Taiwan transit ban on PRC citizens (ex-China)
Jul 17, 2023, 4:44 pm
#17
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If you are transiting through TPE, you are OK. I have multiple coworkers doing this because lack of direct flights to/from China. I don't think Taiwan is restricting - EVA and China flights are booming to/from China as they are now the preferred transit location. I just came back from 2 months of non-stop flying and I've seen more foreigners transiting in TPE/TSA to/from China than I could ever recall.
Jul 17, 2023, 4:56 pm
#18
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If you are transiting through TPE, you are OK. I have multiple coworkers doing this because lack of direct flights to/from China. I don't think Taiwan is restricting - EVA and China flights are booming to/from China as they are now the preferred transit location. I just came back from 2 months of non-stop flying and I've seen more foreigners transiting in TPE/TSA to/from China than I could ever recall.
Jul 17, 2023, 9:56 pm
#20
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My guess would be that they might be getting a Taiwan travel permit for business purposes, since the PRC-side block is currently on issuing them to tourists.
Jul 26, 2023, 6:23 pm
#23
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Jul 26, 2023, 8:15 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2009
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There are basically no restrictions going from Taiwan to China. It's only going from China to Taiwan that is hard to do for Chinese passport holders.
Aug 30, 2023, 9:48 pm
#25
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Saw this in another thread: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...in-2023-08-24/
So Taiwan is starting to allow Chinese tourists. This alone doesn't change the current ban on Chinese citizens transiting in Taiwan, right? Because the ban is from China's side and they haven't changed.
So Taiwan is starting to allow Chinese tourists. This alone doesn't change the current ban on Chinese citizens transiting in Taiwan, right? Because the ban is from China's side and they haven't changed.
Aug 30, 2023, 10:58 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Taiwan is now accepting tourism visas from overseas Chinese citizens who have either PR or a long term work / student visa starting from Sept 1, 2023.
The transit ban for PRC passport holders is from the Chinese side. The rational is, China has sovereignty over Taiwan and its citizen should not use a passport to visit there, even though Taiwan does not recognize Chinese passport. That’s why both sides issue special permits for its citizens to visit the other side as it’s still legally not considered visiting a foreign country (no stamping on the other side’s passports). However, Taiwan does not have an issue with travelers leaving its border for China using a passport for departure, but China forbids that. That’s why PRC passport holders need a “border crossing” passport for leaving China’s “BORDER” for Taiwan. It’s issued for border crossing only, not for international travel, just like the ones issued to go to Hong Kong. That’s the difference in China’s eyes. The Chinese agency in charge of international arrival and departure is called The (Border) Exit-Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. Border is the word used in its official Chinese name. For those who are confused by why there can be a border within a country, remember that there’s a border between the mainland and Hong Kong. China sees the same thing with Taiwan.
Technically it’s also forbidden for Chinese passport holders to transit through Taiwan arriving in China, but China customs cannot enforce that as those travelers have already arrived.
The transit ban for PRC passport holders is from the Chinese side. The rational is, China has sovereignty over Taiwan and its citizen should not use a passport to visit there, even though Taiwan does not recognize Chinese passport. That’s why both sides issue special permits for its citizens to visit the other side as it’s still legally not considered visiting a foreign country (no stamping on the other side’s passports). However, Taiwan does not have an issue with travelers leaving its border for China using a passport for departure, but China forbids that. That’s why PRC passport holders need a “border crossing” passport for leaving China’s “BORDER” for Taiwan. It’s issued for border crossing only, not for international travel, just like the ones issued to go to Hong Kong. That’s the difference in China’s eyes. The Chinese agency in charge of international arrival and departure is called The (Border) Exit-Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. Border is the word used in its official Chinese name. For those who are confused by why there can be a border within a country, remember that there’s a border between the mainland and Hong Kong. China sees the same thing with Taiwan.
Technically it’s also forbidden for Chinese passport holders to transit through Taiwan arriving in China, but China customs cannot enforce that as those travelers have already arrived.
Last edited by cinamann; Aug 30, 2023 at 11:11 pm
Aug 31, 2023, 11:38 am
#27
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My guess
Rest of world -> Taiwan (transit) -> China: Already allowed
Rest of world -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa, which is easier if you live outside of China
Taiwan (after entering) -> China: Already allowed
China -> Taiwan (transit) -> Rest of world: Need to apply for visa
China -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa. Allowed if you are a business person. If you are not, you have to do a group tour?
Rest of world -> Taiwan (transit) -> China: Already allowed
Rest of world -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa, which is easier if you live outside of China
Taiwan (after entering) -> China: Already allowed
China -> Taiwan (transit) -> Rest of world: Need to apply for visa
China -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa. Allowed if you are a business person. If you are not, you have to do a group tour?
Sep 11, 2023, 9:46 am
#28
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There is no way that the Mainland-Taiwan relationship will get better any time soon. It's only going to get worse. I would not count on CKG working.
Here's what you should do to minimize your losses:
1. Call Eva and see if you can change the flight to HKG-TPE-USA (and I'd guess there's a small but non-zero chance they will waive the fee if you explain the immigration issues)
2. Book a separate, fully refundable direct HKG-USA flight
3. Have the PRC citizen fly to SZX, and then take the land border into HK. Mainland passport holders can transit in HKG for 7 days when leaving the country, and exiting the mainland at the Hong Kong land border tends to have the fewest issues due to the higher volume and familiarity with Hong Kong transit rules. However, when exiting the mainland, show mainland departure immigration the direct HKG-USA flight. Departure immigration may not allow a HKG-TPE-USA routing.
4. Once in Hong Kong, cancel the refundable HKG-USA direct flight. Check in for HKG-TPE-USA at Hong Kong airport normally. Hong Kong immigration will not care about taking the HKG-TPE-USA flight.
Here's what you should do to minimize your losses:
1. Call Eva and see if you can change the flight to HKG-TPE-USA (and I'd guess there's a small but non-zero chance they will waive the fee if you explain the immigration issues)
2. Book a separate, fully refundable direct HKG-USA flight
3. Have the PRC citizen fly to SZX, and then take the land border into HK. Mainland passport holders can transit in HKG for 7 days when leaving the country, and exiting the mainland at the Hong Kong land border tends to have the fewest issues due to the higher volume and familiarity with Hong Kong transit rules. However, when exiting the mainland, show mainland departure immigration the direct HKG-USA flight. Departure immigration may not allow a HKG-TPE-USA routing.
4. Once in Hong Kong, cancel the refundable HKG-USA direct flight. Check in for HKG-TPE-USA at Hong Kong airport normally. Hong Kong immigration will not care about taking the HKG-TPE-USA flight.
Sep 11, 2023, 6:59 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
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My guess
Rest of world -> Taiwan (transit) -> China: Already allowed
Rest of world -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa, which is easier if you live outside of China
Taiwan (after entering) -> China: Already allowed
China -> Taiwan (transit) -> Rest of world: Need to apply for visa
China -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa. Allowed if you are a business person. If you are not, you have to do a group tour?
Rest of world -> Taiwan (transit) -> China: Already allowed
Rest of world -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa, which is easier if you live outside of China
Taiwan (after entering) -> China: Already allowed
China -> Taiwan (transit) -> Rest of world: Need to apply for visa
China -> Taiwan (enter): Need to apply for visa. Allowed if you are a business person. If you are not, you have to do a group tour?