Update: Around 13,000 international students with no residence permits for Taiwan will be allowed to enter the country to begin their higher education, as announced by the minister of education Pan Wen-chung on August 11.
The ministry of education has submitted a proposal regarding the same to the Central Epidemic Command Centre, which, if approved, will let students from across the world without a residence permit return to Taiwan before September.
This would also include students enrolled in scholarship programs such as the Huayu scholarship, a government-funded program for Chinese language learners. Huayu recipients had earlier written an open letter to the government, asking Taiwan to open its borders for them.
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In July, they argued that international students had to postpone their studies due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that countries like South Korea and Singapore had allowed international students in even though their borders were closed for others.
Pan, however, added that Taiwan will not grant visas to exchange students or those enrolled in short-term language courses.
In late July, Taiwan lifted some restrictions that had been put in place after the outbreak in the country.
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International students will likely enter Taiwan in batches, after which they will have to complete a two-week mandatory quarantine before starting their studies.
In addition, scholars and teachers will also be allowed to enter Taiwan if they are enrolled in the Yushan Scholar Program, Columbus Program, Einstein Program or hired as part of the 2030 Bilingual Country initiative.
Teaching staff of universities can also apply for permission to enter the country from the ministry of education.
Source: The PIE News
