- Published: 28.09.2021.
Plenković welcomes U.S. decision to include Croatia in Visa Waiver Program
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Tuesday welcomed the decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to include Croatia in the Visa Waiver Program, saying this would additionally strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Croatian citizens will benefit the most, he tweeted, adding that the lifting of visa requirements had been one of the government's foreign policy priorities.
"With the realisation of this foreign policy priority, we will additionally strengthen Croatia-U.S. ties," he wrote.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in coordination with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, designated Croatia as a new participant in the Visa Waiver Program, the Department said in a press release earlier today.
Starting no later than December 1, 2021, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will allow citizens and nationals of Croatia to apply to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a U.S. visa, it added.
"Today’s designation of Croatia as a new participant in the Visa Waiver Program is an important recognition of our countries' shared economic and security interests," Mayorkas was quoted as saying.
"I congratulate Croatia for becoming the 40th member of the VWP after having met strict requirements, and I look forward to our continued close cooperation on key priorities," he added.
The VWP is a comprehensive security partnership between the United States and designated countries that facilitates international travel to the United States for business or tourism without a visa for up to 90 days, while protecting national security, the Department of Homeland Security said.
To participate in the VWP, a country must meet requirements related to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management. These requirements include having a rate of nonimmigrant visa refusals below three percent, which Croatia met recently.
Text: Hina