International students, including citizens of Ukraine, who wish to study in a Taiwanese educational institution need a student visa. Taiwanese universities offer many courses in English.
What are the types of Taiwan student visas?
A Taiwanese student visa is a type of resident visa (a type of visa issued for long-term stay).
The following types of student visas to Taiwan are offered:
- visa for full-time international students (PhD, MA, BA, high school or lower);
- visa for international exchange students;
- a visa for foreigners wishing to learn Chinese.
What are the requirements for obtaining a Taiwan student visa?
Required documents:
- The questionnaire was filled out online, printed and signed.
- Your passport that is valid for at least 6 months and has at least three blank pages.
- Two passport-size photographs taken within the last six months.
- Confirmation of enrollment in an educational institution in Taiwan.
- If you are already studying in Taiwan on a visitor visa and want to change it to a resident visa, you must also provide proof of registration and enrollment, as well as school transcripts.
- A health certificate issued within the last three months (original and photocopy). You can obtain a health certificate from a hospital designated by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control or from a hospital in your home country. If you obtain a health certificate from a hospital in your home country, it must be legalized at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission.
- For international full-time students:
- if you will be studying at a high school in Taiwan or lower level, you must be from a visa-free country;
- proof of financial support, if applicable (original and photocopy);
- For international exchange students:
- a confirmation of enrollment from the school or university where you are already enrolled (original and photocopy);
- For a high school student:
- letter of approval from the Ministry of Education of Taiwan
- For Chinese language learners:
- a certificate of registration issued by one of the Chinese language training centers;
- proof that you have completed four months of study and have registered for at least three more months;
- proof that you have attended at least 15 hours of classes per week (Monday through Friday);
- an attendance record proving that you have not missed more than a quarter of the total number of hours (original and photocopy);
- school certificates (originals and photocopies);
- training plan;
- proof of financial support, if any (original and photocopy).
All documents you submit must be translated into English or Chinese by an official translator and certified by a foreign diplomatic mission of Taiwan.
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How to get a student visa for Taiwan?
There are two ways to get a student visa to Taiwan:
- At the country's official representative offices (embassy, consulate, etc.).
- Upon arrival at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or any of its offices.
In both cases, you must be admitted to a Taiwanese educational institution before you can apply.
Applying abroad at a Taiwanese diplomatic mission:
- Fill out the online application form, print it out and sign it.
- Gather the necessary documents.
- Submit the application and documents in person to a Taiwanese diplomatic mission within 30 days;
- When you fill out the application form, you will need to choose which diplomatic mission you are applying to from the drop-down menu. There is no Taiwanese consulate in Ukraine, so the visa can only be obtained through a diplomatic mission in a neighboring country.
- Wait for the Taiwan student visa to be issued.
- Collect your passport. If your application is approved, the visa will be issued in your passport.
- After entering Taiwan, apply for a Taiwan residence permit at a local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days.
- Application in Taiwan: at the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA).
You can apply for a Taiwan student visa upon arrival in Taiwan only if you have obtained a Taiwan visitor visa for the purpose of study. If you are only in Taiwan for tourism or visiting purposes, you will not be able to apply for a student visa when you arrive in the country.
- If you meet the criteria for applying for a student visa to Taiwan at BOCA, you must do so at least 8 business days before your current visa expires.
- If your visa application is approved, you must apply for a residence permit in Taiwan at a local service center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days.
- After obtaining a Taiwanese student visa, you must also apply for a residence permit in Taiwan.
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Residence permit for Taiwan student visa
After obtaining a Taiwan student visa, the next step is to obtain a residence permit in Taiwan. It is the residence permit, known as the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), that allows you to stay in the country for a long period of time, not the student visa itself;
To obtain a Taiwan ARC, you must apply at the local center of the National Immigration Agency within 15 days after your arrival in Taiwan:
- Fill out an online application available on the website of the National Immigration Agency of Taiwan.
- Print out the application form and bring it to the office of the National Immigration Agency along with the following documents:
- Your passport with a student visa attached.
- Your student ID card or certificate of enrollment at your educational institution.
- The last color photo.
- Confirmation of payment of the ARC.
What is the validity period of a Taiwan student visa?
Since a genuine Taiwan student visa is more of an entry visa, it is usually valid for up to three months. However, in order to obtain a long-term residence permit in Taiwan, you must obtain an alien residence permit, which can be issued for one, two, or three years as decided by the immigration officer.
Can I extend my Taiwan student visa?
Yes. However, when it comes to the Taiwan student visa itself, you can only extend it for an additional three months, making your stay in Taiwan a maximum of six months. If your course of study will last longer, you will need a one-, two-, or three-year residence permit.
And if you need to stay longer than the period for which your ARC was issued, you must apply for an extension to the National Immigration Agency at least 30 days before your current ARC expires.
Is it possible to work on a student visa?
Yes, you can, but not by default. Neither a Taiwan student visa by itself nor an ARC for study purposes automatically allows its holder to work. To obtain a work permit in Taiwan as an international student, you must obtain a work permit in Taiwan from the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
However, before doing so, you also need to obtain a work permit consent form from your school stating that you either need a job because you are experiencing financial hardship or you will be doing research related to your studies.
