How much is the visa fee for Taiwan?

How much is the visa fee for Taiwan, anyway? Ugh, seriously, figuring this out is a headache. I was looking into it the other day, planning a trip – maybe next spring, if things work out – and the fees are all over the place. For a regular tourist visa, I saw it listed as either ₹3,800 or a crazy ₹7,500! What gives?! Is it based on how cute your passport photo is? Seriously, what's the difference? It's like they're playing a guessing game with your bank account. And then if you need it expedited, well, get ready to add even more to that already hefty sum.

It's just so frustrating, you know? It feels like they're practically charging an arm and a leg just for the privilege of even applying! I remember applying for a visa to Thailand a few years back and it was way simpler, far less expensive. That's where my backpacking trip last summer happened to be, which was amazing, so that’s what pops into my head as the comparison. This Taiwan situation feels kind of discouraging. I mean, it’s a beautiful country, right? But shelling out that much money just to apply, before you even get on a plane, it kind of makes you think twice. A resident visa is supposedly a little cheaper, but still... a considerable chunk of change. It’s almost enough to make you give up on the whole thing, isn't it?