TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Stronger measures will be implemented to prevent foreigners from taking advantage of the special visa programs for New Southbound Policy partner countries, Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) announced on Sunday (Aug. 4).

The agency said in a statement that it coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tourism Administration to review and control entry applications to prevent foreigners from engaging in illegal activities in Taiwan. The NIA said a high-risk target screening mechanism has been established and that as of June 2024, over 10,000 suspicious foreign travelers had been questioned, with nearly half of them being denied entry.

The agency emphasized that it will continue to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to crack down on illegal activities by foreign nationals within the country. In June, the NIA extended the trial visa-free entry program for Thai, Bruneian, and Philippine nationals from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. It also extended the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries to December 31, 2025.

NIA said that between November 2022 and the end of July 2024, 71 individuals went missing from their tour groups, of which 67 have been found.