The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Taiwan has recently announced its decision to expand its e-visa programme to include nationals from six Gulf Cooperation Council countries with immediate effect.

The six GCC countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

This expansion is aimed at attracting more high-end Muslim visitors to the country, the MOFA said.

Taiwan government had launched its e-visa program in January 2016, as part of an effort to boost tourism, which allows eligible foreign visitors to apply for Taiwan visa online.

Before the expansion, the programme included nationals from 27 countries, mostly those with diplomatic relations with Taiwan and foreign visitors invited to attend international conferences, competitions or trade shows organised, co-organised or sponsored by central government agencies.

The cost of the e-visa is NT$1,632 ($52). The validity is three months starting from the issue date. The eVisa is a single-entry visa, and the maximum duration of stay in Taiwan is 30 days.