That applies on top of Taiwan's visa-free entry for Malaysian passport holders, which allows stays of up to 30 days. This guide covers what the TWAC asks for, how it fits alongside visa-free entry, and the mistakes that trip up first-time filers.
Did you know? Malaysian Citizens can stay in Taiwan visa-free for up to 30 days — shorter than the 90-day window Japan, South Korea, and the US get, but still enough for most tourism and business trips. — Visa policy of Taiwan — Wikipedia
| Quick facts for Malaysian travelers | |
|---|---|
| Taiwan Arrival Card | Mandatory for most entrants — free, submit within 7 days of arrival |
| Visa to enter Taiwan | Visa-free for up to 30 days |
This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything Malaysian citizens need to know about the Online Arrival Card · TWAC, plus how we can help you get it right.
File My Taiwan Arrival CardWhat the Taiwan Arrival Card Is (and What Replaced It)
The Taiwan Arrival Card, or TWAC, is an online form that collects the personal, passport, travel, and accommodation details immigration officers used to gather from paper cards. It's managed directly by Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA), and it's submitted through a single official portal rather than filled out by hand on a clipboard.
For Malaysian Citizens, this means one less thing to juggle at the airport. There's no card to find a pen for, no illegible handwriting to worry about, and no risk of losing a paper slip between check-in and immigration. Instead, everything is entered online in advance, and immigration officers can pull up your information the moment they scan your passport.
Is the Taiwan Arrival Card the Same as a Visa?
No, and this is worth stating plainly: the Taiwan Arrival Card is not a visa. It doesn't grant entry, and it doesn't replace whatever visa or visa-exemption status Malaysian passport holders already qualify for.
Think of it as an information form, not a travel authorization. If your nationality requires a visa to enter Taiwan, you'll still need to arrange that separately. If you're eligible for visa-free entry, you'll still need to complete the TWAC on top of that eligibility. Completing the form also doesn't guarantee entry — immigration officers still make the final call at the border, based on your passport, accommodation details, and other standard entry requirements.
Do Malaysian Citizens Need a Visa to Enter Taiwan?
Malaysian Citizens can enter Taiwan visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, for tourism, business, and most other short-term purposes. Visa-free status removes the need for a visa; it doesn't remove anything else on this list. Malaysian Citizens still need to complete the Taiwan Arrival Card like every other entrant, and should still hold a passport valid for the length of the intended stay.
Who Must Complete It: Malaysian Citizens and Exemptions
Most Malaysian Citizens entering Taiwan will need to submit the Taiwan Arrival Card. The requirement generally applies to:
- Foreign nationals entering with a visitor visa
- Foreign nationals entering under Taiwan's visa-exemption program
- Hong Kong and Macao residents with a multiple-entry permit
- Mainland Chinese residents with a multiple-entry tourist permit
- Nationals without Taiwan household registration who don't hold a Resident Certificate
Visa-free travel doesn't cancel out this requirement — plenty of visa-exempt travelers, including many Malaysian Citizens, still need to submit the form.
That said, a few groups are typically exempt, including:
- Taiwanese nationals with full household registration
- Holders of a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
- Holders of a Resident Visa
- Holders of a Diplomatic Identification Card
- Passengers in direct transit who never pass through immigration control
If you're unsure which category applies to you, it's worth double-checking against the official site before you travel, since entry categories can shift.
When to Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card
Submit your Taiwan Arrival Card within 7 days of your scheduled arrival in Taiwan. This window was extended from the original 3-day rule, so if you've seen older guidance mentioning 3 days, know that it's since been updated.
A practical approach: submit it once your flight and accommodation details are confirmed, rather than the moment you book your trip. That way, you're not stuck editing every field if plans shift. And don't leave it until you're standing at the gate — while airport kiosks exist as a backup, submitting ahead of time is far less stressful.
What Information Malaysian Citizens Need to Have Ready
Before you sit down to fill out the form, gather the following:
- Passport details: full name exactly as it appears on your passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and expiry date
- Contact information: a valid email address and phone number
- Travel details: flight number, airline, arrival date, port of entry, and intended departure date
- Purpose of visit: tourism, business, visiting relatives, and so on
- Accommodation in Taiwan: the full hotel name and address, or your host's name, address, and phone number
- Visa details, if applicable: your visa number and expiry date (visa-exempt travelers can skip this)
If you're visiting relatives, you'll also need their full name and a Taiwanese mobile number. Having all of this on hand before you start will make the process quick — most travelers finish in around five to ten minutes.
How to Submit the Taiwan Arrival Card Step by Step
- Go to the official portal at twac.immigration.gov.tw.
- Select your language. The form supports seven languages, including English.
- Start your submission and, if you like, upload a photo of your passport's data page to auto-fill some fields.
- Enter your personal and passport details, making sure your name matches your passport exactly.
- Add your travel details: flight number, arrival date, port of entry, and purpose of visit.
- Enter your accommodation information in Taiwan.
- Review everything carefully. Small errors, like a mistyped passport number or a nickname instead of your legal name, are among the most common mistakes travelers make.
- Submit the form. You'll receive a confirmation email shortly after.
Keep that confirmation email accessible during your trip. You likely won't need to show it at immigration, since your passport scan will pull up your TWAC record automatically, but it's a useful backup if there's ever a lookup issue.
Traveling as a Family or Group (Multiple Travelers per Submission)
If you're traveling with family or as part of a tour group, you don't need to fill out a separate form on separate devices for everyone. One person can submit the Taiwan Arrival Card on behalf of up to 16 travelers in a single session.
Each traveler's own passport and travel details still need to be entered accurately within that shared submission, so have everyone's passports on hand before you start. This makes the process considerably faster for families and larger groups heading to Taiwan together.
Beware of Unofficial "Taiwan Arrival Card" Websites
Here's something worth taking seriously: the Taiwan Arrival Card is completely free on the official government portal, twac.immigration.gov.tw. Some unofficial, look-alike websites have attempted to charge travelers a fee to "process" the same form, and Taiwan's National Immigration Agency has issued a direct warning about this exact scam.
Before you enter any personal or passport information online, check that the URL ends in .gov.tw. If a site asks for payment to submit a standard arrival form, close the tab. There's no legitimate reason to pay for something the government provides at no cost.
What Happens at Immigration After You Submit
Once you've submitted your Taiwan Arrival Card and arrive in Taiwan, the process at immigration is straightforward. An officer scans your passport, and your TWAC information is automatically retrieved from the system. You typically won't need to present a printed form or a confirmation email unless there's a specific issue.
You should still be prepared to show your passport, and possibly your return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation, or proof of sufficient funds, depending on the officer's discretion. The Taiwan Arrival Card streamlines the paperwork, but the standard entry checks still apply.
Common Mistakes Malaysian Citizens Make
- Entering a nickname instead of your legal name. Your TWAC details need to match your passport exactly.
- Submitting the form before your travel details are finalized. A flight or accommodation change after submission means going back to edit it.
- Assuming visa-free entry means no TWAC is needed. It doesn't — the Arrival Card applies to most visa-exempt travelers too.
- Paying a third-party website to "process" the form. The TWAC is free on the official .gov.tw portal — any site charging a fee is not official.
- Assuming the visa-free window means no paperwork at all. It doesn't — Malaysian Citizens' visa-free status removes the need for a visa, not the Taiwan Arrival Card, which is still required.
- Filling out a separate form per traveler when one submission would do. One person can submit for up to 16 travelers in a single session.
How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help Malaysian Citizens
You're always welcome to complete the Online Arrival Card · TWAC yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.
We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one.
Get Started With TravelDeclaration.comMore Taiwan Arrival Card Guides by Nationality
- Taiwan Arrival Card for Chinese Citizens
- Taiwan Arrival Card for Hong Kong Residents
- Taiwan Arrival Card for Japanese Citizens
- Taiwan Arrival Card for South Korean Citizens
- Taiwan Arrival Card for US Citizens
FAQ for Malaysian Citizens
Do Malaysian Citizens need the Taiwan Arrival Card even if visa-exempt?
Yes, in most cases. Visa-free entry and the Taiwan Arrival Card are two separate things. Being eligible to enter without a visa doesn't remove the requirement to submit the TWAC before arrival.
Is the Taiwan Arrival Card free?
Yes. The official form at twac.immigration.gov.tw is entirely free. Be cautious of unofficial sites charging a fee — this is a known scam, and it's worth reporting if you come across one.
Can it be submitted for a whole family or tour group at once?
Yes. One person can complete the form for up to 16 travelers in a single session, as long as each traveler's own passport details are entered accurately.
How do I know I'm on the real, official Taiwan Arrival Card site?
Check that the URL is exactly twac.immigration.gov.tw. Official government sites in Taiwan use the .gov.tw domain, and this form should never require payment.
Can it be updated after submission if travel details change?
Yes. You can review and edit your submitted information online any time before you arrive in Taiwan, which is helpful if your flight number, accommodation, or other details change after you've already submitted the form.
Do Malaysian Citizens need a visa to enter Taiwan?
Not for short trips. Malaysian Citizens can enter Taiwan visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. That status only removes the visa requirement, though — the Taiwan Arrival Card is still required of every Malaysian Citizen entering Taiwan.