As the global cruise tourism market continues to recover, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) will implement four new measures beginning June 1, 2026, to improve immigration clearance efficiency and service quality for international cruise passengers arriving in Taiwan. The new measures include:
1. Full access to e-Gate clearance for foreign cruise passengers
2. Facial image capture only for manual inspection procedures
3. Removal of outbound passport entry/exit stamps for cruise travelers
4. Elimination of entry stamps on passport photocopies used by foreign cruise passengers during shore excursions
The measures are designed to provide international cruise travelers with a faster, more convenient, and visitor-friendly arrival experience in Taiwan.
New Measures Aim to Shorten Processing Times and Enhance Tourism Experience
International cruise tourism to Taiwan saw significant growth in 2025. According to statistics released by the Taiwan International Ports Corporation, a total of 436 international cruise ship calls arrived at Port of Keelung last year, bringing nearly 993,000 passenger visits. Passenger numbers are projected to exceed one million in 2026. The NIA stated that foreign cruise passengers previously underwent manual immigration inspection procedures requiring both facial image and fingerprint collection, resulting in longer processing times that reduced travelers’ sightseeing opportunities in Taiwan. To address this issue, the following optimization measures will take effect on June 1:
1. Full e-Gate Access for Foreign Cruise Passengers: Foreign travelers entering and departing Taiwan on the same international cruise ship will be eligible to use automated e-Gate clearance systems, significantly reducing waiting times. The NIA estimates the measure could reduce passenger queue times by approximately 40 percent.
2. Facial Image Capture Only for Manual Inspection: Foreign cruise passengers using manual inspection counters will only be required to provide facial image data and will no longer need fingerprint collection. The NIA estimates this change will reduce manual inspection processing time by approximately 20 percent per traveler.
3. No Exit Stamps Required for Cruise Passenger Passports: Passengers arriving and departing Taiwan on the same cruise ship will no longer receive outbound immigration stamps in their passports. During the pilot program period, approximately 120,000 travelers benefited from the measure, saving a total of 67 hours in inspection processing time.
4. No Entry Stamps Required on Passport Photocopies for Shore Excursions: Passengers who complete pre-arrival immigration inspection onboard cruise ships may continue using photocopies of their passports provided by cruise operators when going ashore for sightseeing activities. Under the new measures, these photocopies will no longer require entry stamps, streamlining document distribution procedures and improving operational convenience.
Streamlined Procedures Give Cruise Visitors More Time to Explore Taiwan
The NIA noted that international cruise travelers typically remain in Taiwan for only six to ten hours during port visits. To maximize travelers’ sightseeing and consumption opportunities, the NIA developed the new measures based on three core principles: “advance pre-screening, simplified inspection, and smart clearance technology.” By conducting advance passenger manifest reviews and expanding the use of e-Gate systems and other streamlined procedures, Taiwan aims to significantly shorten immigration processing times while presenting a more efficient and welcoming border service image to international visitors.
Expansion of e-Gate Infrastructure Marks New Milestone for Smart Border Management
In recent years, the NIA has continued promoting smart immigration clearance services through digital technology. In 2020, the NIA installed a total of 12 bidirectional e-Gates at the east and west passenger terminals of the Port of Keelung and at the new passenger terminal of Port of Kaohsiung, creating the world’s first bidirectional immigration clearance system for port operations. To accommodate continued growth in the international cruise tourism market, the NIA is cooperating with Taiwan International Ports Corporation to further expand bidirectional e-Gate facilities at the West Passenger Terminal of the Port of Keelung and the Penglai International Cruise Terminal at the Port of Kaohsiung. Eight additional e-Gates are expected to become operational in July 2026, substantially increasing immigration processing capacity and service efficiency while encouraging more international cruise travelers to visit Taiwan.