Argentina Waives Visa For Indians Holding Valid U.S. Tourist Visas

Argentina has moved to ease travel for Indian citizens who already hold a valid U.S. visa, allowing them to enter the country for tourism without applying for a separate Argentine visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (AVE). The change took effect with the publication of Resolution 353/25 in the country’s Official Gazette, and officials say it is intended to boost visitor numbers from India while keeping border checks in place. Immigration officers will verify eligibility at the point of entry.

The measure, announced in late August and in force upon publication, is framed as a targeted waiver. Under the resolution, Indian passport holders who hold a valid U.S. tourist visa, such as a B1/B2, are exempt from filing an AVE or seeking a traditional Argentine visa before travel. The National Immigration Directorate will confirm the traveler’s eligibility when they arrive, according to the text issued in the Official Gazette and subsequent public briefings.

Argentine Ambassador to India Mariano Caucino welcomed the development, calling it “wonderful news for both Argentina and India” and saying the country is ready to receive more Indian travelers. Tourism officials are aiming to attract first‑time visitors who already have a U.S. visa and may be planning long‑haul trips across the Americas.

Federico Sturzenegger, Argentina’s Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, said the decision is formalized through Resolution 353/25, signed by Chief of Staff Lisandro Catalán. “Indian tourists who hold a U.S. visa will no longer be required to have a visa to enter,” Sturzenegger explained, underlining that the waiver applies to tourism travel and that immigration checks will still be carried out on arrival.

Tourism Secretary Daniel Scioli said the policy is part of a wider effort to grow inbound tourism and support major events, including sports. Officials believe shorter and simpler pre‑travel steps will encourage more Indian families, groups, and solo travelers to include Argentina in their itineraries, especially during peak seasons.

Policy Change and Immediate Effects

The resolution builds on Argentina’s recent trend of easing entry for certain travelers who have already passed screening by other countries. Similar exemptions have been extended to citizens of China and the Dominican Republic who hold U.S. visas, officials noted, and this new step brings Indian travelers into that group.

It also goes a step beyond Argentina’s earlier approach for Indians, which made an AVE possible for those with a U.S. visa. Now, the separate application is removed altogether for tourism trips.

Key elements of the change include:

• Effective date: The rule is in effect following its August 2025 publication in the Official Gazette under Resolution 353/25.
• Eligibility: Indian citizens with a valid U.S. tourist visa (e.g., B1/B2) can enter Argentina without a separate Argentine visa or AVE.
• Waived requirements: No Argentine visa and no AVE are required for eligible Indian travelers.
• Verification: Argentina’s National Immigration Directorate will check the validity of the Indian passport and the U.S. visa at the border.
• Scope: The waiver applies to tourism only. Other travel purposes (work, study, residency) still require standard procedures.

Officials present the move as an economic and cultural policy. India’s expanding middle class and its steady growth in long‑haul travel have drawn attention from tourism boards across Latin America. According to figures cited by Argentine authorities, nearly 2.2 million Indian travelers visited the United States in 2024, and India issues more than a million U.S. visas each year. Those numbers suggest a ready pool of visitors who already meet a central requirement under the new rule.

Before this change, Indian passport holders who had a U.S. visa could often apply for an Argentine AVE instead of a full visa. The government now says the waiver allows direct entry for tourism, cutting out extra steps and helping airlines and travelers alike. The main check—verifying the traveler’s U.S. visa and passport validity—will happen at arrival, with the National Immigration Directorate managing the process.

What Travelers Should Expect at the Border

Officials have outlined a simple entry experience for eligible travelers. The process now looks like this:

1. Ensure you hold a valid U.S. tourist visa (such as B1/B2).
2. Travel to Argentina without applying for an Argentine visa or AVE.
3. On arrival, present your Indian passport and valid U.S. visa to immigration officers.
4. The National Immigration Directorate verifies eligibility.
5. If documents are valid, entry is granted for tourism under the waiver.

Authorities stress that the waiver is about ease of travel, not the removal of all checks. Border officers will still review travel documents to confirm the U.S. visa is valid at the time of entry and that the traveler’s stated reason is tourism. For other activities—such as work or study—Argentina’s regular visa processes remain in place.

This shift also sits alongside a separate track of immigration policy. While Argentina has reduced requirements for certain short‑term visitors, the government has tightened rules in other areas tied to residency, citizenship, and access to public services. Decree 366/2025, effective May 29, 2025, is an example of this more restrictive trend for long‑term pathways. The new tourist waiver for Indian travelers does not change those longer‑term rules.

The tourism sector has reacted with strong interest, noting that Indians often plan multi‑stop trips that combine natural landscapes, food, and sports with major cities. With fewer pre‑trip steps, travel planners expect more bookings to Buenos Aires and beyond. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Argentina’s decision could capture part of India’s fast‑growing outbound market by focusing on travelers who already hold a U.S. visa and are eager to add another destination without more paperwork.

Officials have also pointed to broader ties between the two countries. The waiver follows the 2nd Joint Working Group meeting on agriculture held in New Delhi in July, where Argentina and India discussed cooperation on farming technologies, climate‑resilient practices, and mechanisation. Tourism, officials say, supports those links by increasing people‑to‑people contact and business travel spinoffs from tourism flows.

Argentina’s Tourism Secretariat has framed the change as a practical step. By cutting the need for an Argentine visa or AVE for a well‑defined group—Indian citizens who already passed U.S. screening—the government expects faster growth from India without large administrative burdens. The government sees event‑focused travel as a particular opportunity, with sports and cultural festivals serving as major draws.

Reciprocity also plays a role. Argentine travelers can apply for India’s electronic travel authorization system for tourism, a process that is already simple and widely used. Officials say aligning policies where possible supports a friendlier environment for two‑way travel while each side maintains control at the border.

Broader Context and Outlook

In practical terms, the new approach means Indian tourists can fly with their Indian passport and valid U.S. visa and be processed on arrival. Airlines and border officials will continue to check documents, but the time‑consuming pre‑travel application for an Argentine visa is no longer part of the journey for this group. The government expects the clarity of this message to drive faster decisions by travelers and tour operators.

Argentina’s National Immigration Directorate will monitor how the waiver performs and can adjust operational details as needed. Officials have previously extended similar privileges to Chinese and Dominican Republic nationals with U.S. visas, and they will watch compliance and travel volumes from India over the next seasons. Tourism leaders will track booking patterns around major holidays and events, where quick decisions and easy rules make a clear difference.

The effects may reach beyond tourism. More Indian visitors could increase interest in Argentina’s food, wine, football, and natural wonders, which in turn may lead to repeat trips and business visits. For Indian families already planning a U.S. vacation, the ability to add Argentina without a separate visa could tip the balance toward a longer, multi‑country itinerary.

For official guidance on entry procedures and the responsibilities of travelers on arrival, consult Argentina’s National Immigration Directorate, which maintains public information and updates on entry rules and documentation checks. The agency’s site is available here: Argentina’s National Directorate of Migration.

Important: The waiver is specific to Indian citizens holding a valid U.S. tourist visa and removes the need to apply for an Argentine visa or AVE only for tourism. Other types of travel keep the usual requirements, and immigration officers will continue to verify documents at the border.

Travelers should pay close attention to the exact wording in the Official Gazette and any airport notices to confirm ongoing details and any operational changes. Officials and industry groups expect the clearer process to encourage more Indian travelers to visit, translating policy into arrivals across Argentina’s cities, plains, and mountains.