Skip to main content

Regulations governing immigration inspection and data collection and utilization

  • PostDate:2013-12-19 00:00

 

Article 1

 

The Regulations are based on Paragraph 3 of Article 4 of the Immigration Act (hereafter the “Act”).

Article 2

 

A national with household registration in Taiwan (hereafter NWHR) shall carry a valid passport and boarding document(s) of an aircraft/vessel for inspection when he/she exits the State. After the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior (hereafter NIA) completes the required document inspection, with the exception of individuals who threaten national security, individuals who did not obtain prior approval from the serving agency specified in Paragraph 1 of Article 5 or individuals with exit bans specified in Paragraph 1 of Article 6, the NIA shall imprint an exit stamp on his/her passport page and allow his/her exit.

Article 3

 

When a NWHR enters the State, he/she shall carry a valid passport for inspection. After the inspection is complete, the NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on his/her passport page and allow his/her entry
If a NWHR’s passport is lost or expired, he/she may enter the State with a Certificate of Entry Permit.
If a NWHR has the citizenship of another country and enters the State through a passport of other nationality, he/she shall exit the State with the same specific passport.

Article 4

 

When a national without household registration in Taiwan (hereafter NWOHR) enters the State, he/she shall carry a valid passport, entry permit, and complete an arrival card for inspection. After the inspection, with the exceptional circumstances of an individual who has been denied or banned from entry as specified in Article 7 of the Act or entering with the purposes specified in Paragraph 1, Article 15 of the Act, the NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on his/her travel document(s) and allow his/her entry to the State. Alien resident certificate holders are exempt from submitting an arrival card.
A NWOHR, who resides overseas, in the Mainland Area, or in Macau/Hong Kong and is approved for residence or establishing residency, may enter the State with a valid entry permit which shall be inspected by the NIA. After the inspection is completed, the NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on the travel document.

Article 5

 

A NWOHR who has not been banned from exiting (under the circumstances listed under Paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Act) shall carry a valid passport along with an entry permit for inspection when exiting the State. After the inspection is completed, the NIA shall imprint an exit stamp on his/her travel document.

Article 6

 

A resident of Macau or Hong Kong shall carry valid documents listed below for inspection when entering the State, and the NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on his/her travel document(s) after the inspection is completed:
1. A Hong Kong or Macau passport that is valid for at least six months;
2. A valid entry permit;
3. A return aircraft /vessel ticket or ticket to next destination if required by the law;
4. A completed arrival card (not required for R.O.C. passport holders).

Article 7

 

Resident of Macau or Hong Kong shall carry a valid passport with an entry permit for inspection when exiting the State. After the inspection is completed, the NIA shall imprint an exit stamp on his/her travel document(s).

Article 8

 

People of the Mainland Area shall carry valid documents listed below for inspection when entering the State. After the inspection is completed, the NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on his/her travel document(s):
1. A valid entry permit;
2. A return aircraft /vessel ticket or ticket to next destination (does not apply to those specified by law);
3. A valid visa or resident certificate of the country of the next destination;
4.
A completed arrival card does not need to be filled out by holders of alien resident certificate, single entry & exit permit, or others approved by the National Immigration Agency;
5. Identification documents(s);
For an individual approved for residency or household registration permission in Taiwan, he/she must enter with an entry permit and an alien resident certificate, or a Household Registration Permit.

Article 9

 

People of the Mainland Area shall carry valid entry permits (with an authorized entry period) for inspection when exiting the State. After the inspection is completed, the NIA shall imprint exit stamps on the document(s).

Article 10

 

A foreign national shall carry the following documents for inspection when entering the State. After the inspection is completed and the national has not been banned from entry in accordance to Paragraph 1, 2 Article 18 of the Act, the NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on his/her travel document(s) and grant his/her entry:
1. A valid passport or travel document. In order to apply for a landing visa, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months, with the exception of individuals who fall under a treaty/agreement or approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
2. A valid visa, an entry permit, or an alien permanent resident certificate. This does not apply to those entering with a landing visa;
3. A return air/boat ticket or next destination air/boat ticket if applying for a landing visa. This does not apply to individuals providing exemption documents;
4. A valid visa for the country of next destination. This does not apply to countries with no visa requirement for entry;
5. A completed arrival card. This does not apply to R.O.C. alien resident certificate holders.

Article 11

 

A foreigner who wishes to exit the State shall carry his/her passport for inspection and must meet one of the following conditions. After the inspection is completed, with the exceptional circumstances of those banned from exiting in accordance to Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2 of Article 21 of the Act, NIA shall imprint an entry stamp on his/her travel document and grant his/her exit:
1. Has not overstayed his/her visa;
2. If entering with a resident visa or changed from a visitor visa to a resident visa, his/her alien resident certificate must not have expired or been canceled; If entering with alien permanent resident card), his/her card must not have been canceled;
3. If entering with a temporary visiting/resident permit, the permit must not have expired;
4. A foreigner born in the State and has obtained an alien resident certificate;
5. A foreigner who lost his/her passport in the State and upon recovering the lost passport or being issued a new passport/travel document, he/she has completed filing procedures for exiting the State at a local NIA service center;
6. Has completed the administrative procedures for overstay, incomplete alien resident certificate application, or other special circumstance.

Article 12

 

For an individual who has already completed the customs inspection and has to cancel his/her trip, he/she shall submit an application to the NIA with the representatives of the transportation sector to void the exit record and the exit stamp on the passport.

Article 12-1

 

For travelers who enter or exit the State through e-gate, the exit stamp may be omitted.

Article 13

 

An aircraft/vessel crew member who is a NWHR serving on an aircraft/vessel and registered to the State shall carry the following documents for inspection by the NIA when entering/exiting the State:
1. A valid passport or seamen service book;
2. Duty Certificate;
For a crew member entering the State with an aircraft registered to the State or foreign countries regardless of his/her nationality, the same clearance procedures apply.

Article 14

 

A NWHR crew member of a deep sea fishing vessel shall carry the following documents for inspection by the NIA when entering or exiting the State:
1. A valid passport or vessel crew book;
2. The crew list of entry into and exit from the state.

Article 15

 

In order to facilitate the visitor(s) who visit Taiwan by seafaring vessel, the shipping company or the related company shall prepare required documents and the visitor/crew list when applying for entry permission to the NIA seven days before the vessel enters the port of Taiwan. After the permission is granted, the staff of the NIA will visit the vessel to complete an investigation at the previous berthing port.

Article 16

 

Visitor(s) who carry entry/exit permits other than a valid passport, travel documents, multiple entry permit or renewable entry permit, shall provide an entry/exit permit application receipt when NIA does an entry or exit inspection.

Article 17

 

Visitors who enter or exit the State via the local airport or seaport which has not been designated by the Executive Yuan as an international airport or seaport, shall apply for entry/exit permission to the NIA by special permission.

Article 18

 

Based on the purpose of entry/exit control management, the NIA may collect, use and store personal data permanently.
The NIA shall assign designated personnel to be responsible for security management and protection when personal data are being processed and transferred.

Article 18-1

 

Foreigners, nationals without household registration in the Taiwan area, people of the mainland China area, and Hong Kong and Macau residents shall accepted biometric identification upon entry and exit immigration inspection by the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior

 

The preceding paragraph shall not apply to circumstances mentioned in Article 91, paragraph 2 of Immigration Act.

 

Article 19

 

When any organization (in the public or private sector) applies for personal entry/exit data from the NIA, such application shall be prepared according to related laws and regulations, with purpose and content in written form. If a public sector organization needs to regularly access personal entry/exit data, it may obtain such data from the official NIA website system with special permission from the NIA.
Public and private sector organizations shall assign designated personnel to be responsible for the use and management of the data.

Article 20

 

The party, concerned party, or the guardian of the party may apply for the personal entry/exit certificate or make inquiries for personal entry/exit record(s) to NIA.

Article 21

 

In accordance with Article 19 and 20 of the Regulation governing immigration inspection and data collection and utilization, the personnel who apply, provide, use or manage the personal entry/exit data shall abide by the Personal Information Protection Act and others related laws and regulations.

Article 22

 

The NIA may exchange the personal data of entry/exit passenger(s) with other states or areas. The categorization, scope, retention periods and use of the data shall abide by the laws and regulations of bilateral or multilateral agreements.

Article 23

 

The effective date of the Act shall be decided by the Ministry of Interior.
The amended articles hereof shall come into effect as of the day of promulgation.