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[Yossarian Lives]

Hi,

Anyone know what the fine is per day for overstaying a tourist visa?

[BigWally]

I heard something like $1500NT/day.

[JZer]

I believe that there is a maximum of 10,000NT a year.

Of course visa overstay fines vary between what passport you enter with.

[jotham]

I believe there's a new law starting a few months back that forbids reentry for a whole year if the overstay is over 30 days.

[MyTrunkshow]

For overstays, there is a scale:

According to the chart at the MFA office, ARC holders, permanent residents or tourists are on the same scale.

Overstay of 1 � 10 days, fine of NT$2,000.
Overstay of 11 � 30 days, fine of NT$4,000.
Overstay of 31 � 60 days, fine of NT$6,000.
Overstay of 61 � 90 days, fine of NT$8,000.
Overstay of 91 or more days, fine of NT$10,000.

The above chart is in print and on the walls of my old Foreign Affairs office in Taipei County.

Fines are not dependent on nationality.

The fines were increased several years ago as the 1-10 day overstay used to cost $1000.

If you are not returning there is no problem. Just pay the fine in the office where your ARC is registered before you go to the airport. I have one friend who was denied boarding the plane and was sent back to Taipei to pay the fine at her office...but there is a procedure in place at the airport to handle overstays. Either way, ensure you have proof of airline e-ticket in hand.

If returning however, there is a stamp that gets placed in your passport that says visa free entry on arrival is revoked for one year. However, one can still enter on a 60 day visa which can be obtained outside Taiwan. Five years ago, this was not enforced but it looks like things have clamped down.

In addition, if one wants to return on a 60 day visa, the visa issuing office may deny entry unless one has proof of employment.

Some people's experiences may differ but as I've noticed over the years, old rules are increasingly being enforced...but the rules are nonetheless fair.

mts.

[MyTrunkshow]

As an afterthought and not directed at the OP,

Dress appropriately when going to the MFA office. It does increase one's chances of a more favorable outcome, regardless of the I'm just me! attitude that is characteristic of some teachers. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Look nice. The guys at the MFA in the past have been both flexible and inflexible.

Have an easy to understand reason (real of not) for overstaying. My reason was that I was waiting for my pay, which was true...but regardless, I still got the fine for 7 days overstay and the stamp revoking visa free entry upon arrival for one year.

....AND one last thing. MFA logically assumes overstayers of any significant length are working. Several years ago, a friend of a co-worker who overstayed a number of months described that he was coerced into giving the name of his employer when he was fined for his overstay ($10,000fine)...I can't remember if he did reveal the name of the employer...but he was assessed a high figure for tax evasion. Really high....like $50,000 or something grossly punitive, even though there was no ARC or tax forms filled. He paid it before leaving.

Good luck.

mts