Taiwan introduces e-visas for citizens of Russia and 19 other countries

The Bureau of Consular Affairs of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the expansion of the electronic visa program. The updated list includes 20 countries, including Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. Citizens of these countries can now apply for entry permits online without visiting a consulate.

Taiwan visa for Russian citizens

Russia has been added to the updated list of countries whose citizens can apply for an electronic visa to Taiwan. The new rules came into effect on July 7, 2026, and applicants need a valid passport.

The e-visa is issued through a dedicated online system. Applicants must complete an application form and pay the required fee. The system accepts payments by Visa, MasterCard, and JCB cards, while cash payments are not available.

The permit is valid within the framework of the current program until July 6, 2027. After this period, Taiwanese authorities may review the conditions for Russia’s participation in the electronic visa system.

Which countries are included in Taiwan’s e-visa program

In addition to Russia, the updated list includes 19 more countries. Citizens of the following states can also apply for an electronic visa to visit Taiwan:

Armenia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador;
Haiti, Kazakhstan, Kuwait;
Mauritius, Montenegro, Oman;
Panama, Peru, Qatar;
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, and Uzbekistan.

Applicants from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Colombia must provide a valid Schengen visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen country, a valid US residence permit, or a US visa valid for more than 180 days.

Separate rules apply to participants of international conferences, sporting events, and exhibitions organized, co-organized, or supported by Taiwan’s government agencies. In such cases, an electronic visa may be issued based on an invitation from the relevant government authority.

Taiwan boosts inbound tourism

The expansion of the electronic visa program is part of Taiwan’s broader strategy to attract international travelers. Other measures include financial incentives for visitors, which can reach NT$8,000 (around US$250). Of this amount, NT$5,000 is provided to tourists who visit Taiwan again, while an additional NT$3,000 is available for those traveling with companions.

Taiwanese authorities expect that a combination of simplified visa procedures and tourism incentives will help strengthen the country’s position in the international travel market. In the first quarter of 2026, Taiwan welcomed 2.99 million foreign visitors, 3.8% more than during the same period in 2025. Japan remains one of Taiwan’s largest tourism markets, with around 1.48 million Japanese visitors arriving last year, up 12% year-on-year.

Conclusion

International Investment analysts note that Taiwan’s tourism market has not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. For example, the number of travelers from Japan, one of the island’s key tourism markets, remains at around 70% of the 2019 level. In addition, before the pandemic, visitors from mainland China played a more significant role in Taiwan’s tourism sector, but this market has remained limited in recent years.

Under these conditions, Taiwan is actively attracting tourists from Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions. Expanding the electronic visa program to citizens of 20 additional countries has become one of the tools of this strategy. Such measures could increase the attractiveness of Taiwan as a destination for independent travelers and business visitors while supporting the recovery of international tourism.

At the same time, further tourism development will also depend on geopolitical factors, including relations between Taiwan and China, which remain tense.