On September 28, 2021, Croatia officially joined the United States' Visa Waiver Programme. As a result, by the end of the year, Croatian citizens will be able to travel as tourists to the US - visa-free!
Croatia has been officially designated into the Visa Waiver Program 🇭🇷🇺🇸
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 28, 2021
This is an important step toward strengthening long-standing economic and security cooperation between our nations.https://t.co/0chHS0lTlJ
Croatia designated as the 40th member of U.S. #VisaWaiverProgram 🇺🇸🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/1gxqe0UvOi
— U.S. Embassy Zagreb (@USEmbZagreb) September 28, 2021
Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenković Tweeted, "We welcome the Department of Homeland Security's decision to include Croatia in the Visa Waiver Programme. Croatian citizens who will be able to travel to the US without visas will benefit the most. With the realization of this foreign policy, we will further strengthen the ties between 🇭🇷 and 🇺🇸!"
Pozdravljamo odluku @DHSgov o uvrštavanju Hrvatske u Program izuzeća od viza. Najveću korist imat će hrvatski državljani koji će bez viza moći putovati u 🇺🇸. Realizacijom ovog vanjskopolitičkog prioriteta dodatno ćemo osnažiti veze 🇭🇷 i 🇺🇸! https://t.co/RrRw25kMbV
— Andrej Plenković (@AndrejPlenkovic) September 28, 2021
"All Croatian citizens will be able to travel to the United States without visas no later than December 1. This is the end of a long path of negotiations and evaluations, but above all, it's the continuation and strengthening of the strategic partnership between our countries," Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister Davor Božinović wrote on Twitter following the announcement of the decision.
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
US politicians also took to the platform to offer their congratulations. This included US Ambassador to Croatia Mark Fleming,
Congratulations #Croatia! We are so proud of this joint success, which brings the American and Croatian people even closer together. Thanks to @VladaRH for the exceptional efforts and partnership to see this process through. 🇺🇸🇭🇷 https://t.co/HKIDNyiKfk
— Chargé d’Affaires Fleming (@USAmbCroatia) September 28, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken,
The United States welcomes our @NATO Ally and steadfast partner Croatia into the Visa Waiver Program. I appreciate the successful efforts of @VladaRH and the Croatian people who have worked hard to meet the rigorous standards required to access the travel benefits of the program.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 28, 2021
US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas,
I congratulate Croatia on becoming the 40th member of the VWP after having met strict requirements, and look forward to continued close cooperation on key priorities.
— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) September 28, 2021
US State Department's Spokesperson Ned Price,
The @StateDept congratulates Croatia on joining the Visa Waiver Program today. Thanks to the many partners across @VladaRH who invested time, effort, and expertise in cooperation with @USEmbZagreb colleagues to take this big step to advance the U.S.-Croatia partnership.
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) September 28, 2021
and US State Department's Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter.
We applaud the Croatian government for successfully meeting all Visa Waiver Program requirements. Our rock-solid relationship with Croatia is built upon shared values, security, and prosperity--approving Croatia for the program will facilitate travel and increase security. https://t.co/rZlg88Xu10
— Jalina Porter (@StateDeputySpox) September 28, 2021
Now, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania remain the only European Union member states not in the US' Visa Waiver Programme.