Taiwan Resumes Visa Applications for Moroccans
In a recent diplomatic development, Taiwan has officially resumed the acceptance of visa applications from Moroccan citizens, marking the end of a suspension that had lasted several months. This suspension was initially implemented following Morocco's abrupt halt of visa applications from Taiwanese nationals in July. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced this decision, which came after Morocco confirmed on September 21 that it would once again accept visa applications from Taiwanese citizens.
The Taiwanese government welcomed this positive turn in relations, stating that it would reciprocate by reinstating the processing of visa applications for Moroccans. The origins of the visa dispute trace back to July 23, when the Moroccan Embassy in Japan, where most Taiwanese travel agencies submit their visa applications, ceased reviewing visa confirmation letter (VCL) applications from Taiwanese nationals without providing any justification. In response, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that it would suspend the processing of visa applications from Moroccan nationals starting July 31, with the exception of those applying for special projects sanctioned by the Taiwanese government.
This visa impasse had significantly impacted bilateral exchanges, with the Ministry noting that Taiwanese passport holders could only obtain VCLs through Moroccan embassies abroad and were ineligible for Moroccan e-visas. Following the confirmation of Morocco's resumption of VCL applications for Taiwanese travelers, Taiwan's Ministry has been seeking additional clarification regarding whether this resumption includes only tourism-related applications or extends to non-tourism purposes as well. Consequently, the processing of visa applications from Moroccan nationals had not yet resumed at that point.
As reported by taipeitimes.com.
