On 2 October, 2012, Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Taiwan into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP permits visa-free travel to the United States for eligible travelers visiting the United States for a period of 90 days or fewer for either business or tourism. Figures posted on the department’s website show that in Fiscal Year 2011, “the VWP accounted for 18.3 million visit to the United States, or more than 60 percent of tourist and business travelers entering the United States by air.”

The VWP designation process requires that a country complies with key security and information-sharing requirements – such as enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States; timely reporting of lost and stolen passports; and the maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, aviation and document security standards.

Beginning 1 November, 2012, eligible Taiwanese passport holders can apply for advanced authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a DHS web-based system.

Countries currently participating in the VWP

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and The United Kingdom