14-11-2024 (TAIPEI) Taiwan has extended its automated immigration clearance system to Malaysian travellers, marking Malaysia as the seventh nation to secure e-Gate privileges at Taiwanese border control points, the Taiwanese embassy announced yesterday.
The streamlined entry process, implemented from 7 November, places Malaysia alongside other privileged nations including the United States, South Korea, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Singapore in accessing Taiwan’s automated immigration facilities. The move reciprocates Malaysia’s June 2023 decision to grant Taiwanese citizens access to its own autogate system.
Under the new arrangement, eligible Malaysian visitors can complete immigration procedures in mere seconds through Taiwan’s e-Gate system, dramatically reducing processing times from the traditional 10-25 minute window for manual checks. The registration process requires just one minute, with subsequent border crossings taking approximately 10 seconds.
To qualify for e-Gate access, Malaysian travellers must meet several criteria: possession of an electronic-chip passport with minimum six months’ validity, age of 12 years or above, minimum height of 140 centimetres, and a clean criminal record in Taiwan. Registration can be completed at dedicated counters in arrival halls, though new registration is required upon passport renewal.
In reciprocal arrangements, Taiwanese nationals visiting Malaysia enjoy similar conveniences, requiring only an electronic-chip passport valid for over six months and a minimum height of 120 centimetres. Their only additional requirement is completion of the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within three days before arrival, after which they may access Malaysia’s autogates without further registration or fees.
