Vietnamese students face Taiwan study visa hurdles

Students planning to study in Taiwan risk missing enrollment deadlines due to complications in visa application procedures, specifically concerning high school graduation certificates.

Vietnamese students are encountering significant difficulties in obtaining study visas for Taiwan, putting their university enrollment at risk. The problem stems from a recent change in Vietnam's high school graduation certificate system, which is not recognized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) for visa applications. Parents in Ho Chi Minh City have reported that their children's visa applications were denied despite having valid admission and enrollment notices from Taiwanese universities.

TECO, with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, announced on 4/8 that it would only accept study visa applications from students possessing an official high school graduation diploma. This decision follows Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training discontinuing the issuance of "provisional high school graduation certificates" this year. These have been replaced by "graduation exam results certificates," which Taiwan does not accept. Official diplomas are now issued within 30 days of receiving the exam results certificate.

"In less than a month, our children need to be there for enrollment," a parent stated, "I hope the relevant parties resolve this soon, as it's not the students' fault." The office advised students to proactively communicate Taiwan's new regulations to their high schools to expedite the issuance of their diplomas and complete visa procedures.

Speaking to VnExpress, Lam Vi Chi, Head of Education and Education Counselor at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City, confirmed the difficulties faced by many Vietnamese students with visa procedures, though specific numbers were not provided. He added that some Taiwanese universities plan to engage with Vietnam's Ministry of Education to address these issues, aiming to help students secure visas promptly and ensure smooth enrollment.

To assist, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training reported that the Department has expedited the process, issuing graduation diplomas early to approximately 280 students intending to study in Taiwan. Other students are expected to receive their high school graduation diplomas starting next week.

Taiwan is a popular destination, currently hosting approximately 40,000 Vietnamese students, making them the largest group of international students there. University enrollment in Taiwan typically begins in early September.