Everything you need to know about Taiwan’s mandatory digital Arrival Card (TWAC)
Taiwan’s fully digital Arrival Card (TWAC) replaces paper forms starting October 1, 2025. Discover who needs to apply, how to complete it within 7 days of travel, and what happens at immigration.
Planning a trip to Taiwan soon? Prepare for a critical change in customs procedure. Since 1 October 2025, Taiwanese authorities have permanently retired the traditional paper arrival form handed out on planes. In its place now stands the TWAC (Taiwan Arrival Card)—a fully digital, mandatory immigration procedure that must be completed before touching down.
Who needs to apply for the TWAC?
Most international visitors are required to submit the TWAC. Anyone not holding permanent residency in Taiwan must complete the process.
The Taiwan National Immigration Agency (NIA) specifically targets these groups:
Foreign nationals entering on standard visitor visas or under visa-exemption agreements—covering many travellers from Europe, North America, and a wide range of international visitors.
Residents of Hong Kong and Macao holding multiple-entry permits.
Mandarin Chinese residents with multi-entry tourist permits for the Taiwan region.
Taiwanese nationals without household registration—those without a Resident Certificate.
Our agency tip: Without an online submission completed before you land, immigration officers may block your entry. No more filling out a form in a rush, pen in hand, while waiting in line.
When and how to submit your TWAC
Taiwan’s government aims to cut waiting times at border control. The process is designed to be quick—if you meet the strict deadline.
Required timeline
Submit your TWAC within 7 days before arrival. Previously, travellers had only 3 days to complete the form.
Key features of the system
The Ministry of the Interior has built a streamlined traveler-ready platform with four major functions:
Auto-fill from passport: Upload a high-quality photo of your passport’s biometric page. Optical recognition extracts your details and auto-populates the form in seconds.
Group submission: Travelling with family, friends, or a business group? One person can submit declarations for the whole party (up to 16 people).
Multilingual interface: The core platform is in English and Chinese, but includes input assistance in five regionally vital languages—Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.
Entirely free: The official process is free of charge (optional service fees may apply if you use a travel-document agency or e-visa facilitator).
At the airport (or port): what to expect
Your online submission transforms the arrival experience:
You’ll receive an immediate confirmation email at your registered address.
The TWAC system is directly linked to customs databases. When the immigration officer scans your passport, your Arrival Card data appears instantly on their screen. We recommend printing the document or saving it to your phone.
Last-minute tip: If you forgot to submit before departure, NIA-run QR codes at airport check-in desks let you complete the form on your smartphone moments before boarding.
Taiwan departure checklist
Follow this action plan to breeze through Taiwan’s entry process:
Verify your visa requirements based on nationality (visitor visa, e-Visa, or visa exemption).
7 days before arrival: visit the official TWAC portal.
Have a clear, well-lit photo of your passport biometric page on your phone or computer.
Submit declarations for everyone in your travel group (if applicable).
Ensure you’ve received the Taiwanese government confirmation email.
En tant que chargée de relation client, mes missions sont la gestion et le suivi des demandes de visas. Je reste informée des actualités concernant les nouvelles formalités de voyage ainsi que les spécificités des nouveaux visas.
