Budapest - Canada currently has no intention of reinstating the visa requirement for Hungarians, the Canadian government said Thursday evening, while acknowledging a surge in the number of asylum claims. "Canada has no plans to reimpose a visa requirement at this time," said spokeswoman for the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration office Kelli Fraser.
This comes in the wake of a surge in the number of asylum claims made by Hungarians flying into Canada.
In the first half of this year, 750 Hungarians claimed refugee status in Canada, with the number increasing month by month.
"Canada is aware of an increase in refugee claims from Hungary and is monitoring the situation closely," Fraser told the German Press Agency dpa.
In July Canada revoked visa-free travel for the Czech Republic and Mexico in the wake of a flood of what were seen as largely bogus asylum claims.
Thousands of Czech Roma had flown to Canada citing persecution at home and seeking refugee status,
As of the end of June there were 940 claims pending from Hungarian citizens, Charles Hawkins, senior communications advisor for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada told the German Press Agency dpa.
No claimants have been granted refugee status this year, but 22 of 288 claims made in 2008 were successful.
This despite Hungary being a European Union member state and, in theory, an improbable source of refugees fleeing persecution.
Hungarian Roma, also known as gypsies, are among the most deprived social groups in Hungary, often living in de facto segregation on the edge of rural towns and villages.
"The IRB does not have statistics on case types and cannot discuss the basis for acceptance of refugee claims," Hawkins said.
Canada's minister for immigration Jason Kelley discussed the rising number of asylum claims with Hungarian officials while on an official visit in June.
The Hungarian foreign ministry said on Thursday that it was not aware of any Canadian plans to withdraw visa exemption.
However, it urged Hungarian citizens to be fully aware of the "conditions for legal travel, residence and work" in Canada.
"Countries are aware that if they do not satisfy the conditions of a visa-exemption, a visa may be imposed," Fraser said.
