New Zealand today announced that Taiwanese e-passport holders may now use the automatic e-Gate when entering or leaving the country, becoming the eighth country to permit Taiwanese to use their automatic immigration clearance system.
Currently, South Korea, Australia, Italy, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia and the US also grant Taiwanese e-passport holders e-Gate privileges, although qualifying travelers must first pay an application fee for the US e-Gate.
Taiwanese e-passport holders traveling to New Zealand who fill out the New Zealand Traveller Declaration online form within 24 hours before their flight can directly use the e-Gate at their destination, the Ministry of the Interior said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior
Based on principles of equality and reciprocity, Taiwan would also allow New Zealand e-passport holders to use e-Gates when entering or leaving Taiwan, the ministry said.
These reciprocal measures would be implemented at the end of next month or in December, it said.
Taiwan and New Zealand share mutual values of democracy, liberty, human rights and the rule of law, with about 60,000 people traveling between the two countries each year, the ministry said.
Reciprocally allowing travelers to use e-Gates would make travel between the two countries more convenient, fostering closer collaboration and exchanges, the ministry said.
The ministry would continue to promote reciprocal e-Gate policies with other countries, making travel more convenient for Taiwanese passport holders and attracting more tourists to come to Taiwan, it added.
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