Taiwan extends visa-free travel to Russian nationals

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Taiwan has announced that it will provide visa-free travel to Russian nationals from now until July 31, 2019.

What does the change mean? Eligible nationals will be able to travel visa-free to Taiwan for stays of up to 14 days for business or tourism.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Visa waivers.
• Who is affected: Russian nationals traveling to Taiwan for short-stay business or tourism.  
• Impact on processing times: The change will save Russian nationals the time it takes to apply for and receive a visa before travel.

Background: Taiwan has liberalized its visa policies for several Asian and Latin American countries in recent years. Taiwanese authorities announced this week that they would extend visa-free travel to Russian nationals until July 31, 2019. It should be noted that Taiwanese travelers still must obtain a visa in order to travel to Russia.

BAL Analysis: Taiwan’s easing of visa requirements for Russia and other countries is aimed at facilitating business travel, strengthening economic ties and encouraging investment. While the waiver will benefit a number of Russian nationals, those who intend to stay more than 14 days will still be required to obtain the appropriate visa.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Taiwan. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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