Taiwanese citizens who are at least 10 years old, at least 120 cm in height, and have registered household registration in Taiwan can pass through automated immigration clearance (e-Gate) directly with a Republic of China chip passport without prior registration at a service counter: scanning your passport inside the gate for the first time and consenting to record your facial image (fingerprint capture is optional) simultaneously completes both registration and clearance for free. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) explains that registration provides permanent validity, and renewing or replacing a passport does not require re-registration; new-generation e-Gate systems have been fully deployed across Taoyuan, Songshan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung airports as well as Kinmen Shuitou Port, clearing passengers in as fast as approximately 10 seconds.
Reminder: Age and height thresholds were lowered from 12 years old and 140 cm to 10 years old and 120 cm starting January 1, 2025 (ROC Year 114) (NIA press release on December 17, 2024 / ROC Year 113). NIA guidance page (updated 2025-01-01) and February/August 2026 (ROC Year 115) press releases also state 10 years old and 120 cm. However, note that the "Directions for Applying and Using the Automated Immigration Clearance System" text on the NIA website remains the February 22, 2022 (ROC Year 111) amendment stating "aged 12 or above and height 140 cm or above"; this article did not find later formal statutory amendments to those Directions. Due to this divergence, this article follows current NIA application instructions and press releases specifying 10 years old and 120 cm; actual operations are subject to NIA announcements and on-site immigration officer instructions.
Eligibility and Requirements
| Item | Regulation |
|---|
| Target Users | Nationals with household registration aged 10 and above, height 120 cm and above; nationals without household registration holding valid ROC chip passports eligible since January 1, 2025 (ROC Year 114) (NIA December 2024 press release) |
| Documents | Republic of China passport, or Taiwan Area Exit & Entry Permit (Kinmen-Matsu Pass; limited to Kinmen Shuitou Commercial Port) |
| Fee | Free registration |
| Registration Method | Self-service gate registration (no prior registration, approx. 30 seconds) or manual service counter registration (approx. 1 minute) |
| Recorded Data | Facial image is mandatory; two-finger fingerprints are voluntary |
| Validity | Permanent validity once registered; renewing or replacing a passport does not require re-registration |
Foreign nationals and Hong Kong/Macau residents have separate application criteria (e.g. holding Alien Resident Certificates); this guide addresses ROC nationals.
Who Cannot Use e-Gate
NIA guidelines list 4 situations where automated clearance cannot be used:
- Persons subject to statutory exit bans or travel restrictions.
- Nationals with household registration who have departed Taiwan for over 2 years resulting in household deregistration.
- Persons with mobility impairments unable to operate the gate independently.
- Men of conscription age (draftees) or national security/classified personnel whose travel has not been approved or whose clearance data has not synced to the NIA system.
Conscription-age males must apply for exit permission prior to departure; see Conscription Travel Application. If data is not yet transmitted, automated gates will not open, and travelers should proceed to manned counters.
Children under 10 years old or under 120 cm in height cannot use e-Gate. An NIA press release on February 13, 2026 (issued by the Ministry of the Interior) suggests families traveling with ineligible children use "Family Friendly Counters" together.
Clearance Steps and Tips to Avoid Delays
- Place passport on the reader in front of the gate (open to the photo information page).
- The first gate opens; retrieve passport, enter the gate, and face the camera for automated facial recognition.
- For individuals with recorded fingerprints, press fingers if facial recognition fails.
- Upon successful match, the second gate opens, completing clearance; if matching fails, immigration officers will assist.
NIA Border Affairs Corps published "3 Steps to Avoid Delays" on August 16, 2026: remove passport sleeves and hold flat; remove hats, masks, sunglasses, and sweep bangs aside; stand on footprint marks and look straight into camera without moving. The February 13 press release also noted that removing eyeglasses or obstructions prior to entering gates accelerates processing.
NIA statistics show that as of late June 2026 (ROC Year 115), 80.37% of outbound and inbound citizens used e-Gate.
How to Prove Entry and Exit Dates Without Passport Stamps
Under Article 13 of "Regulations Governing Immigration Inspection and Data Collection and Utilization", passport stamping is waived for automated clearance. If you need physical proof for work, school, or administrative affairs, apply for an Entry/Exit Date Certificate:
| Item | Application Information |
|---|
| Application Channels | Online application via NIA website using Citizen Digital Certificate or MyData platform (free digital download); in-person at NIA service centers or airport service stations nationwide |
| Required Documents | Original national ID card or passport; application form (free for online electronic download) |
| Fee | NT$100 (100 元) for domestic counter application; equivalent foreign currency at overseas missions |
| Proxy Application | Legal representatives or authorized agents may apply, presenting original and photocopy ID cards of both parties and power of attorney |
For National Health Insurance overseas medical reimbursements requiring proof of entry/exit dates, NHI forms note that e-Gate users can annotate their passport photo copy; see NHI Overseas Medical Reimbursement.
Airports Serving Taipei and New Taipei (雙北)
Residents of Taipei and New Taipei most frequently use Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport, both of which feature next-generation e-Gates (NIA Feb 13, 2026 release). e-Gate handles immigration clearance only; customs Red/Green channels and quarantine inspections remain separate. Check Customs Duty-Free Limits before travel, and consult Passport Renewal Guide if your passport is expiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to visit a counter to register e-Gate before my first trip?
No. Citizens aged 10 and above measuring at least 120 cm can register directly inside the automated gate in about 30 seconds, or visit manned registration counters in about 1 minute.
Do I need to re-register after renewing my passport?
No. The NIA states that registration offers permanent validity, so getting a new passport does not require re-registration.
Can a 9-year-old child measuring 130 cm use e-Gate?
No. Both conditions must be met: at least 10 years of age and at least 120 cm tall. Ineligible children can use Family Friendly Counters with family members.
Is fingerprint enrollment mandatory?
No. Facial capture is required, while fingerprint recording is voluntary. If enrolled, fingerprints serve as backup if facial recognition fails.
How can I prove travel dates if my passport has no stamps?
Apply for a Certificate of Entry and Exit Dates from the NIA (NT$100 fee at service counters, or free electronic issuance online with a Citizen Digital Certificate or MyData platform).
Last updated: 2026-11-03
Compiled by SOSfix from official open data for general reference; consult the National Immigration Agency or airport inspection counters for individual cases.
Sources
- National Immigration Agency: Application and Usage Instructions for Automated Immigration Clearance for Citizens (Published Feb 2, 2024, updated Jan 1, 2025, verified 2026-11-02): Age 10, height 120 cm, passport or Kinmen-Matsu pass, free registration, self-service gate and counter registration, permanent validity, four ineligible conditions, operating steps.
- National Immigration Agency: Press Release on Expanding e-Gate Eligibility (Dec 17, 2024, verified 2026-11-02): Lowered from 12 years and 140 cm, effective Jan 1, 2025; non-registered nationals eligible.
- National Immigration Agency: Lunar New Year e-Gate Press Release (Feb 13, 2026, verified 2026-11-02): No prior registration, family friendly counters, deployment at Taoyuan, Songshan, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Kinmen ports, removing glasses.
- NIA Border Affairs Corps: 15 Years of e-Gate Press Release (Aug 16, 2026, verified 2026-11-02): 80.37% utilization rate, 10-second clearance, 3 steps to avoid delays.
- National Immigration Agency: Directions for Applying and Using Automated Immigration Clearance System (Feb 22, 2022 edition, non-current threshold, verified 2026-11-02): Text still states 12 years and 140 cm, inconsistent with 2025 application guidance.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Regulations Governing Immigration Inspection and Data Collection and Utilization (Amended Dec 28, 2023, verified 2026-11-02): Article 13 exemption from passport inspection stamping for automated clearance.
- National Immigration Agency: Application Directions for Certificate of Entry and Exit Dates (Published Oct 6, 2023, verified 2026-11-02): Application channels, Citizen Digital Certificate and MyData, NT$100 fee, agent authorization documents.
