Republic of China passport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Republic of China passport (Traditional Chinese: 中華民國護照) is the travel document issued to citizens of the Republic of China. Citizens residing in the current jurisdiction of the ROC (namely Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu) and Overseas Chinese are eligible to receive the ROC passport. Residents of Chinese descent from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau may also apply for a ROC passport, provided they have permanent residence status in a third country (outside either the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China), regardless of whether they have lived or even set foot in Taiwan.
Although the possession of the ROC passport is indicative of ROC citizenship (theoretically all Chinese are citizens of the Republic of China), it does not exempt the holder from immigration restrictions in Taiwan and does not automatically grant the right of abode. Those holding a ROC passport without household registration in the Free Area of the Republic of China are still issued landing visas upon arrival in Taiwan and are subject to deportation. It is the Republic of China National Identification Card, which is only issued to citizens with household registration in Taiwan, that is used to exercise citizenship such as through voting. Passports of overseas Chinese (as opposed to passports of citizens with household registration in Taiwan) are issued only in ROC embassies, consulates, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices and not in Taiwan itself and contain a special stamp indicating overseas Chinese status (which also exempts the male holder of conscription). Passports of citizens with household registration will also include the holder's national identification number. Simliarly, not all British passport holders have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
Regular passports are green in color with gold lettering. Previously, the Republic of China passport had only the words "Republic of China" and "Passport" in Chinese and English on its cover. The pro-Taiwan independence government of President Chen Shui-bian has added the word "Taiwan" with the stated reason that immigration officials confuse citizens of the Republic of China with citizens of the People's Republic of China. The interior is in Chinese and English. Until the mid-1990s, the passport also contained an entry for provincial citizenship, stating the Chinese province and county of one's ancestral home, but this field was eliminated amid the Taiwan localization movement. However, the legacy of the ROC's official claims on mainland China remains in the birthplace entry where the Chinese province and county of birth is listed, as opposed to listing the name of the country only for places outside the official borders of the Republic of China.
Even though the Republic of China maintains relations with only 24 countries, the ROC passport is accepted as a valid travel document in almost all the countries of the world. Notably, however, it is not accepted in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan residents visiting mainland China use the PRC-issued Taiwan Compatriot Pass to enter. (ROC passports are never asked for as travel documentation by PRC immigration officials and never get any entry or exit stamps of the PRC.)
ROC citizens who enter or leave Hong Kong do get their ROC passports scanned by the Hong Kong immigration officers. However, the exit and entry stamps are placed on a separate sheet of paper that is stapled to the passport.
During both Portuguese and Chinese administration, Macau authority regards ROC passports as valid travel document, although Macau immigration officers do not place entry and exit stamps on ROC passports. Instead they place an entry and exit stamp onto the Arrival/Departure card, which shall eventually be recalled upon visitor's departure from the territory. Macau authority unilaterally grants ROC passport holders 30-day visa-free access to Macau.
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[edit] Visa-free Access
[edit] Africa
Burundi Visa issued upon arrival
Cape Verde Visa issued upon arrival
Comoros 24-hour transit visa issued upon arrival. The following day, visitors are required to go to the immigration office downtown to change their visa status. A fee is charged, depending on length of stay.
Djibouti Visa issued upon arrival for DJF 3,000 (10 days), DJF 5,000 (one month)
Egypt 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$15
Kenya 3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$50
Madagascar 90-day visa issued upon arrival for MGA 28,000
Malawi 90 days
Mozambique Visa issued upon arrival for US$25
Senegal 3 months
Seychelles One month
Swaziland 2 months
Tanzania Visa issued upon arrival for US$50
Togo 7-day visa issued upon arrival (fee is determined on arrival)
Uganda Visa issued upon arrival for US$30 (single entry), US$80 (6 months multiple entry), US$160 (one year multiple entry)
Zambia Visa issued upon arrival for US$25 (single entry), US$40 (double entry), US$80 (multiple entry)
[edit] Americas
Bermuda 6 months
British Virgin Islands One month
Colombia 90 days
Costa Rica 30 days
Dominica 6 months
El Salvador 3 months
Grenada 3 months
Guatemala 90 days
Haiti 3 months
Honduras 3 months
Jamaica Visa issued upon arrival for US$20
Nicaragua 90 days
Panama 30-day Tourist Card issued upon arrival for US$5
Peru 90 days
Saint Kitts and Nevis 3 months
Saint Lucia 28 days
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines One month
Turks and Caicos Islands 30 days
Venezuela 90-day Tourist Card issued upon arrival at no charge
[edit] Asia
Armenia 21-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30
Azerbaijan 30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$40
Cambodia One month visa issued upon arrival for US$20 (tourist), US$25 (business)
Georgia Visa issued upon arrival (length of stay and fee is determined on arrival)
Indonesia Visa issued upon arrival for US$10 (7 days), US$25 (30 days)
Iraq Visa issued upon arrival for US$80 (If arriving at Erbil International Airport)
Japan 90 days
Jordan Visa issued upon arrival for JOD 10
Republic of Korea 30 days
Laos 15-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30
Macau 30 days
Malaysia 30-day visa issued upon arrival for MYR 100
Maldives 30-day visa issued upon arrival at no charge
Mongolia Visa issued upon arrival
Nepal Visa issued upon arrival for US$30 (60 days), US$80 (150 days, multiple entry)
Oman Visa issued upon arrival for OMR 6 (one month), OMR 10 (3 weeks, one year multiple entry)
Singapore 30 days
Sri Lanka 30-day visa issued upon arrival
Thailand 15-day visa issued upon arrival for THB 1,000 (plus THB 170 for photo)
Timor-Leste 30-day Visa issued upon arrival for US$30
[edit] Oceania
Cook Islands 31 days (touristic), 21 days (business, visa issued upon arrival)
Fiji 4-month visitor's permit issued upon arrival
Guam 15 days
Kiribati 30 days
Micronesia 30 days
Marshall Islands 30-day visa issued upon arrival
Niue 30 days
Northern Mariana Islands 30 days
Palau 30-day visa issued upon arrival
Papua New Guinea 60-day visa issued upon arrival for PGK 100 (tourist visa), PGK 500 (business visa)
Samoa 60-day visitor's permit issued upon arrival
Solomon Islands 3-month visitor's permit issued upon arrival
Tuvalu One month visa issued upon arrival
Vanuatu 30 days
