Application Standards for Long-Term Exit and Entry Visas Relaxed

In order to facilitate procedures for R.O.C. businessmen to obtain commercial exit visas, the Screening Committee on Foreign Travel of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, has decided to relax its application standards for long-term exit and entry visas with respect to personnel at the deputy manager level and higher of companies and organizations with a capitalization of NT$100 million or more and of foreign or domestic investment firms approved by the Investment Screening Committee.

At present long-term exit and entry visas are available in three situations only: (1) for firms whose imports and exports exceed US$100,000 a year, with one additional visa available for every US$1 million in annual imports and exports above that figure; (2) for the first and second persons in charge of an overseas investment; and (3) for the first and second persons in charge of an overseas engineering firm.

Long-term exit and entry visas can be used ten times a year, thereby proving of great convenience to businessmen and industrialists who must frequently leave the country. The authorities encourage their use, and the committee will speedily process their applications and issue visas, provided applicants meet the required standards.

Mexico, Canada, and Pakistan Relax Entry Visa Standards for R.O.C. Citizens

． A major breakthrough for R.O.C. businessmen wishing to obtain Mexican entry visas, which have long been difficult to obtain, has recently been achieved through the efforts of the International Trade Association of R.O.C. and the assistance of influential Mexican authorities. Mexico has formally agreed to empower the association to accept applications for Mexican visas, and all applications examined and screened by the association and then forwarded to Mexico will be approved smoothly.

However, Mexican entry visas processed by the association are restricted in use for entrance to Mexico via Tucson, Arizona, only. The association is currently engaged in active preparation to accept and process applications for Mexican visas.

． The Canadian government has agreed to relax entry visa requirements for R.O.C. citizens going to Canada. It will issue multiple entry visas, and R.O.C. citizens holding passports beginning with the letter G will also be able to enter Canada.

According to reports, most citizens holding G passports are government officials, and because Canada and the R.O.C. have long had no formal diplomatic relations, R.O.C. government officials wishing to go to Canada have been required to change to M passports. Following many-sided negotiations, however, Canada has finally relaxed the restrictions.

． Following ample communication between the China External Trade Development Council and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan has agreed to relax regulations on granting entry visas to R.O.C. businessmen. In the past, besides having a certain level of real trade, applicants were required to belong to the Taiwan Businessman's Association for Southwest Asia and to participate in its activities in order to obtain a visa. Now, as long as the firm is registered as an importer/exporter with the Board of Foreign Trade of Ministry of Economic Affairs, has a record of real trade, and has no record of trade disputes, it can apply to Pakistan for a visa using a letter of recommendation from the council.