Taiwan at the local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days.
  
• After obtaining a Taiwan student visa, you must also apply for a residence permit in Taiwan.
  

• Residence permit for Taiwan student visa
  After obtaining a Taiwan student visa, the next step is to obtain a residence permit in Taiwan. It is the residence permit, known as the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), that allows you to stay in the country for a long period of time.
  To obtain a Taiwan ARC, you must apply to your local National Immigration Agency within 15 days of your arrival in Taiwan:
  • Complete the online application form available on the Taiwan National Immigration Agency website.
  • Print the application form and take it to the office of the National Immigration Agency together with the following documents:
  - Your passport with your student visa attached.
  - Your student card or certificate of enrollment at your educational institution.
  - Latest color photo.
  - Confirmation of ARC payment.
  
  
  What is the validity period of a Taiwan student visa?
  Since a genuine Taiwan student visa is mostly an entry visa, it is usually valid for up to three months. However, in order to obtain a long-term residence permit in Taiwan, you must obtain a foreigner's residence permit, which can be issued for one, two or three years at the discretion of the immigration officer.
  
  
  Can I extend my Taiwan student visa?
  Yes. However, speaking of the Taiwan student visa, you can only extend it for an additional three months. This will make your stay in Taiwan six months maximum. If your course of study lasts longer, you will need a foreigner's residence permit issued for one, two, or three years.
  
  
  And if you need to stay longer than the period for which your ARC was issued, you must apply for an extension to the National Immigration Agency at least 30 days before your current ARC expires.
  
  
  Can I work on a student visa?
  Yes, you can, but not by default. Neither a Taiwanese student visa nor an ARC for study purposes automatically entitles its holder to work. To obtain a Taiwan work permit as a foreign student, you must obtain a Taiwan work permit from the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
  
  
  However, before this you also need to obtain a work permit consent form from your school stating that you either need a job because you are struggling financially or you will be doing research work related to your studies.