Citizens of Croatia are now permitted to travel to the United States for business or tourism purposes without visas, as soon as they obtain approval through the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ESTA.
Such a decision has been confirmed through a statement published by the US Embassy in Zagreb, VisaGuide.World reports.
“That day has come! Congratulations to Croatia on officially joining the Visa Waiver Program. If you are planning to go to the United States for business or leisure, you need to fill out an ESTA application form,” the statement published by the same Embassy reads.
On September 28, Croatia became the 40th Member of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), while back then, it was reported that Croatians would be eligible to travel visa-free to the US for business and travel purposes with only a travel authorization starting from December.
However, the process was finalized earlier, and as of October 23, Croatians are permitted to travel to the US without visas.
The decision has also been welcomed by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
“We have met all the criteria and achieved a strategic goal for the benefit of Croatian citizens. As a result, we are opening a new page in relations, strengthening our partnership and creating preconditions for greater economic cooperation and investment,” Plenković pointed out in this regard.
In this regard, the Minister of Internal Affairs in Croatia, Davor Božinović, has stressed that the Balkan country had to meet very demanding criteria while considering this scheme’s finalization as an important achievement for the citizens.
The US Visa Waiver Program is a program managed by the US Department of Homeland Security together with the State Department projected to allow international travellers from now 40 countries to visit the US for specific purposes such as business or tourism for a period of 90 days without being required to obtain a visa before planning to travel to the US.
In order to become part of the VWP, countries must meet specific requirements, among them the law, counterterrorism, border management, immigration, while the percentage of nonimmigrant visa refusal must be below three per cent. The latter was met by Croatia recently.
Applications through ESTA should be made before travel. However, the US Homeland Security Department urges all travellers as soon as possible and 72 hours before their travel the latest. ESTA is valid for a period of two years.