《TAIPEI TIMES》Visa-free EU travel to continue for Taiwanese

By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter

Taiwan’s Schengen visa waivers would not be affected by the EU’s new travel requirements that are to take effect next year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs （MOFA） said yesterday.

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Under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System （ETIAS）, visa-exempt nationals traveling to 30 European countries are required to have travel authorization.

The 30 countries include the 27 in the passport-free Schengen Area, and Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, Department of European Affairs Director-General Vincent Yao （姚金祥） told a news conference.

Taiwanese passport holders are able to travel to the Schengen Area visa-free as long as they hold a passport valid for a minimum of six months, he said.

The visa-free travel would not be affected by the ETIAS, Yao said.

After the system is implemented, travelers have to fill out the form on the ETIAS’ Web site and pay a fee of 7 euros （US$7.81）, he said.

The authorization is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, he said.

With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, people can enter the 30 countries unlimited times for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

The EU is planning to adopt the system following the practice of the US, Canada and Australia to obtain information on visa-free travelers before they arrive at the border, Yao said.

Travelers can also use this system to confirm whether they are allowed to enter the country in advance, he added.

The authorization does not guarantee entry, which would be granted by border officers after verifying the traveler’s passport and other required documents, the ETIAS Web site says.

In other developments, MOFA’s Kaohsiung office is planning to expand service space and implement a number system for people waiting, in response to a surge of passport applications, the ministry said in a press release on Wednesday.

To meet demand for passport renewals during the summer vacation, the Kaohsiung office is to open extra space in the building’s first floor for applicants to fill out documents, it said.

The office is planning to hand out numbers every morning before business starts, it said.

Those who have taken a number can wait in the area on the first floor, which can help disperse crowds on the third and fourth floors, it said.

Business hours for passport renewal applications are from 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays, with no lunch break, it said, adding that the hours are extended to 8pm on Wednesdays.

People who get a number during the business hours would be able to submit their application on the day, it said.

The ministry suggested applicants make reservations online in advance or ask travel agencies to apply on their behalf to save time, adding that the waiting time on Mondays and Fridays is often longer.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES