CORONAVIRUS/Chinese with spousal permits eligible to enter Taiwan

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) Chinese spouses of Taiwanese citizens or foreign nationals legally resident in Taiwan, who have a spousal certificate and are currently in China will be eligible to apply to enter Taiwan from Thursday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced Wednesday.

Citing humanitarian concerns, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, said at a news briefing that Chinese spouses who fall into this category can apply to come to Taiwan from Thursday.

Chinese spouses of Taiwanese nationals with spousal status are defined as those who recently got married. They are usually granted a spousal certificate to live in Taiwan, after which they can apply for a dependent residence permit, resident permit, permanent residency and eventually naturalization.

According to Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥), the CECC's deputy head, 740 Chinese nationals holding spousal certificates will be allowed to apply for entry to Taiwan under the new policy.

However, they must undergo 14-days of self-health management at home on arrival in Taiwan, Chen said.