
The Argentine government has officially announced:
Starting from July 22, 2025, Chinese citizens holding a regular passport and a valid U.S. visa may enter Argentina without a visa or the electronic travel authorization (AVE) for tourism or business purposes. Each stay is permitted up to 30 days and may be extended once.
In short — like Chileans, Chinese travelers with a U.S. visa can now enter Argentina without a visa.
For years, Chinese tourists faced a cumbersome visa application process, whether through the Argentine Embassy in China or the AVE system. Applicants had to prepare extensive documentation such as bank statements, travel itineraries, hotel and flight bookings, and often endure months of waiting with the risk of rejection in the end.
Moreover, Argentina’s visa fees have soared in recent years — skyrocketing from USD 50 to as high as USD 400, making it one of the most expensive visa processes in the world.
With the new policy, travelers can now save up to USD 400 in visa-related costs.
This change comes in response to China’s announcement in May 2025 to unilaterally visa waiver for citizens from Argentina and four other South American countries.
In its official statement, Argentina noted:
“In light of the People’s Republic of China implementing a visa-free policy, Argentina considers it necessary to take reciprocal measures.”
This “visa-for-visa” diplomacy mirrors Chile’s earlier decision to allow Chinese citizens holding U.S. visa to enter without a separate Chilean visa—a policy that has already led to a significant increase in Chinese travel to South America, according to travel platform data.
Now, with Argentina joining the U.S. visa-holder entry waiver club, a fresh wave of Chinese tourism to South America is set to follow.