What Is the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC)?
The Taiwan Arrival Card, commonly known as TWAC, is an online arrival form required from certain travelers entering Taiwan. It's submitted before arrival and collects the personal, passport, travel, and accommodation information that immigration officers previously gathered from paper forms. TWAC is managed by Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA) and is not a visa — it's an additional pre-arrival step required alongside whatever visa or visa-exempt status you already hold.
Why Taiwan Replaced the Paper Arrival Card
Since October 1, 2025, TWAC has replaced Taiwan's traditional paper arrival card. The shift was designed to speed up immigration clearance and cut down on the bottlenecks that came with planeloads of travelers filling out near-identical forms by hand. Submitting online, in advance, means your information is already in the system by the time you reach the immigration counter.
Who Needs to Submit TWAC
TWAC applies to:
- Foreign nationals entering Taiwan with a visitor visa
- Foreign nationals entering under Taiwan's visa-exemption program
- Hong Kong and Macau residents holding a multiple-entry permit
- Mainland Chinese residents holding a multiple-entry tourist permit
- Nationals without Taiwan household registration who don't hold a Resident Certificate
If you fall into a visa-exempt category, don't assume you're off the hook — most visa-exempt travelers still need to submit TWAC before clearing immigration.
Who Is Exempt
You generally won't need to complete TWAC if you hold:
- A Resident Visa
- An Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
- A diplomatic identification card issued by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Taiwanese household registration
Travelers who stay airside during a transit and never pass through immigration control are also exempt.
A Note for Travelers from Certain Nationalities: The Travel Authorization Certificate
If you're traveling from Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, or Vietnam, you may need to apply for a separate Travel Authorization Certificate rather than, or in addition to, TWAC. This exception isn't as widely documented as the core TWAC rules, so if you're traveling from one of these countries, confirm the exact requirement on the official NIA site well before your trip.
Is TWAC Free? Beware of Scam Sites
Yes — submitting TWAC through the official portal, twac.immigration.gov.tw, costs nothing. That's worth repeating because it's the single most important thing to know before you search for "Taiwan arrival card" online.
A Taiwan overseas mission recently issued this exact warning:
"Currently, some visitors were falsely requested for a payment of $29.60 for ONLINE TAIWAN ARRIVAL CARD (TWAC). This is a SCAM. TWAC is entirely free."
That specific figure — $29.60 — came directly from an official embassy notice. If a website asks you to pay to submit your arrival card, close the tab. The official form itself never charges a fee. If you'd still prefer a second set of eyes on your submission for peace of mind, that's exactly what our optional, paid assisted-filing service is for — it's a convenience, never a requirement.
When to Submit: Understanding the Submission Window
Here's where you'll want to double-check before you travel. The submission window has historically been 3 days (72 hours) before arrival, and that remains the most widely confirmed figure. Some more recent reporting suggests the window may have been extended to 7 days, but this hasn't been consistently verified across official sources at the time of writing.
Our recommendation: submit your TWAC once your flight and accommodation details are confirmed, but check the current rule on the official portal shortly before you travel. Submitting outside the valid window can cause your form to be rejected, so it's worth the extra minute to confirm.
Where and How to Submit TWAC
Let us handle the filing for you
About 7 minutes to fill in. A reviewer checks your details, then we submit on time — and retry if the portal fails.
Apply through TravelDeclaration.comTWAC is submitted online at twac.immigration.gov.tw, the only official platform. You can complete it from home before you fly, or scan a TWAC QR code posted at check-in counters at many airports and seaports to fill it out on the spot.
Completing TWAC On-Site at the Airport
Forgot to submit before you left? Taiwan's airports have you covered. Kiosks and QR codes are available in the immigration hall — particularly at Taoyuan International Airport — for travelers who need to complete TWAC on arrival. That said, it's far less stressful to handle it in advance rather than scrambling at the airport.
Information You'll Need
Before you start, have the following ready:
- Personal details: full name (exactly as it appears on your passport), date of birth, gender, place of birth
- Passport details: nationality, passport number, expiry date
- Visa information: visa type (visitor, diplomatic, courtesy, landing, or visa-exempt) and entry permit number, if applicable
- Travel details: arrival flight number, arrival date, planned departure details, purpose of visit, occupation
- Accommodation: your home address and where you'll be staying in Taiwan
- Contact details: phone number and a valid email address (this is where your confirmation lands)
Many TWAC systems let you upload a photo of your passport's data page to auto-fill several of these fields — a handy shortcut if you're short on time.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out TWAC
Go to the official site
And select your preferred language (Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian are all supported).
Verify your email address
Using the code sent to your inbox.
Enter your passport and personal details
Either manually or via passport photo upload.
Enter your travel details
Flight number, arrival and departure dates, purpose of visit, accommodation, and contact information.
Review the summary screen carefully
Small errors here can cause headaches at immigration.
Submit and check your email
For your confirmation, and keep it saved somewhere accessible.
Can You Submit TWAC for Your Whole Family or Group?
In most cases, yes. Taiwan's National Immigration Agency has stated that one person can submit TWAC on behalf of up to 16 travelers, which is great news for families and tour groups who'd rather not fill out the same form repeatedly. That said, each traveler's own passport and personal details still need to be entered accurately within that group submission — the convenience is in the single sitting, not in skipping anyone's individual information.
At Immigration: What Happens After You Submit
You generally won't need to show your TWAC confirmation at the immigration counter — when an officer scans your passport, your submitted information comes up automatically. Even so, it's smart to keep your confirmation email or QR code handy just in case there's a lookup issue.
Editing or Resubmitting Your TWAC
Plans change, and TWAC accounts for that. You can review and edit your submitted information online up until you actually arrive in Taiwan. If your flight or accommodation details shift significantly, submitting a fresh TWAC is a safe fallback — immigration will use whichever submission is most recent.
How Long Is TWAC Valid?
TWAC covers a single entry only. If you're leaving Taiwan and coming back — even on a multi-country trip where Taiwan is one stop among several — you'll need to submit a brand-new TWAC for each arrival.
TWAC Is Not a Visa
It's worth saying plainly: TWAC does not replace Taiwan's visa or visa-exemption requirements. It's a separate, additional step. If your nationality requires a visa or e-visa to enter Taiwan, you'll still need to arrange that through the appropriate channel — TWAC alone won't get you through the border.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting outside the valid window (check the current rule before you travel)
Taiwan's submission window can change, so confirm the current rule shortly before you travel rather than relying on an older guide.
Entering a flight number that doesn't match your boarding pass exactly
Copy your flight number exactly as printed on your boarding pass — even a small mismatch can cause confusion when your details are checked.
Typos in your name or passport number, or names that don't match your passport's Machine Readable Zone
Your name and passport number need to match the Machine Readable Zone on your passport's photo page exactly, not just how your name is commonly written.
Vague accommodation details (a full hotel name and address beats "Airbnb in Taipei")
Give the full name and address of where you're staying rather than a vague description — it should match your actual booking.
Forgetting that an update supersedes your original submission — only the most recent version counts
If you submit an update after your first submission, only the newest version is on file — don't assume the original one is still valid alongside it.
Assuming one TWAC covers multiple entries — it doesn't
Each entry into Taiwan needs its own freshly submitted Online Arrival Card, even if you're returning shortly after a previous visit.
Using an unofficial site that charges a fee — the official portal is always free
Filing the TWAC directly through Taiwan's official portal is free — sites charging a fee for the same form aren't government-affiliated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) really free?
Yes. Submitting TWAC through the official government portal costs nothing. Be wary of third-party sites charging a fee — Taiwan's own embassy notices have warned against a known scam charging travelers $29.60 for a form that's free.
How far in advance can I submit TWAC?
The most widely confirmed window is 3 days before arrival, though some sources suggest this may have been extended to 7 days. Check the official portal close to your travel date to confirm the current rule.
Can one person submit TWAC for their whole family or group?
Generally, yes — up to 16 travelers can be included in a single submission, though each person's individual passport details must still be entered accurately.
Do I need to complete TWAC every time I enter Taiwan?
Yes. TWAC is valid for a single entry, so you'll need a new submission for each arrival, even if you're returning to Taiwan after a short trip elsewhere.
What happens if I forget to complete TWAC before I arrive?
You can typically complete it on-site using kiosks or QR codes available at Taiwan's airports, particularly at Taoyuan International Airport. It's far less stressful to submit in advance, though.
Does TWAC replace my Taiwan visa?
No. TWAC is a separate arrival form, not a visa. If your nationality requires a visa or e-visa, you'll still need to obtain that through the appropriate process.
Can I edit my TWAC after submitting it?
Yes, you can review and update your submission online up until you arrive in Taiwan.
What if I'm just transiting through Taiwan?
If you stay in the airside transit area and don't pass through immigration, you likely won't need TWAC. If your transit involves collecting baggage, re-checking in, or clearing immigration, you may need to submit it.