Argentina Will Rejoin the US Visa Waiver Program

On July 28, 2025, the Argentine government officially began the process of rejoining the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), a move that could significantly reshape the country’s international mobility profile.

The announcement came during a high-profile visit by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Buenos Aires, where she met with Argentine officials and signed a formal agreement to begin the review process. 

This is Argentina’s first step toward rejoining the VWP after being expelled in 2002, signaling a new phase of trust and cooperation between the two governments. The timing is no coincidence. With Donald Trump back in the White House and Javier Milei pushing for a bolder shift toward freer markets, both administrations appear eager to strengthen bilateral ties, and the Visa Waiver Program is now central to that agenda.

In this article, we’ll explore what VWP is, why Argentina’s re-entry is important, how its new CBI program helps boost the country’s global standing, and what it all means for expats, investors, and internationally minded individuals looking for opportunities and mobility in Latin America.

What is the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a U.S. government initiative that allows citizens of government-approved countries to enter the United States without obtaining a traditional visa, as long as the trip is for tourism, short-term business, or transit, and does not exceed 90 days. Instead of going through the usual consular process to obtain a visa, eligible travelers simply complete an online application called an ESTA prior to departure, making the process significantly faster, more cost-effective, and more efficient.

An ESTA is a two-year, multiple-entry digital travel authorization that costs about $21. While not a visa, an ESTA acts as a low-friction border control layer and must be applied for before boarding a plane. Approval is usually quick, but final entry is at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon arrival.

As of 2025, about 40 countries are participating in the program, including high-trust nations like Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Chile, the only country currently accredited in Latin America. Participation in the VWP is not automatic — it is based on a country meeting strict standards for security, immigration control, and data sharing.

Participation in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is more than just a convenience for travel; it also represents a form of diplomatic trust. It signals to the United States that Argentina is a stable partner, with low visa overstay rates, effective law enforcement cooperation, and the technical capacity to issue secure biometric passports. For countries like Argentina, access to the VWP is both a practical benefit to citizens and a strategic boost to international standing.

What Should Argentina Do to Get Visa-Free Entry to the US?

Participation in the Visa Waiver Program is a complex, multi-year process, and the United States has a rigorous set of eligibility criteria. To be approved, Argentina must meet the following key requirements:

• Low visa refusal rate: Argentina’s visa refusal rate should be below 3%. As of 2024, it is still above 8%, meaning further improvement is needed.
• Secure Passports: Countries must issue biometric, machine-readable passports that meet U.S. standards for identification and fraud prevention.
• Information Sharing Agreement: Argentina must sign an agreement with the United States to share data related to security, crime, and immigration to aid screening and enforcement.
• Low Overstay Rate: The rate of citizens overstaying in the US must be kept to a minimum. Argentina performed well in this category, with an overstay rate of less than 1%, the lowest in Latin America.
• Internal security measures: The US will assess Argentina’s internal law enforcement capabilities, airport and border security, and ability to monitor and prevent terrorist threats.

Why Argentina Was Eliminated & Why Does It Want to Return?

Argentina previously participated in the VWP from 1996 to 2002, but was dropped after the country’s economy tanked and visa overstays increased in the early 2000s. Since then, Argentine citizens have had to apply for a standard B1/B2 tourist visa — a process that involves in-person interviews, fees, and waiting periods.

Under President Javier Milei, Argentina is looking to reposition itself on the international stage. With a bold domestic reform agenda and increasingly close ties with the United States — especially the Trump administration — the country is working to restore its reputation as a stable and reliable partner.

Re-entry into the VWP is a core objective of this diplomatic realignment and brings tangible benefits to both citizens and international investors.

If Argentina is accepted into the VWP, the impact would be immediate and significant:

• No more B1/B2 visas for short-term tourism
• Faster, Cheaper Access to the US for Millions of Argentine Citizens
• Argentine passports increasingly attractive to global investors
• A major diplomatic victory for the Milei government
• Potential to inspire other Latin American countries to pursue VWP inclusion in their programs

For Argentines with business or family ties in the United States or who need to travel frequently, the change will remove a major bureaucratic hurdle and signal Argentina’s return to the ranks of countries trusted by the United States.

Conclude

Argentina’s application to join the US Visa Waiver Program is more than just an administrative move; it is a symbolic and strategic shift toward greater freedom, global mobility, and international cooperation. Already ranked as one of the most powerful passports in Latin America, Argentina allows its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 170 countries. If the US visa waiver is approved, the passport’s value will increase even further, making it one of the most powerful travel documents in the Western Hemisphere.

For tourists, investors and expats, the move could open up significant new opportunities. While the entire process will take time, the signal is clear: Argentina is once again open for business, investment and global travel.