Environment optimization on The 10th Anniversary of Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Office, MOFA Serves the Public with NIA, Taichung City First Service Center

The Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established on December 28, 2012, and it has been exactly 10 years. The director of the office, Xiao, Sheng-Zhong(蕭勝中), stated that in response to the government's relaxation of border control measures, the number of people applying for passports has increased significantly. The Office optimizes the Consular Hall with paintings and flowers displayed so that the public can feel a comfortable business environment.

Director Xiao, Sheng-Zhong(蕭勝中) (fourth from left), Xu, Gen-Wei(許根尉) (third from left), Executive Director of the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Service Center of the Executive Yuan, Huang, Yan-Xun(黃艷薰) (second from left), director of NIA, Chiayi City Service Center and Du, Sheng-Guan(杜聖觀)(first from left), former ambassador to Ireland, and jointly unveil the curtain of exhibiting paintings. Photo provided by NIA, Chiayi City Service Center

Director Xiao, Sheng-Zhong(蕭勝中) pointed out that in order to save people’s waiting time, the Bureau of Consular Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially launched the “Passport Application Online Form Filling and Photo Upload System” in June this year. Through the online system, the public is able to fill and upload the forms and make reservations in advance to save time for passport application. In addition, he reminded people plan to travel abroad to must first check whether their passports are valid for more than 6 months and related visa information for the upcoming Spring Festival holidays; Also, those who applied for passport reissuance and change, remember to get it back in time, so as not to affect the itinerary.

Xiao, Sheng-Zhong(蕭勝中), director of the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave speech on hoping to provide the public with comfortable business environment through environment optimization. Photo provided by NIA, Chiayi City Service Center

According to Huang, Yan-Xun(黃艷薰), director of NIA, Chiayi City Service Center, that as the Covid-19 epidemic has eased, the country's border and quarantine measures were relaxed, and the number of departure and immigration has increased. The upgrade service of two-in-one registration and customs clearance is launched, starting from November 1^st this year, citizens who have reached the age of 12 or foreigners holding alien residence permits can register directly at the customs clearance gate when entering and leaving the country. After the registration you can be directly cleared by the customs and can be used for life, providing passengers with more convenient options for customs clearance, saving the time of waiting in line for departure and immigration.

In addition, the Taiwan-Germany reciprocal use of the automatic customs clearance system has been officially launched which grants citizens aged 18 and above who hold chip passports free registration and use of EasyPass for immigration and convenient and time-saving automatic customs clearance service when they go to Frankfurt Airport and other 8 airports in Germany.