Taiwan tightens visa restrictions for Ghana

Taiwan is to tighten its visa restrictions starting next month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from Feb. 1, citizens from Ghana and 9 other countries -- Bangladesh, Burma, Nigeria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Cameroon, Senegal and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- who desire to visit Taiwan will have to apply for their visas at representative offices designated by the Taiwanese government.

Citizens from Ghana will have to contact Taiwan's representative office in Nigeria.

Wang Kuo-ran (???), deputy director of the ministry's Bureau of Consular Affairs, said yesterday that issuing visas was an act of sovereignty and that the 12th article of the Statute on Foreign Passports and Visas (????????) states that the government does not need to explain its visa requirements.

Applicants from these countries will also be required to arrange a Taiwanese sponsor.

Travelers should visit the Web site at www.boca.gov.tw for more information. This story has been viewed 674 times.