The Immigration Department has stressed that Taiwanese nationals were already exempted from having a visa to enter Fiji for a limited time following a media statement by the Chinese government yesterday.

In a statement, the Peoples Republic of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Taiwan passport holders can now visit Fiji without having to obtain a visa in advance.

It said Taiwan citizens travelling with passports good for six months can stay in Fiji for up to four months, on the condition that they present return tickets and reasons for their visit.

The statement goes on to say that around 2,000 visitors from Taiwan visit Fiji per year and that the visa waiver program is expected to step up bilateral relations between Taiwan and Fiji in terms of business and tourism development.

However Director Immigration Nemani Vuniwaqa, who recently met with senior Taiwanese officials said there may be a breakdown in communication as Taiwan was been on the visa exemption list for some time now.