Croatian nationals will be able to travel to the United States without visas as of 1 December at the latest, Minister of the Interior, Davor Bozinovic, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

“On behalf of the Croatian government, I would like to thank Robert Silvers, Under-Secretary of Homeland Security, who has just informed me of Croatia’s entry to the US Visa Waiver Programme.

Croatian nationals will be able to travel to the United States without visas as of 1 December at the latest. This is the end of a long process of negotiation and evaluation but primarily the continuation and strengthening of our countries’ strategic partnership,” said Bozinovic.

In a statement for state agency Hina, Bozinovic said that the lifting of visa requirements for Croatian nationals was a “major accomplishment,” a “confirmation of strategic partnership and trust” as well as of “committed work.”

“The biggest benefit of this decision will be felt by Croatian nationals who will have greater freedom of travel,” he said, noting that that would also contribute to economic cooperation.

The news of Croatia’s official admission to the Visa Waiver Program was conveyed to Bozinovic by Silvers in a phone conversation. Bozinovic said that Silvers had also “expressed his gratitude to the teams involved.”