Conscription deferral｜Leaving, returning to Taiwan and leaving again
If you are a Taiwanese man who has not yet completed military service and you are about to study in the UK, then alongside the university, the visa and your housing you also need to apply for permission to leave the country to study.
Plenty of people get out of Taiwan without trouble the first time, then discover after a winter, summer or mid-year visit home that leaving again needs a certified enrolment letter and a re-exit application first.
This guide covers the whole run for conscription-age students heading to the UK: leaving the first time, certifying your enrolment while you are here, and leaving again after a trip home.
Who is this for?
This one is for you if all of the following apply:
1You are a Taiwanese man, 2You have not completed military service, 3You are about to study in the UK (UG / PG / PhD), 4You may go home over the holidays or Lunar New Year
First check: do you need an exit permit at all?
Not every man needs one. It comes down to your age and your conscription status.
| Your situation | Application needed? |
|---|---|
| Leaving on or before 31 December of the year you turn 18, so before conscription age | No |
| From 1 January of the year you turn 19, not yet served and classed as conscription-age | Yes |
| Already served, or otherwise not subject to exit restrictions | No |
One tip from us: if you are not sure which category you fall into, check with the conscription section of your household registration office, an immigration service centre, or the National Conscription Agency.
Upper age limits for study
When you apply to leave, or leave again, on the grounds of study abroad, there are limits on level of study and age.
| Level of study | Upper age limit |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate and below | Up to 24 |
| Master's | Up to 27 |
| Doctorate | Up to 30 |
Studying straight through can extend these limits, up to 33 for a doctorate.
The short version:
Apply for permission to leave
Fly out
Get your enrolment letter certified in the UK
Go home for the holidays
Apply for re-exit at the Immigration Agency
Fly out again
| Stage | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Before you first leave | Apply to the National Immigration Agency to leave for study | Gets you permission to leave for the UK |
| While studying in the UK | Ask the Taipei Representative Office to certify your enrolment letter | Sets up your re-exit after a trip home |
| A short trip home | Holidays, family or personal business | Coming home does not keep your exit permission alive |
| Before leaving again (first time) | Apply for re-exit at an immigration service centre | Approves your return to the UK to keep studying |
To leave Taiwan for the first time as a student, apply at a National Immigration Agency service centre within the three months before your course starts.
What to bring
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Your passport | Proves who you are and lets you travel |
| Offer letter or CAS | Must state the course start date |
| The exit application form | The exit application form |
| Anything else | As listed at the service centre or in the latest notice |
Where: any National Immigration Agency service centre
When: within the three months before term starts
The National Immigration Agency website: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5385/7244/7250/7254/16054/182520/