Lunar New Year travelers urged to check passports before heading abroad

Taipei, Jan. 27 (CNA) Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs issued its annual warning to local citizens ahead of the Lunar New Year on Tuesday to check the validity of their passports and get travel insurance well before they head abroad for the holiday.

The number of people heading to the airport with expired or invalid passports may be relatively low -- 1,194 people applied for emergency passport renewal services at Taoyuan International Airport in all of 2024.

But Armando Cheng (鄭正勇), director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA), still reminded citizens to check their passports now, well before the Lunar New Year holiday begins on Feb. 14, to avoid major disappointment.

At a news briefing Tuesday, he urged travelers to make sure their passports still have at least six months of validity before traveling or potentially face being denied entry at their destination.

He also warned that souvenir stamps and/or scribbles or other damage could invalidate them.

Given that it takes 10 working days to renew a passport, Cheng said there was still time to apply for renewals to be able to get new travel documents by the Feb. 13 deadline at BOCA headquarters in Taipei or around Taiwan.

Feb. 13 will be the last working day for BOCA and other government offices.

Cheng also advised travelers to purchase comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency medical insurance and travel inconvenience insurance, to cover medical expenses and unexpected emergencies while overseas.

If travelers were to face an emergency overseas, Cheng said they could use 24/7 emergency hotlines at Taiwan's 113 overseas offices or call MOFA headquarters in Taipei at 0800-085-095.