Taiwan and Italy formally announced mutual access to automated immigration clearance yesterday, making Taiwan the eighth non-EU country granted the privilege by Italy.
Minister of the Interior Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) and Italian Representative to Taiwan Davide Giglio made the announcement at a ceremony held alongside a border management seminar at which more than 200 international guests participated.
The measure, which allows Taiwanese and Italians to clear immigration using the e-Gate system at each other’s airports, was actually implemented in June, but was only formally announced yesterday.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Other non-EU countries that have the privilege are Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the US, Hsu said.
Republic of China passport holders can enter Italy without needing to apply beforehand for a visa by simply scanning their passport and going through facial and fingerprint recognition at immigration, he said.
Italian holders of biometric passports with six months’ validity and no criminal record can likewise apply for e-Gate services at major airports and seaports in Taiwan, Hsu said.
Taiwan has for the past two years allowed people from Australia, South Korea and the US to enter Taiwan using the e-Gate system, the Ministry of the Interior said.
As of the end of August, more than 210,000 people from those countries have registered to use the service, it said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
RSS