Taiwan expands eVisa access to 20 more nationalities including Russia

Taiwan's eVisa program covered a narrow slice of nationalities until this month. It now covers 20 more, including Russia on a one-year trial.

From consular lines to online forms for 20 nationalities

The Bureau of Consular Affairs added Russia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dominica, Ecuador, Haiti, Kuwait, Mauritius, Montenegro, Oman, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to full eVisa eligibility, alongside conditional access for Armenia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. Before the change, travelers from these countries had to apply in person through a Taiwan representative office. They can now file online and pay by Visa, MasterCard or JCB, with no cash option.

Russia's inclusion is time-limited. Only ordinary passport holders qualify and the window runs July 7, 2026 through July 6, 2027. That replaces nothing: Russia's previous visa-exemption trial expired July 31, 2022 and BOCA never restored it. This is the first structured short-stay route for Russian tourists to Taiwan in nearly four years.

The fine print that catches five nationalities

Applicants from Armenia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan don't get clean eVisa access. They must hold one of the following:

• A valid Schengen visa or residence permit
• A US residence permit
• A US visa valid for more than 180 days

That effectively routes eligibility through third-country ties. A Kazakh freelancer already living in Berlin on a Schengen permit qualifies; one applying from Almaty with no other visas doesn't.

The eVisa itself is single-entry, valid three months from issue and permits stays of up to 30 days. It can't be extended and can't be converted to a resident, work or study visa. The fee has run at roughly NT$1,646 (about $50) under the existing program.

Who has to act and who shouldn't bother

Short-trip travelers, conference attendees and scouting-visit nomads from the 20 countries can skip the consulate entirely starting now. Russian passport holders planning a Taiwan trip should file within the trial window; if BOCA doesn't renew after July 6, 2027, the route closes again with no announced successor.

The eVisa is the wrong tool for anyone planning to live, work or study in Taiwan. Because it can't be converted in-country, expats eyeing a longer stay still need to apply for a resident or work visa through a Taiwan mission before arrival. Anyone considering settling in Taiwan should treat the eVisa as a scouting mechanism, not an on-ramp and read up on the longer-term routes covered in our Taiwan country guide before booking a one-way ticket.