Filipinos may get visa-free entry to Taiwan in October

A government meeting is expected to grant Filipinos visa-free entry to Taiwan from early October, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Officials from national security, the police, immigration and other government agencies will get together this week to discuss expanding visa-free entry to the Philippines, said the official, who wished to stay unnamed, The Commons Daily reported.

Visa-free entry is a key measure being implemented under the New Southbound Policy, which aims to promote Taiwan’s relations with countries in Southeast and South Asia, plus Australia and New Zealand.

Authorities in Taiwan said previously that expanding the visa privilege to Philippine citizens might be allowed after the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei in August.

If the inter-ministerial meeting goes smoothly, with all necessary details finalized, the island looks likely to see more Filipino tourists from early next month.

The Taipei Times said the Taiwan government relaxed visa rules for citizens of the 10 member states in ASEAN and India from August 1, 2016, while the Philippines has been in the e-visa program since October 7 last year.

Read: Taiwan to grant visa privileges to visitors from South Asia