Canada lifts visa requirements for Czechs
The Associated Press
Published: October 31, 2007
PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Canada has decided to lift visa requirements for Czech nationals, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said Wednesday.
Schwarzenberg said Czechs traveling to Canada will no longer need visas as of Thursday for visits up to 90 days.
Both countries mutually abolished visas in October 1996.
One year later, Canada re-imposed visa restrictions in an attempt to stem the flow of an increasing number of asylum seekers, particularly Gypsies, or Roma, from the Czech Republic.
Schwarzenberg said Canada will carefully monitor the number of asylum seekers, and if it increases, the country might re-impose visa restrictions.
"It is in the interest of both Canada and the Czech Republic to maintain visa-free traveling on a permanent basis," Schwarzenberg said
In September, the European Commission warned Canada it must move to lift visa requirements on new EU member states or face possible retaliation.
The Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004.
Twelve new nations have joined the EU since 2004. Canada has given Cyprus, Malta, Estonia and Slovenia the same visa-free treatment that Western Europeans enjoy, but requires visas for visitors from the other eight new EU nations.
