Croatia officially joins the U.S. Visa Waiver Program
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo credit: Miki Bratanić)
ZAGREB, 28 September 2021 – Visa-free travel to the United States will now possible for Croatians as Croatia officially joined the Visa Waiver Program today.
On Tuesday, Croatia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Croatia has now joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
“Today Croatia has joined the Visa Waiver Program. The process has been years in the making and is a fulfillment of one of longstanding foreign policy goals. It is also an impetus for further development of the exceptional partnership between Croatia and the United States,” Croatia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
To recap, the final refusal rate for Croatian tourist/business visa applicants fell to 2.69% last year, which was an essential step forward in joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
Today 🇭🇷 has joined the 🇺🇸 Visa Waiver Program!
— MVEP/MFEA 🇭🇷 (@MVEP_hr) September 28, 2021
The process has been years in the making and is a fulfillment of one of 🇭🇷 longstanding foreign policy goals. It is also an impetus for further development of the exceptional partnership between 🇭🇷 and 🇺🇸.#transatlanticism #VWP pic.twitter.com/NqEnQslbPx
By joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, Croatian citizens will be able to enter the United States without a visa.
“All Croatian citizens will be able to travel to the United States without visas no later than December 1,” Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Davor Božinović announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Svi hrvatski državljani će najkasnije od 1. prosinca moći putovati u SAD bez viza. Ovo je završetak dugog puta pregovora i evaluacija, ali prije svega nastavak i jačanje strateškog partnerstva naših država. pic.twitter.com/8vnMVXRSWz
— Davor Božinović (@DavorBozinovic) September 28, 2021
“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,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “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.”
Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus are now the only European Union member states whose citizens cannot enter the United States without a visa.
