More than 9,400 foreigners living in Taiwan have registered to use the automated immigration clearance system at airports after the system was opened to foreign residents in September last year, an immigration official said.
As of Monday, foreign residents had made 40,459 entries and exits through e-Gates, said Lin Hung-chieh (林弘傑), an official from the National Immigration Agency’s Border Affairs Corps.
More than 5.08 million entries and exits by Taiwanese and foreign nationals through e-Gates have been recorded since the system was launched in March 2011, he added.
The number of Taiwanese who have registered to use the automated system stood at 875,844 as of Monday, he said.
Lin said the agency was considering opening e-Gates to foreign nationals not residing in Taiwan, including those from Hong Kong and Macau, who visit Taiwan three times or more each year.
Such frequent flyers have since May 10 been allowed to use a fast-track counter to speed up their immigration clearance, but are not yet permitted to use the e-Gates.
There are currently 45 e-Gates at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport, Taichung Airport and Shuitou Harbor on Kinmen Island.
Equipped with infrared sensors, facial recognition cameras and passport readers, the system can complete immigration checks in 12 seconds. The system was set up to enhance the nation’s border security and speed up the immigration clearance process.
Foreign residents, including Chinese spouses and travelers from Hong Kong and Macau, who maintain residency in Taiwan, are eligible to register their entry or exit to and from Taiwan through the e-Gates. When applying, foreign residents need to present their passports and valid Alien Permanent Resident Certificates or Alien Resident Certificates, and must be fingerprinted and photographed. Passengers must be at least 14 years old and 1.4m in height to register.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS