A trial program that offered Russians visa-free entry has not been renewed after it expired on July 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
Russia was part of the trial launched in 2018 offering citizens of Brunei, the Philippines, Russia and Thailand visa exemptions.
The program has since been renewed several times, but Russia was removed when it was in July extended for another year, the ministry said.
Taiwan suspended visa-free entry for all foreign nonresidents in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a move to ease restrictions, the Bureau of Councilor Affairs on Tuesday announced that travelers from select countries would from tomorrow again be allowed to enter the nation on visa exemptions, but Brunei, the Philippines, Russia and Thailand are not on the list.
However, the trial program would remain in place, the ministry said.
The reintroduction of visa exemptions followed similar moves by countries around the world. So far, it covers citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.
Japan, South Korea and other countries that offered visa-free entry to Taiwanese before the pandemic are not on the bureau’s list.
The ministry said Russia was included in the trial to boost tourism and bilateral trade.
The ministry is reviewing the effects of such measures, it added.
Russia does not grant visa-free entry to Taiwanese, the country’s representative office in Taipei says on its Web site.
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