Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs announced Friday that it will extend visa waiver programs for Thai, Bruneian and Philippine passport holders. This visa waiver extension runs through July 31 next year under the New Southbound Policy. Consequently, the decision followed cross-ministry meetings chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since April.
Indeed, officials conducted a comprehensive review covering multiple travel programs across different ministries. These included the visa waiver initiative alongside the Travel Authorization Certificate and Guanhong Project. The Guanhong Project, which began as a trial in 2015, targets high-end group tourists specifically. Meanwhile, this program will remain active for Indian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Burmese and Lao nationals until December 2027.
However, both programs will no longer apply to Cambodian nationals starting August 1. Taiwan had allowed Cambodian travelers entry through these programs since August 2018 to strengthen bilateral ties. Unfortunately, Phnom Penh never reciprocated and instead echoed Beijing’s rhetoric against Taiwan’s sovereignty repeatedly. Furthermore, Cambodian statements have implied support for unification with China through force. Therefore, the foreign ministry said such actions have undermined Taiwan’s national dignity significantly.
Additionally, authorities linked multiple transnational scam operations directly back to Cambodia in recent years. These incidents further damaged bilateral relations and prompted officials to exclude Cambodia entirely. Going forward, Cambodian nationals must apply for traditional visas through Taiwan’s overseas missions instead. Moreover, Cambodia’s potential readmission depends entirely on how Phnom Penh treats Taiwan moving forward.
Ultimately, this visa waiver decision reflects Taiwan’s broader strategy of balancing openness with national security concerns. The foreign ministry stated it will continue refining visa policies to deepen international ties. At the same time, officials aim to attract visitors while protecting domestic and border security interests.
