The Taiwan passport, officially issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (ROC), is a vital travel document for Taiwanese citizens. With the official title “Republic of China (Taiwan)” on its cover, the passport reflects the island’s complex political status and growing efforts to distinguish itself from the People’s Republic of China. In recent years, Taiwan has made its name more visible on the passport design to avoid confusion with China’s documents, particularly during international travel.
There are three types of Taiwan passports: ordinary, official, and diplomatic. Ordinary passports are for general citizens, official passports are for government workers on duty, and diplomatic passports are for high-ranking officials and diplomats. All passport holders must have ROC nationality, which usually includes household registration or an official ID card from Taiwan. Some individuals born abroad with Taiwanese heritage may also be eligible under certain conditions.
Despite Taiwan’s limited number of official diplomatic allies, the Taiwan passport provides its holders with strong travel benefits. As of 2025, citizens with a Taiwan passport enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 140 countries and territories. These include the European Union’s Schengen Area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. While the United States does not include Taiwan in its Visa Waiver Program, Taiwanese citizens can still apply for B1/B2 visitor visas, which allow travel for business and tourism.
The document is printed in both Chinese and English and includes a variety of modern security features. These include a biometric chip for e-passport scanning, holograms, microprinting, and watermarks. The cover is dark green with gold lettering, and the word “Taiwan” now appears more prominently than in older versions, reflecting growing efforts to assert a unique national identity.
However, the Taiwan passport faces major diplomatic hurdles. Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, and only a small number of countries formally recognize it as a sovereign nation. Most governments around the world follow the One-China Policy, which recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, including Taiwan as part of its territory. As a result, many countries have unofficial ties with Taiwan but avoid formal recognition to maintain good relations with Beijing.
This has led to some countries refusing entry to Taiwan passport holders. Recently, Somalia began blocking entry to people carrying Taiwan passports, a move widely believed to have been influenced by China’s growing presence in Africa. Countries such as North Korea, Bhutan, and Pakistan also deny entry or place heavy restrictions on Taiwanese travelers. Some African and Middle Eastern nations require special permits or documentation due to a lack of formal relations.
China’s diplomatic and economic outreach, especially through programs like the Belt and Road Initiative, plays a role in persuading countries to restrict or downplay their engagement with Taiwan. For many nations, especially those that rely heavily on Chinese trade or infrastructure investments, following Beijing’s stance on Taiwan becomes a strategic decision. This has placed extra pressure on the Taiwan passport’s usability in certain parts of the world.
Despite these setbacks, Taiwan continues to maintain strong, though unofficial, ties with many leading countries. Governments in the United States, the European Union, and Japan provide substantial support to Taiwan through trade, cultural exchanges, and security cooperation, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. These partnerships help ensure that the Taiwan passport retains its value and international mobility for most destinations.
The Taiwan passport stands as both a functional travel document and a symbol of the island’s contested sovereignty. As Taiwan seeks greater recognition on the world stage, its passport remains a key tool for international presence and identity, even as diplomatic tensions with China continue to shape its future.
