October 26, 2017
AIT Press Release #: PR-1739E
Taipei, Taiwan/Rosslyn, VA – At a ceremony today at Taoyuan International Airport, senior representatives from the United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of an agreement to be signed by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), jointly announced the November 1 eligibility expansion of U.S. and Taiwan trusted traveler programs – the U.S. Global Entry program and the Taiwan e‑Gate program. Taiwan passport holders will be eligible to join Global Entry, and U.S. citizens enrolled in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler Program will be eligible to join e-Gate, administered by Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency. Global Entry and e-Gate allow expedited immigration and customs processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. On November 1, the 5th anniversary of the Visa Waiver Program in Taiwan, Taiwan will join a select group, becoming the 12th partner worldwide and 3rd in East Asia, whose passport holders are eligible to enroll in Global Entry. At the same time, U.S. citizens enrolled in a CBP Trusted Traveler Program will become the first non-residents to be eligible for Taiwan’s e-Gate.
The United States and Taiwan share a strong foundation of people-to-people ties. Since the announcement of Taiwan’s participation in the Visa Waiver Program in 2012, overall travel from Taiwan to the United States has increased by almost 60 percent. More Americans are traveling to Taiwan as well; the United States now ranks as the 5th highest source of tourists to Taiwan, the only country in the top ten outside of Asia. Over the years, AIT and TECRO have cooperated to encourage more travel and interaction between the United States and Taiwan, and today’s announcement is the latest reflection of these efforts.
During today’s ceremony at Taoyuan International Airport, AIT Director Kin Moy said, “The number of travelers to the United States from Taiwan has increased by almost 60% since Visa Waiver was introduced. Travelers from Taiwan have proven over these past five years that, in addition to significantly contributing to the various local economies in the United States through travel and trade, they continue to be among the most trustworthy visitors as well. With the introduction of Global Entry, we look forward to welcoming more Taiwan friends to the United States. The United States is honored to be the first country to benefit from full membership in the e-Gate Program. I am happy and proud to be here for this historic display of reciprocal trust. These partnerships are further indications of the strength of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.”
Currently available at 54 U.S. airports and 15 Preclearance locations around the world, Global Entry streamlines the international arrivals process at airports for trusted travelers. More than 4.7 million Global Entry members bypass traditional CBP inspection lines and use an automated kiosk to complete their admission to the United States. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓™ expedited screening program.
E-Gate is an automated border control system available to registered travelers to expedite entry into Taiwan. U.S. citizens who are members of a CBP Trusted Traveler Program (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI) are eligible to register for e-Gate. To enroll, U.S. citizen Trusted Travelers are required to present a valid passport and have their photo and index fingerprints taken by the Taiwan National Immigration Agency at an enrollment counter in Taiwan. The application fee for e-Gate is 3,000 NT (approximately $100).
U.S. citizens, U.S nationals and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents may apply for Global Entry as well as passport holders from Argentina, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and now Taiwan. Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in NEXUS may also use the Global Entry kiosks.
Interested travelers apply through the Trusted Traveler Programs website. The non-refundable application fee for a five-year Global Entry membership is $100 and applications must be submitted online. Once the applicant successfully passes a background check, a CBP officer will conduct an interview with the applicant at one of the more than 100 Global Entry Enrollment Centers located throughout the U.S., Canada, and Qatar, or at an Enrollment on Arrival location and then make a final eligibility determination.
While the goal of Global Entry is to speed travelers through the process, members may be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in appropriate enforcement action and may result in the revocation of the traveler’s membership privileges.
Visit CBP’s Global Entry website for more information on the Global Entry Program and Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency website for more information on e-Gate.
General information in English regarding application procedures for Global Entry is available here. More specific information about application procedures for Taiwan passport holders will be available on our website soon in Chinese.
Stay tuned to the AIT Facebook site as we lead up to November 1st — the 5th anniversary of the Visa Waiver Program and the official launch of Global Entry in Taiwan!
