Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on 3 July that it will be discontinuing a requirement that foreign Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) holders first obtain a negative Covid-19 test certificate before they can board a flight to and enter Taiwan. The latest move reversed a previous decision by the CECC on 24 June that all foreign nationals, including resident permit holders, would have to show a negative Covid-19 test conducted no more than three days before their departure date when entering Taiwan.

The reversal comes in response to many complaints that the requirement discriminated against foreign residents. It was also one of the issues brought up in the ECCT’s meeting with Dr Chen Shih-chung, Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, on Wednesday, 1 July.

During a press conference on 3 July, CECC Spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that as long as foreigners and Hong Kong and Macau citizens have residence permits, they will no longer be required to provide a negative coronavirus test certificate before their departure date, effective from Saturday, 4 July onwards. However, upon arrival, they will still be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period.

Some exceptions may, however, be granted. If a person wants to apply for a short-term business trip and a shortened quarantine period, they must meet certain requirements, including providing a negative Covid-19 test certificate that has been taken three business days prior to boarding their departure flight to Taiwan.