Taiwan grants multiple re-entry visas for OFWs

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) can now apply for Taiwan’s multiple-entry visa, said the Manila Economic and Cultural Office. The said measure is in line with the newly amended immigration policy in Taiwan, effective this month of January.

MECO Chairman Silvestre Bello III expressed his satisfaction, as this progress will ease the burden of the workers, allowing them to save more time and money in processing their travel documents in Taiwan.

Migrant Workers Office in Kaohsiung director David Des Dicang said that the rules have been "relaxed" to "safeguard the rights of foreign workers."

Previously, OFWs in Taiwan are covered by its Employment Service Act and are not eligible to apply for multiple reentry permits.

He said the new rules will take effect this month.

Dicang also reminded vacationing OFWs to inform their manpower agencies in Taiwan at least three weeks before their scheduled departure. This will be done to give them adequate time to process the replacement of their resident certificate, allowing them the multiple-entry visa.

“Such reentry permit is for multiple uses, and its validity period shall not exceed the validity period of the ARC,” said Dicang.

“If the work permit is canceled, the reentry permit is also deemed canceled,” he added.

The director also mentioned that extended vacations may be regarded as Absence Without Leave and shall also result in the cancellation of the said re-entry. 

The multiple-entry visa permits an individual to enter the country more than once, as long as it is specified within its validity period.

Bello said that around 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan will benefit from this new regulation.