Ah got it. I guess I've only entered with ARC.

A few days ago, I was exiting TPE from Terminal 1. Going through Immigration, I was struggling to find a page in my passport which had a big enough space for the official to chop the exit stamp. On the few pages that I indicated, the space was not big enough, and the official refused to chop the passport. I travel to Taiwan several times a month, have done so for several years on the same passport, and showed the official where previous officials had lazily chopped the exit stamp in the centre of each page so that only six stamps were able to fit on the page. I was getting quite frustrated at this person.

He then told me that, if I did not want or did not need an exit stamp in my passport, then I could just use it to go through the e-gate. I was quite surprised at this suggestion since I did not even know I was eligible.

I went over to the e-gate section and found it rows and rows deep with a long line up. It would have taken me at least 20 minutes to go through. I ended up going back to the Speedy Immigration line, which had no wait, and finally found a page in my passport which JUST had enough space to chop the exit stamp.

But, the official's suggestion still intrigues me. Am I entitled to use e-gate? I use a Canadian passport to travel to Taiwan and use Speedy Immigration. That's it. No other credentials.

Any advice?

I just learned about this recently. From Terminal 1, there's a few e-gates (to the left of the Taiwan citizen e-gates) that foreigners can use. It's not called out anywhere so you'd have to know it's there or just happen to see it, I guess. I asked and they don't have this in Terminal 2 yet.

Thanks!

Interesting. I really didn't know that. I've always selected Visitor. Thanks for the info!

Thanks for this info; good to know. Will try this out next time. These "special" e-gates are for foreigners on any passport?

Sorry, I am not sure which foreign passports specifically. But the airport employee I was with told me I could use it with my US passport.

Are you saying there are 2 flavors of eGate - one for TW ROC PP/ARC holders and one for all others?

Is it because of the language the machines speak or they are developing a separate system where anyone from eligible countries can use regardless of eGate eligibility (i.e. without first applying for eGate)?

Right now, eGate is only available to US, Australian and South Korean PP holders who apply in advance.

I asked them about this, here is the scoop:

1 - inbound for non-eGate holders, is always by officer
2 - at T1, foreigners can use the automated system to leave (since they have already been fingerprinted and photographed coming in) - these are separate gates
3 - eventually, the goal is to integrate this functionality on the outbound eGates instead separate gates
4 - no plan to allow inbound non-eGate passengers to use the automated system

Thanks for the update!

Great! Thanks for this timely info. Will be going to TPE again next week.

Just reporting back here again.

Went through these gates on 27.Sep. Very simple. Walk up to the gate, scan your two index fingers, and you are through. Do not need to scan boarding pass or passport.

But, on 02.Oct passing through TPE again, the entire section of these gates was closed. Had to go through normal Immigration to get my passport stamped.

Are you talking about the departure gates at T1 for foreigners? No passport needed?

Yes, that section was closed. Had to go through the usual Immigration counters to get passport stamped to exit.

I just applied via the GE program and paid the fee.

Still processing.

One question - any chance I can interview at TSA airport upon arrival from an international flight?

It looks like facilities for enrollment are open at TSA 08:00 - 22:30. I don't know if they're airside at TSA, but they are available before clearing at TPE. They should be able to accommodate you there for enrollment. If the facilities are before passport control, you can make sure everything is working on the spot. ^