Canada reinstates visas for Czechs

Canada has re-imposed visa requirements for Czechs in reaction to a flood of Czech Roma asylum seekers, the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Ministry announced July 13, sparking surprise, frustration and retaliation from its Czech counterpart.

The visa requirement will take effect July 14, and, for the first 48 hours, Czechs may apply for entry on arrival in Canada. The measure aims to weed out asylum claimants who may not be genuine refugees, it said.

Czech citizens will need to apply for a visa, prior to travel, by sending an application to the Embassy of Canada in Vienna, Austria.

"The visa requirement I am announcing will give us greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides," Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in a statement, adding that the wave of Czech claimants burdened the refugee program. "All too often, people who really need Canada's protection find themselves in a long line, waiting for months and sometimes years to have their claims heard. This is unacceptable."

Although speculation that Canada would reintroduce visas abounded for months, the announcement seemed to come as an unexpected blow to Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Kohout, who, just a day earlier, told local media he had reached a breakthrough with Canada on the issue and that the threat had been diffused.

In response to Canada's announcement, the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry said it introduced visas for Canadian diplomats and official passport holders July 14, and has recalled its ambassador from Ottawa.

Kohout blasted the country, saying its reintroduction of visas was unparalleled, the Czech News Agency said.

"This is not an approach [that] partner and allied countries take to each other," he said. He further warned the Czech Republic will appeal for solidarity with the European Union to impose visa restrictions for all Canadian travelers.

Local rights activist Gwendolyn Albert characterized Canada's move as "clumsy" and warned that it will not only harm Canadian-Czech tourism and other business, but Kenney's reference to false asylum seekers could inflame anti-Roma sentiment in the Czech Republic.

"Kenney has gone out of his way to claim there is 'no discrimination' against the Roma here, which is a completely laughable assertion," she said.

- Sarah Borufka contributed to this report.

Wency Leung can be reached at
wleung@praguepost.com