Those without an entry permit upon arrival will have to pay NT$300 (HK$76) for a visa-on-arrival.The Taiwan Tourism Bureau Hong Kong office clarified on Tuesday that Hong Kong or Macau residents holding a Special Administrative Region passport or a British National (Overseas) passport must obtain an entry permit prior to entering Taiwan.
The bureau posted a clarification on their Facebook page on Tuesday following a misinformed report by a Hong Kong online media outlet, which stated that Taiwan only requires visitors to complete an online arrival card, and that there is no need to print the form for immigration inspection.
The Facebook post points out that the arrival card is different from the entry permit, which is the document that most Hong Kong and Macau citizens must fill out online and print out, and have it ready with them when they enter Taiwan. Those who do not have the entry permit in hand upon arrival will have to pay NT$300 (HK$76) for a visa-on-arrival.
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The arrival card, which is available online or at the airport when you arrive in Taiwan, is a form that visitors fill to give to immigration officers as they go through customs, which gives personal particulars and states their purpose of visiting Taiwan.
The bureau made clear that the online arrival card is only applicable to foreign visitors without a ROC (Taiwan) Resident Certificate, Diplomatic ID Card or a Resident Visa; those from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau with a Single or Multiple Entry & Exit Permit for the purpose of sightseeing; as well as Taiwanese Nationals without a ROC (Taiwan) Resident Certificate.
Some netizens thanked the authority for clearing up the confusion, while others urged Taiwan to give visa-free access to Hong Kong and Macau citizens.