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Posted: 09/28/2021 / 2:13 PM CDT
Updated: 09/28/2021 / 2:13 p.m. CDT
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic speaks at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo / Mary Altaffer, pool)
WASHINGTON (AP) – The US government said Tuesday that Croatia would soon join the countries whose people can visit without a visa as a sign of closer economic and security ties.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Homeland Security said in a joint statement that the European nation of around 4 million people would join the program by December 1 at the latest.
It is the 40th country to be added to the Visa Waiver Program.
People can travel to the United States without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business travel. Countries in the program must meet counter-terrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security and border management requirements.
Croatia’s accession to the program amounts to “recognition of the common economic and security interests of our countries,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas when announcing the nomination.
“I congratulate Croatia on becoming the 40th member of the VWP after meeting strict requirements, and I look forward to our continued close cooperation on key priorities,” he added.
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