ZAGREB, Nov 18 (Hina) - On November 19 the United Kingdom will introduce a visa regime for Croatian citizens, the British Embassy in Zagreb said in a statement on Thursday. Croatian citizens wishing to visit Great Britain will have to
obtain visas before travelling to the country, the Home Office said on Thursday. Visas will also be required for transit via British airports. The visa regime goes into force at 1 am CET on Friday, November 19. According to the British Embassy, the introduction of the visa regime, which should accelerate the processing of applications of actual passengers is directly linked to an increase in the number of Croatian citizens seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. The British government believes a vast majority of them are seeking asylum for economic reasons. The introduction of visa requirements does not mean the change of the entry criteria which had been valid so far. The o
ZAGREB, Nov 18 (Hina) - On November 19 the United Kingdom will
introduce a visa regime for Croatian citizens, the British Embassy
in Zagreb said in a statement on Thursday.
Croatian citizens wishing to visit Great Britain will have to
obtain visas before travelling to the country, the Home Office said
on Thursday. Visas will also be required for transit via British
airports.
The visa regime goes into force at 1 am CET on Friday, November 19.
According to the British Embassy, the introduction of the visa
regime, which should accelerate the processing of applications of
actual passengers is directly linked to an increase in the number of
Croatian citizens seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
The British government believes a vast majority of them are seeking
asylum for economic reasons.
The introduction of visa requirements does not mean the change of
the entry criteria which had been valid so far. The only difference,
according to the Embassy, is that visitors and students, who used to
justify the validity of their request to enter Great Britain upon
their arrival there, will now have to do so by seeking visas before
travelling to Great Britain.
Not included in this regime are those Croatian citizens who have
residence permits in the United Kingdom and are returning there
after being absent not more than two years. Most of those who are
already in Great Britain on a temporary basis, working, studying or
for some other reason, and have residence permits, will not have to
seek entry visas before the expiry of their current residence
permits.
Entry will not be denied to those Croatian citizens who do not have
visas but who had started their direct journey to the United Kingdom
before the visa regime was introduced. Visas will also not be
required from those who should travel to London by plane from Zagreb
before midnight on November 27 (local time), if they can prove that
they had bought their tickets by November 17 inclusive.
Details on the new visa regime can be obtained in the British
Embassy in Zagreb.
(hina) rml