Lunar New Year Holiday Rush for Overseas Travel? Ministry of the Interior: Apply for e-Gate and Clear Immigration in Seconds
- Date：
- Source：Border Affairs Corps
- Hit：225
- Updated date：2026-02-13
As the Lunar New Year holiday is traditionally a peak season for overseas travel with family, airports are expected to see a significant surge in arriving and departing passengers. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) noted that this year’s Lunar New Year holiday spans nine consecutive days. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) has deployed adequate staffing to facilitate passenger flow at the front lines and encourages travelers to make greater use of the new generation automated immigration clearance system, known as e-Gate. Travelers aged 10 or above and at least 120 centimeters in height are eligible to register and use the service. This includes Taiwanese nationals holding chip-enabled passports as well as foreign nationals with valid residence permits. Enrollment can be completed directly at an e-Gate lane, and the entire process may take as little as 10 seconds. The MOI welcomes the public to experience this fast, efficient, and premium immigration clearance service.The MOI emphasized that the new generation e-Gate features an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Travelers who have not yet registered may choose to enroll using facial recognition only, or facial recognition combined with fingerprint capture, completing registration and immigration inspection simultaneously. Once registered, Taiwanese nationals are not required to re-register even if they later replace their passports. In addition, the new generation e-Gate adopts dynamic facial recognition; travelers are advised to remove glasses or facial coverings before entering the gate to help speed up the clearance process. The MOI further reminded travelers that families traveling with children who do not meet the eligibility requirements for e-Gate may make use of the “family-friendly counters,” allowing accompanying children to clear immigration at designated counters while still enjoying a convenient and considerate service for family travelers. At present, the new generation e-Gate has been fully deployed at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport, Taichung Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport, and the Kinmen Shuitou Harbor Passenger Service Center. Travelers entering or leaving Taiwan by air or sea can all benefit from a smart and user-oriented immigration experience.
Finally, the MOI reminded travelers that since October 1, 2025, Taiwan has implemented online submission of the Taiwan Arrival Card (TAIWAN ARRIVAL CARD, TWAC). Foreign visitors arriving in Taiwan for tourism or family visits during the Lunar New Year period may complete the TWAC online within three days prior to arrival via the NIA’s official website (https://twac.immigration.gov.tw). Upon successful submission, the system will automatically send a confirmation receipt to the traveler’s registered email address. During immigration inspection, travelers are not required to present this receipt; once the passport is scanned, the system will automatically retrieve the submitted information, making the process both faster and more convenient. The MOI stressed that online submission of the TWAC is completely free of charge, and no fees will be collected under any circumstances. Travelers are advised to complete the process only through the NIA’s official website or by scanning the official TWAC QR code to avoid fraudulent websites.
Related Picture(s)
New Generation e-Gate
Officers of the National Immigration Agency’s Border Affairs Corps assist travelers in using e-Gate
Officers of the National Immigration Agency’s Border Affairs Corps assist travelers in using e-Gate
Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) QR Code Link