Taiwan will partially lift an entry ban imposed since mid-May by allowing the foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens and their underage children to enter the country with immediate effect, the authorities announced Monday.
The country has closed its borders since May 19 to almost all arrivals, except citizens and legal residents, after it experienced a domestic COVID-19 outbreak in mid-May.
Exceptions could only be made in cases of emergency or for humanitarian reasons, but in such circumstances, the persons would be required to apply in advance to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for special permission to enter the country.
After evaluating the latest COVID-19 situation in Taiwan, Deputy Interior Minister Chen Tsung-yen (???), who doubles as deputy head of the CECC, said the center has now decided to allow foreign spouses, including those from Hong Kong, Macao and China, who are legally married to Taiwanese citizens, and their underage children to apply to enter the country for family reunion purposes.
They can make visa applications at Taiwan’s overseas offices, he added.
Those who enter the country will still have to undergo 14-day compulsory quarantine like all other arrivals, Chen said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel