The Taiwan arrival card application is a free online form completed at twac.immigration.gov.tw before flying to Taiwan. Submit it 7 days to 24 hours before arrival. You receive a QR code by email within minutes.
How to Apply for a Taiwan Arrival Card
The Taiwan arrival card application takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete online. You need a valid passport, your flight number, and your Taiwan accommodation address. The entire process happens through the TWAC portal at twac.immigration.gov.tw. There is no paper form and no fee.
The application is required for all foreign nationals entering Taiwan, with a few exceptions for ARC holders and airside transit passengers. You submit one form per person, including children.
Step 1: Access the TWAC Portal
Open twac.immigration.gov.tw in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. The portal supports English, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese.
Before you start, gather these items:
- A valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity
- Your flight number (airline code plus number, such as CI 101)
- Your Taiwan accommodation address (full street address, not just hotel name)
- An active email address for QR code delivery
The portal works on smartphones, tablets, and computers. Avoid using incognito or private browsing mode, as sessions may not save correctly. If your session times out after about 15 minutes, you will need to start over.
For details on all required information, see our Taiwan arrival card requirements guide.
Step 2: Enter Your Personal Details
The Taiwan arrival card application begins with your personal information. Enter these fields exactly as they appear on your passport:
- Full name (as shown on your passport)
- Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY format)
- Nationality (select from the dropdown)
- Passport number (alphanumeric, no spaces)
- Sex (as listed on passport)
Double-check your passport number before moving to the next step. A wrong passport number is the most common error that causes problems at immigration. The system does not validate passport numbers against a database, so typos go undetected until arrival.
Step 3: Add Travel Information
Next, the Taiwan arrival card application asks for your travel details:
- Flight number – Enter the airline code and number (for example, BR 25 or EVA Air 25)
- Date of arrival – Select from the calendar
- Accommodation address – Enter the full street address in Taiwan, including district and city
- Accommodation name – Hotel name or host name
The accommodation field requires a full street address. A hotel name alone is not sufficient. If you are staying with friends or family, enter their complete address including street name, number, district, and city. For example: “No. 123, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Da’an District, Taipei City.”
Step 4: Submit and Get Your QR Code
After reviewing all entries, click submit. The Taiwan arrival card application system generates a QR code and sends it to your email address within 30 minutes. In most cases, the email arrives within 5 minutes.
The QR code email contains:
- A digital QR code (image attachment)
- Your submitted details for reference
- Instructions for arrival in Taiwan
Save the QR code on your phone and consider printing a backup copy. You will present this QR code to immigration officers when you arrive in Taiwan. The QR code is valid for a single entry only.
If you do not receive the email within 30 minutes, check your spam or junk folder. You can also log back into the TWAC portal to re-download your QR code.
Required Documents for the Application
To complete the Taiwan arrival card application, you need:
| Document | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid 6+ months beyond stay | Machine-readable recommended |
| Flight number | Airline code + number | Confirmed booking required |
| Accommodation | Full street address | Hotel, Airbnb, or private address |
| Email address | Active and accessible | For QR code delivery |
No visa documents are needed for the arrival card itself. The Taiwan arrival card application is separate from any visa requirements. If you need a visa, apply for that through your nearest Taipei Representative Office.
For a complete list of entry documents, see our Taiwan visa requirements page.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent errors in the Taiwan arrival card application are:
- Wrong passport number – Double-check every character, especially letters O vs. number 0
- Incomplete accommodation address – Enter the full street address, not just a hotel name
- Wrong flight number – Use the airline code (BR, CI, EVA) plus the flight number
- Expired passport – Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay
- Email typo – A wrong email address means you will not receive your QR code
- Late submission – Submit at least 24 hours before arrival; last-minute submissions may not process in time
If you make a mistake after submitting, you can submit a new application. The most recent submission replaces the previous one. For more troubleshooting tips, visit our Taiwan arrival card troubleshooting page.
What to Do After Applying
After completing the Taiwan arrival card application:
- Check your email for the QR code (arrives within 30 minutes)
- Save the QR code on your phone as an image or screenshot
- Print a backup copy in case your phone battery dies
- Verify the details on the QR code email match your passport
- Present the QR code at Taiwan immigration upon arrival
The QR code is valid for your next single entry to Taiwan. If your travel plans change, submit a new application with updated details. Each trip requires a fresh Taiwan arrival card application.
For information about what happens at the airport, see our Taiwan airport arrival procedures guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: July 2025. Information based on the National Immigration Agency (NIA) regulations. Requirements may change. Always verify with official sources at immigration.gov.tw.
