Two months after suspending the tourist visa application process for Taiwanese nationals, the Kingdom of Morocco reversed its decision last week, allowing people from the Asian country to reapply for visas.
- Morocco has reversed its suspension of tourist visa applications for Taiwanese nationals after a two-month halt, now allowing applications for tourism purposes.
- The original suspension, imposed in July, halted all new visa confirmations for Taiwanese travelers, prompting a reciprocal visa ban from Taiwan against Moroccan nationals.
- Despite reopening for tourists, Morocco still does not accept visa applications from Taiwanese visitors traveling for reasons other than tourism, and Taiwan maintains its visa ban on Morocco.
- Taiwan has also faced diplomatic challenges in Uganda, where its citizens were forced to present Chinese passports or faced entry issues, highlighting the impact of the “one-China policy.”
Back in July, the Moroccan government directed its embassies and consulates globally to stop processing visa confirmation letters for Taiwanese nationals.
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Prior to the suspension, Taiwanese nationals traveling to Morocco for commercial or tourism purposes were required to secure a visa confirmation letter, as reported by Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Applications were formally submitted via the Moroccan Embassy in Japan and transmitted to the relevant authorities in Rabat for evaluation, following which approved applicants received authorization to obtain a visa upon arrival at a Moroccan airport.
However, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the embassy informed travel agencies on July 23 of the cessation of new application processing, per the directive issued to Moroccan diplomatic missions worldwide.
Shortly after Morocco’s decision, Taiwan responded, issuing a visa ban of its own to the North African country under a policy it described as the principle of reciprocity.
These decisions signaled a diplomatic rift between both nations, as no clear explanation was given for Morocco’s visa ban.
Currently, Morocco has gone back on its July decision, as it is now allowing people from Taiwan to apply for tourism visas again, per information from the Taiwanese government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told CNA that its office in Tokyo contacted the Moroccan Embassy in Japan on Friday and was informed that applications for Visa Confirmation Letters (VCLs) had reopened on September 21.
However, Morocco is still not processing VCL applications for Taiwanese visitors travelling for purposes other than tourism.
Taiwan said it would continue to reject visa applications from Moroccan nationals until the remaining restrictions are lifted, as seen on Focus Taiwan.
Morocco is hardly the only African country Taiwan is having travel complications with, as it recently had the East African country of Uganda in focus too.
Taiwan and Uganda
In August, Taiwan issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting Uganda following reports that authorities there had confiscated passports and demanded Chinese documentation, further intensifying diplomatic friction surrounding Beijing’s policy.
The advisory came after three Taiwanese business travellers and their family members arrived at Entebbe International Airport near Kampala.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ugandan immigration officials seized their Taiwanese passports and demanded that they present Chinese passports instead.
The documents were eventually returned, and the travellers were allowed into Uganda.
However, Taiwan said the incident was the second recent case involving its citizens.
In the earlier case, two Taiwanese travellers encountered similar problems, with one eventually deported from the country.
According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, Ugandan officials said the passport requirement was linked to the country’s “one-China policy,” which recognises Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China.
One-China Policy, Africa and the US
Taiwan has a limited diplomatic footprint in Africa, largely because most countries on the continent recognise Beijing under the One-China policy.
The African Union reaffirmed its support for the policy in January 2026, recognising the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing China and backing Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China.
However, Eswatini remains the only African country with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, while the continent’s other countries maintain relations with Beijing.
![President Lai witnesses the signing ceremony for a customs mutual assistance agreement between the two nations' governments, as well as signs a joint communiqué [Image: Taiwan Presidential Office]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/df895e7bbb684ffcd7025ed6f9624708.jpg)
In April, Taiwan accused China of attempting to disrupt President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini by pressuring neighbouring countries to withdraw overflight permissions.
Lai’s visit, originally scheduled for April 22–26 to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession, was cancelled after the reported difficulties.
The Taiwanese president eventually travelled to Eswatini in May, although details of how he reached the country were not disclosed.
The issue is not limited to Africa, as the US also recognises Beijing but maintains close unofficial ties with Taiwan, including economic, political and defence relations.
That puts Taiwan in an unusual position.
It has strong informal relationships with countries such as the US, but very few formal diplomatic allies, particularly in Africa, where Beijing’s influence has grown significantly over the past decades.
