Student visa for Taiwan, for students from Ethiopia

A visa is normally needed

As a citizen of Ethiopia you will normally need a student visa or residence permit for Taiwan before your course starts. Some nationalities may enter Taiwan without a visa and apply for the residence permit there instead; check the official page below for the rule that applies to your passport.

The full Taiwan guide What a year costs

The numbers

Money you must show: No fixed national figure: enough for at least six months' living costs
Visa fee: US$66 single-entry resident visa applied for abroad (NT$2,200 in Taiwan)
Work while you study: 20 hours a week in term with a work permit, no weekly limit in winter and summer vacations
Stay after you graduate: Up to two years' extension of stay, with work allowed without a work permit

The visa

For a degree programme you need a resident visa for foreign students, followed by an Alien Resident Certificate after arrival.

Fee: US$66 for a single-entry resident visa applied for overseas, or NT$2,200 in Taiwan. The Bureau of Consular Affairs charges nationals of countries that levy extra fees on Taiwan passport holders an equivalent extra amount, so your fee may be higher.

What you submit, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs:

the online application form, two photos and a passport with at least six months' validity
your admission letter and your previous diploma and transcripts, translated into English or Chinese if necessary
a health certificate issued within the last three months by a hospital on the designated list; certificates from foreign hospitals must be authenticated by a Taiwan overseas mission
financial evidence: bank statements or remittance records, yours or your family's, sufficient for at least six consecutive months' living needs

The money. There is no fixed national amount. Your university's figure is the one to meet. NTU requires self-funded applicants to show a bank statement, issued within the past three months, with a balance of at least NT$200,000.

The 30-day rule. You must apply online for your ARC within 30 days of the day after you arrive. Missing it brings a NT$2,000 fine. The ARC costs NT$1,000 a year for international students, and you can choose one to three years at a time. Apply to renew about 90 days before it expires.

Where to apply

At the embassy or consulate of Taiwan that covers Ethiopia, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.

Official pages: boca.gov.tw · boca.gov.tw · ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw · isss.ntu.edu.tw · isss.ntu.edu.tw · focustaiwan.tw. Checked 2026-09-24. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.

Scholarships open to students from Ethiopia in Taiwan

MOE Taiwan Scholarship

Questions students ask

Do students from Ethiopia need a visa to study in Taiwan?

How much money do I need to show for a Taiwan student visa?

No fixed national figure: enough for at least six months' living costs. Universities set their own minimum. National Taiwan University asks self-funded applicants for a bank balance of at least NT$200,000. (source: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked 2026-09-24).

Can I work while I study in Taiwan?

20 hours a week in term with a work permit, no weekly limit in winter and summer vacations.

This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.

What next?

1Universities in TaiwanPlaces to study, with what each teaches 2Scholarships for students from EthiopiaEvery scheme open to your nationality 3Work out your first yearTuition, living and visa money, in your currency