Situated in the northern part of the country, Taipei or Taipei City is the capital of Taiwan. As of March 2023, Taipei is home to almost 2.5 million people, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
When it comes to essential services such as passport renewal, visa applications, assistance to nationals, and other important matters, Filipinos in Taiwan go to the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO). This office plays a crucial role in promoting and protecting the rights and interests of Filipinos in Taiwan.
About MECO Taipei
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) is the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan. Its main office is in Taipei, although there are extension offices in Taichung and Kaohsiung, as well.
Here’s a brief history of MECO: Since 1975, people-to-people relations between Taiwan and the Philippines were handles by the Far East Trade Promotion Center, a non-stock, non-profit organization. Later, this center became known as the Asian Exchange Center, Inc., and by 1993, it was transformed into the Manila Economic and Cultural Office or MECO.
Serving as the link between the two countries, MECO has a counterpart in the Philippines: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), which is based in Makati City, Metro Manila.
MECO Taipei Services
To Filipinos in Taipei, MECO provides passport services, notarial services, assistance to nationals, and more. To foreign nationals who would like to visit the Philippines, it provides visa services.
Passport Services
Among the passport services offered by MECO are issuance of passports to new applicants, passport renewal, and passport replace (in cases of lost or damaged passports). To apply for these services, people need to set an appointment first, by going to this website: https://www.passport.gov.ph/.
Notarial Services
MECO notarizes documents such as Special Powers of Attorney (SPAs), affidavits, and other documents that will be submitted to offices in the Philippines. It also authenticates Taiwan-issued documents that will be used in the Philippines, as Filipino government authorities and firms may require authentication.
Moreover, MECO provides verification of Philippine driver’s licenses, and translation of Taiwanese driver’s licenses. To Filipinos intending to renounce or reacquire Philippine citizenship, the office facilitates these services, as well. In addition, MECO facilitates reports of birth, marriage, and reports of death of Filipino citizens in Taiwan.
Assistance to Nationals
MECO’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Section offers support to Filipinos who need medical assistance, repatriation, legal assistance, and other forms of assistance. Furthermore, the office helps facilitate overseas voting activities, police clearance applications, travel documents, and video conference court hearings, depending on the needs and situations of Philippine nationals in Taiwan.
Visa Services
To foreign nationals who need a visa before entering the Philippines, MECO provides visa services, in coordination with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). These include the issuance of single-entry individual visas, single-entry group visas, multiple-entry visas, transit visas, seafarers’ visas, crew list visas, etc.
Contact Information: MECO Taipei
For Filipinos based in Taipei, you can get in touch with MECO through the following contact details:
Address: 2F, Chang Hong New Era Building, 55 & 57 Zhouzi St., Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan
Telephone: +886 2 2658 8825
Website: https://www.meco.org.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MECO.official
Google Map:
To learn more about working in Taiwan, check out this article about Taiwan job contract rules that every OFW should know.