Taipei  - Taiwan has exempted five European countries from visa requirements to promote trade and tourism with them, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

The five countries are Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania and Estonia. Their citizens will be allowed to stay up to 30 days in Taiwan without applying for a visa, the ministry's Bureau of Consular Affairs said on its website.

The visa-exemption measure became effective for Poland, Slovakia and Hungary on October 1, for Lithuania on November 22 and for Estonia on December 1.

So far, Taiwan has extended visa exemption to 36 countries in the hope that they would reciprocate for Taiwan visitors.

More than 50 countries have exempted Taiwan from visa requirements, allowing Taiwan visitors to stay in their countries from seven to 90 days. (dpa)