MOFA Announcement: Foreign Nationals Who Have Traveled to Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau Within 14 Days Are Temporarily Barred from Entering the Republic of China 🇹🇼

In response to the global public health emergency (namely the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, commonly known as the Wuhan virus) in mainland China), countries around the world have issued new entry regulations that are updated at any time. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced today (the 10th) that, effective February 7 of this year (2020), foreign nationals who have entered or resided in mainland China 🇨🇳, Hong Kong 🇭🇰, or Macau 🇲🇴 within the past 14 days are temporarily barred from entering the Republic of China 🇹🇼.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that our government designated the entire mainland China region (including Hong Kong and Macau) as a heavily affected “Level 2 or higher epidemic area” on February 5 of this year. Any foreign national who has entered or resided in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau within 14 days (not counting the day of entry) will be temporarily barred from entering our country (including Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu).

In particular, even for special reasons, our overseas missions will no longer accept visa applications. Moreover, even if a foreign national is eligible for visa-free, landing visa, or e-visa treatment, or already holds a valid visa, they will still be unable to enter our country.

If, due to their own issues or the negligence of maritime or airline companies, foreign nationals who entered mainland China within 14 days still arrive in Taiwan, Kinmen, or Matsu by flight or passenger ship, they will be repatriated on the same aircraft or vessel upon arrival at our border.

As for ROC nationals, or foreign nationals holding a valid Alien Resident Certificate who intend to return, if they have entered or resided in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau within 14 days, they must, after returning and entering the country, comply with the “Tracking and Management Mechanism for Persons with Infection Risk” announced by the Central Epidemic Command Center and cooperate with a 14-day “home quarantine” measure (updated February 5), including:

1. The competent authority will issue a “Traveler Entry Health Declaration and Home Quarantine Notice,” and the person must wear a mask and return home for quarantine.
2. The village chief or village officer will conduct health care for 14 days, calling daily to inquire about health status and recording a “Health Care Record Form.”
3. During the quarantine period, the person must stay at home (or a designated location) without going out, must not leave the country or go abroad, and must not use public transportation.
4. Those with symptoms will be sent to designated medical institutions for testing and reported to the health competent authority for active monitoring.
5. Those who fail to comply with the prevention and control measures of the Central Epidemic Command Center will be fined under the Communicable Disease Control Act, and compulsory placement may be carried out when necessary.

In addition, foreign nationals who have transited through airports in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau may enter our country. However, if the transit date was within 14 days before entering our country, they must undergo a 14-day home quarantine after entry. All entry and exit records will be verified based on the entry and exit stamps in the foreign national’s passport or the ticket (or ship ticket) of the previous leg of the journey.

The latest visa and entry regulations will be announced on the official websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the ROC’s overseas missions. If the public has other questions, they can inquire at the “Official Website of the Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare” or call the epidemic prevention consultation hotline 1922 (02-23432921, 02-23432895, 02-23432850, 02-23432876, 02-23432900).