Indians need prior authorization for Taiwan, but many qualify for the free online TAC: multiple visits, 14 days each. eVisa, visitor visa and eligibility explained.
Cover image: Taipei cityscape seen from Taipei 101 with the city spread below — photo by Wang Yu Ching / Office of the President, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Yes, Indians need prior authorization to visit Taiwan, but many travellers qualify for the free online Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) instead of a full visa. India is not on Taiwan's visa-exempt list, so you cannot simply board a flight and show up. Your three doors in are the TAC (multiple visits, up to 14 days each within a 90-day validity, at no fee), a single-entry eVisa for stays under 30 days, or a regular visitor visa from a Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) mission. There is no visa on arrival for Indian passport holders. Which door fits depends on one thing above all: whether you hold, or recently held, a visa from the US, Canada, the UK, Schengen Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or South Korea. If you do, the TAC is almost certainly your answer. Taiwan keeps courting Asian visitors, as our report on Taiwan's tourism push in the Philippines shows, and Indian arrivals ride the same improving connectivity, including the return of direct Bali-Taipei flights on the wider network.
What is the Taiwan Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC)?
The TAC is an online registration that grants visa-exempt-style entry to nationals of a few countries, including India, who meet set conditions. It costs nothing and covers multiple visits, with each stay capped at 14 days, during a 90-day validity period. The core condition is that you hold a residence permit or a visitor visa issued by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, EU Schengen states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or South Korea. That underlying visa must still be valid, or have expired no more than 10 years before your arrival date in Taiwan. You must also hold a return or onward ticket, and you must never have been employed in Taiwan as a guest worker. Holders of work permits, and visas marked void or cancelled, are excluded. Since 2017 there is a second way in: travellers who received a Taiwanese visa (other than a work visa) at any point in the last 10 years can also register for the TAC. Registration is done online before departure, so complete it before you pay for non-refundable hotels.
Taiwan eVisa and regular visitor visa for Indians
If you do not qualify for the TAC, the eVisa is the next simplest route: a single-entry eVisa for visits of under 30 days, applied for online. Two India-specific variants exist. Group tourists travelling with agencies designated by Taiwan's Tourism Administration can get an eVisa with a maximum stay of 30 days. Business travellers with a recommendation from the local Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) office can apply for a business eVisa. Everyone else applies for a regular visitor visa at the TECC mission serving their region (Delhi, Chennai or Mumbai depending on jurisdiction). Keep your file simple and consistent: passport, photographs, confirmed itinerary, hotel bookings and evidence you can fund the trip. Apply weeks ahead of peak-season travel. Travellers who already hold a Schengen visa or recently visited South Korea should check the TAC first, since either document can unlock the free route.
| Route | Who it suits | Stay allowed | Entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAC (online, no fee) | Indians holding or recently holding US/UK/Schengen/Japan/Korea and similar visas, or a past Taiwan visa | Up to 14 days per visit within 90-day validity | Multiple |
| eVisa (online) | First-time visitors without a qualifying third-country visa | Under 30 days | Single |
| Group-tour eVisa | Travellers on packages with designated agencies | Up to 30 days | Single |
| Visitor visa (TECC mission) | Longer or complex trips, business travel, anyone ineligible above | As granted on the visa | As granted |
Mistakes that get Indians stopped at check-in
The commonest failure is assuming visa-on-arrival exists. It does not for Indians, and airlines flying to Taoyuan enforce documentation at boarding, so an ineligible traveller is offloaded in Delhi, not refused in Taipei. Second, TAC applicants misread the 10-year rule: the qualifying third-country visa must have expired no more than 10 years before arrival, so dig out old passports carrying expired US or Schengen visas before concluding you are ineligible. Third, one-way tickets sink TAC entry, since the return or onward ticket is a stated condition. Fourth, employment history matters: anyone who worked in Taiwan as a guest worker cannot use the TAC at all. Finally, keep the 14-day TAC cap in mind when planning multi-city East Asia loops. A 14-day Taiwan leg inside a longer Japan or Korea trip works neatly, but a three-week Taiwan-only holiday needs the eVisa or visitor visa instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is Taiwan visa-free for Indians?
No. India is not on Taiwan's visa-exempt list. Indians need either the free online Travel Authorization Certificate (if they meet its conditions), an eVisa, or a visitor visa from a TECC mission.
How long can I stay in Taiwan on the TAC?
Up to 14 days per visit, for multiple visits made within the certificate's 90-day validity period.
Does an expired US visa qualify me for the TAC?
Yes, provided it expired no more than 10 years before your date of arrival in Taiwan, and you meet the other conditions (return ticket, no guest-worker history).
Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Taiwan?
No. Visa on arrival is limited to holders of emergency or temporary passports issued by visa-exempt countries. Indians must arrange authorization before flying.
