Taiwan Has Been ‘Harmonized’ Again
Source: Facebook post by Shirley Lu
Bottom line: When applying for a Bali eVisa, not finding ‘Taiwan’ in the nationality field is normal—the system has reclassified it as ‘Chinese Taipei’, which you can find under the options starting with ‘C’. This doesn’t affect the application process, and you can still complete your visa application smoothly.
I’ve been planning a trip to Bali recently, and while applying for the eVisa, I encountered a situation that was both baffling and amusing.
The Missing Taiwan Option
Has anyone else applied for a Bali eVisa these past few days? When I filled out the application form on (2025/06/07), I noticed something strange. In the Nationality field, I searched repeatedly but couldn’t find ‘Taiwan’ as an option.
Just last weekend, when I applied for myself, I could still select Taiwan without any issue. How did it disappear in just a few days?
The Search Process
At first, I thought it might be listed as ‘Republic of China,’ since that’s our official name. So I flipped to the options starting with R to look for it, but I couldn’t find it.
Then it hit me—could it be grouped under ‘China’? With a mix of anxiety and doubt, I turned to the options starting with C to search.
And then I saw this…
The ‘Harmonized’ Result
What used to be ‘Taiwan’ has now become ‘Chinese Taipei.’
Seeing this change really stirs up mixed emotions. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered this situation, but every time I see it, I still feel a sense of helplessness. On the international stage, our name always faces various political considerations and pressures.
A Traveler’s Frustration
As someone who just wants to travel abroad, all we hope for is to smoothly apply for a visa and enjoy our vacation. But even this basic need becomes complicated due to political factors.
Although we can eventually complete the application process, the feeling of being ‘erased’ and ‘renamed’ is truly unsettling.
A Reminder for Fellow Travelers
If a friend is also applying for a Bali eVisa recently, remember to look for ‘Chinese Taipei’ in the nationality field—don’t spend ages searching like I did.
I hope that one day, we can appear freely in every corner of the world under our true name.
