Taiwan has begun using a new paperless Arrival Card for foreign visitors. In the past, visitors would have to fill out a paper form and present it to customs along with a passport. But starting on Wednesday, the new paperless version of the card can be filled out online in advance.
The new move will not only save paper, it will also expedite customs for visitors. Official Sun Tu-hwa explains.
"The National Immigration Agency web site has a place where visitors can fill out a form. After you fill out the form and send it in, it goes into our database," said Sun.
"[Customs officials] can then check the information in the database via the internet. They retrieve the information by using your nationality and passport number, when they swipe the passport, as long as it is correct, it will pull up the data," he said.
Sun said that right now 95% of visitors from China, Hong Kong and Macau do not need to fill out arrival cards, nor do foreigners with residence certificates. The new digital Arrival Cards are primarily for foreign tourists, and people on short stays.
Sun said that paper forms will still be available for those who wish to use them.