Step 1｜Obtain a Letter of Admission from the Center

• Please apply for admission through the Center's “Application Form (FR Visa).”
• After your application has been approved, the Center will send the Letter of Admission by email. Please notify the Center in advance if you need a friend or relative to collect it on your behalf or if a courier company will collect it.

Application Form (FR Visa)

Step 2｜Apply for a Visa

1. Access the “Online Visa Application Form System,” complete the required information, and print the application form containing the barcode.
2. Apply for a Visitor Visa for entry at the relevant “Republic of China (Taiwan) Overseas Mission.”

✽ Required Documents Include

Step 3｜Apply for a Short-term Visitor Visa

• Please apply for a short-term Visitor Visa corresponding to your intended term of study.
• Please state that the purpose of your application is to study Mandarin Chinese at the “Language Center, National University of Kaohsiung” and apply for a Visitor Visa for Studying Chinese (FR visa).

Question 1｜How do I apply for a visa, and which type of visa should I apply for?

Visa applicants must first complete an application form through the online application system. Students coming to study Mandarin Chinese at the Center should select a “Visitor Visa” for the purpose of studying Chinese. The visa code for studying Chinese is FR. After submitting the online form, please print the application form and submit it together with the Letter of Admission issued by the Language Center and the other required application documents to the Republic of China (Taiwan) embassy or representative office selected by the applicant.

Question 2｜How long may I stay in Taiwan with a Visitor Visa?

When an overseas mission issues a visa for studying Mandarin Chinese, it will generally issue an extendable visa allowing a stay of 60 or 90 days. An extendable visa may be extended twice, allowing a maximum stay of 180 days. If the visa issued by the overseas mission is non-extendable or an extension application is denied, the visa holder must leave Taiwan before the authorized period of stay expires and apply for a new visa.

Question 3｜My country is eligible for 30-day visa-exempt entry. May I enter Taiwan without applying for a visa and study directly at the Language Center?

Because a 30-day visa-exempt stay cannot be extended, you must leave Taiwan when the 30-day period expires before applying for a new visa. Students applying for a regular-term course lasting 3 months or 2 months are therefore advised not to enter Taiwan under the 30-day visa-exemption program, thereby avoiding the inconvenience of frequent departures.

Question 4｜My country is eligible for 90-day visa-exempt entry. May I enter Taiwan without applying for a visa and study directly at the Language Center?

Yes. A 90-day visa-exempt stay is sufficient to complete one term at the Center. However, because your entry date affects the number of days available for attending classes, entering Taiwan too early may prevent you from attending the final few days of the course. Please review the Center's academic calendar and arrange your entry date before deciding whether to apply for a visa. If you plan to study in Taiwan for 2 or more terms and do not wish to leave Taiwan every 90 days, you may apply in advance for a Visitor Visa for Studying Chinese.

Question 5｜My visa will expire a few days before the course ends. May I extend my visa to complete the course?

If the visa expiration date is close to the final day of the course, the student may apply to the National Immigration Agency for a grace period, generally not exceeding 10 days, in order to complete the course. Please note that approval of any visa extension remains subject to the discretion of National Immigration Agency officials.

Question 6｜I would like to study for 3 or more terms and remain in Taiwan for more than 180 days. Can I apply for a visa without leaving Taiwan during my studies?

Students who have resided continuously in Taiwan for 120 days without leaving the country, have maintained satisfactory grades and attendance records, and intend to study at the Language Center for 3 or more terms may apply for a Resident Visa. Please refer to Question 7 for the application procedures. After obtaining a Resident Visa, the student may apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). Please note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may sometimes require a Resident Visa applicant to provide a guarantor. The Center cannot act as a guarantor for students.

Question 7｜How do I apply for a Resident Visa for studying Mandarin Chinese?

Students who have studied at the Language Center for 4 months and have registered for the following term must prepare the following documents:

1. Certificate of enrollment.
2. Attendance record.
3. Health examination certificate.
4. Proof of financial resources of approximately NT$80,000.
5. Study plan.
6. Visa application form, which must be completed through the online visa application system.
7. Two photographs.
8. Original passport.
9. Photocopy of the passport.

After preparing the documents, please apply through the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Processing takes approximately 10 working days, and the application must be completed before the Visitor Visa expires. Applicants are advised to submit the Resident Visa application no later than 2 weeks before the Visitor Visa expires.

Question 8｜I currently hold an Alien Resident Certificate for studying Mandarin Chinese. May I change it to one for university study while in Taiwan?

Yes. After a student holding an Alien Resident Certificate for studying Mandarin Chinese has been admitted to a university in Taiwan, the following documents must be prepared before the authorized period of residence expires:

1. University admission notice.
2. Attendance record and certificate of enrollment issued by the Language Center.
3. Visa application form.
4. Two photographs.
5. Original passport.
6. Photocopy of the passport.
7. Original health examination report.
8. Proof of financial resources of at least NT$150,000.
9. Original highest academic credential authenticated by the relevant overseas mission.
10. Photocopy of the highest academic credential authenticated by the relevant overseas mission.
11. University registration and tuition payment notice.

Before the authorized period of residence expires, please apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to change the purpose of the Resident Visa.

Question 9｜I am currently studying Mandarin at another language center. May I transfer to this Language Center?

Yes. However, you must first register with this Center and then submit the following documents to the National Immigration Agency to apply for a change of school:

1. Certificate of enrollment from the original language center.
2. Attendance record from the original language center.
3. Certificate of enrollment from this Center.
4. Letter of Admission from this Center.

Question 10｜May I work while holding a visa for studying Mandarin Chinese?

Students who have studied Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan for at least 1 year and hold an Alien Resident Certificate may apply for a part-time work permit. Students may not work without a valid work permit. Applicants must first obtain approval from the Center before applying to the Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor for a part-time work permit. Please contact the Center for further information.

Question 11｜May I apply directly for a 1-year course and use proof of enrollment in that course to apply for a visa?

No. Applications to the Center are processed 1 term at a time. A regular term generally lasts 3 months, while the July–August summer term lasts 2 months. Applicants may apply to an overseas mission for a Visitor Visa for Studying Chinese permitting a stay of 60–90 days. Students who intend to continue for additional terms must pay the tuition for the following term during the continuing-student registration and payment period. They must then apply for an extension of stay no later than 2 weeks before the visa expires by submitting a certificate of enrollment and a record of academic performance for the term.

Question 12｜I have already studied Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan for 2 years and would like to continue. May I extend my Alien Resident Certificate for Mandarin study again?

An Alien Resident Certificate issued for studying Mandarin Chinese may be extended for a maximum total period of 2 years. A person who has completed 2 years must leave Taiwan. To continue studying Mandarin Chinese, the applicant may use supporting documents issued by the school to apply again for a Visitor Visa for Studying Chinese. Issuance of the visa remains subject to the decision of the relevant overseas embassy or representative office.

Question 13｜I recently resigned from my job. May I change my work-based Alien Resident Certificate in Taiwan to one for studying Mandarin Chinese?

No. An applicant may not apply within Taiwan to change to a visa issued for a different purpose. The applicant must complete the following procedures:

1. Apply for admission to the Center and obtain a Letter of Admission.
2. Prepare the other documents required for the visa application.
3. Leave Taiwan.
4. Apply for a Visitor Visa for Studying Chinese at a Republic of China (Taiwan) embassy or representative office overseas.