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Passport & Mobility

Where the Argentine passport opens doors in Asia, Europe and the Gulf

The Argentine passport is strongest exactly where many investors do business: the Schengen area, the UK, Japan, China, Singapore and the Gulf. Here is what each entry looks like in practice, and what is changing.

Updated 7 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Overall reach: about 170 destinations (Henley Passport Index, July 2026: 169, 16th).
  • Schengen area: visa-free, 90 days in any 180. UK: visa-free with an ETA (£20).
  • Japan: 90 days. Singapore: 30 days. UAE: visa-free.
  • China: 30 days visa-free under a unilateral policy that runs to 31 December 2026.
  • Still needed: a visa for the United States and Canada (eTA possible for some), a K-ETA for South Korea, an online visa for Australia.

Passport rankings count destinations. Investors care about specific ones: the cities where they hold assets, meet bankers and send their children to school. For the Argentine passport, the strongest coverage sits in Europe, East Asia and the Gulf.

This guide covers the main destinations in those regions, with the length of stay and any pre-travel permit. Rules change often. Always check the official source of the destination country before you travel.

Europe

The Schengen area: 90 days in any 180

Argentine citizens can enter the 29-country Schengen area without a visa and stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The count is rolling and shared across all Schengen states. Ninety days in France and Italy together uses the full allowance.

Two systems are changing how this works at the border:

  • The Entry/Exit System (EES) began operating on 12 October 2025, with a phased roll-out completed on 10 April 2026. It replaces passport stamps with a digital record of each entry and exit, including biometric data. It also makes the 90/180 calculation automatic, so overstays are easy to detect.
  • ETIAS, a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, was still not in operation as of 2 October 2026. When it starts, Argentines will need to apply online before travel. Follow official EU announcements for the start date.

The Schengen access is valuable and it is not guaranteed for ever. Since 30 December 2025, EU rules allow the suspension of visa-free travel for countries that run investor citizenship schemes without a genuine link. Strong vetting in Argentina’s programme protects every Argentine traveller. We discuss this in How the OECD and FATF view CBI.

The United Kingdom: visa-free with an ETA

Argentina is on the UK’s list of nationalities that need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), a requirement that has applied to Argentines since 8 January 2025. The ETA costs £20, is applied for online or through the UK ETA app, and allows visits of up to six months. It is not a visa, but you cannot board without it.

Ireland, Türkiye and the rest of Europe

Ireland sits outside the Schengen area and runs its own rules. Türkiye admits Argentines visa-free for up to three months, according to published visa summaries. Check each non-Schengen country separately.

East Asia

China: 30 days, for now

China has extended a unilateral visa-free policy to citizens of 45 countries, including Argentina. Ordinary passport holders may enter for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit.

The policy currently runs until 31 December 2026. China has extended it before, but an extension is a decision, not a right. If you plan trips for 2027, watch for an announcement late in 2026, and allow time for a visa if none comes.

Japan: 90 days

Argentine citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, business meetings and family visits. Paid work is not allowed.

South Korea: K-ETA

Argentines do not need a visa for short visits to South Korea, but they must obtain a K-ETA online before departure.

Hong Kong, Taiwan and South-East Asia

Singapore admits Argentines visa-free for up to 30 days. Several South-East Asian states, including Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, also admit Argentines without a visa, and Indonesia offers a visa on arrival. Stay limits in this region change often. Check the official immigration website of each country before you book. We have not listed Hong Kong or Taiwan here because we could not confirm their current rules for Argentine passports from an official source.

The Gulf

United Arab Emirates

Argentine citizens can enter the UAE visa-free. For investors this matters more than most destinations: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the most active hubs for private wealth, family offices and international banking.

Qatar and the wider region

Published visa summaries list Qatar as visa-free for Argentines for up to 90 days, and Oman, Bahrain and Jordan as offering e-visas or visas on arrival. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait require a visa. Treat these as indicative and confirm with the official portal before travel.

Oceania and India

  • Australia: an online e600 visitor visa is required.
  • New Zealand: visa-free, with an NZeTA before travel.
  • India: an e-Visa is required.

Where the passport is still weak

The gaps are in North America:

  • United States: a B1/B2 visa is required. Argentina is not in the Visa Waiver Program, although it is seeking to rejoin. See Can Argentines travel to the US without a visa?
  • Canada: a visa is required. Argentines who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, or held a Canadian visa in the past ten years, can fly in with an eTA instead.

How this compares

The Argentine passport opens about 170 destinations. That places it in the same band as Brazil and above every Caribbean citizenship-by-investment passport. See Argentina vs Brazil and Argentina vs Caribbean passports.

The investment route to this passport is new and legally contested. On 30 June 2026 the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared DNU 366/2025, the decree behind the programme, unconstitutional. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court. Read the legal status briefing and our full guide to the Argentine passport.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can Argentines visit China without a visa?

Yes, for now. China allows Argentine ordinary passport holders to enter visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit. The current policy runs until 31 December 2026, so check before you book travel for 2027.

How long can Argentines stay in the Schengen area?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without a visa. Days spent in any Schengen country count towards the same total.

Do Argentines need anything to visit the UK?

Yes. Argentines do not need a visa, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before they travel. It costs £20 and allows visits of up to six months.

Do Argentines need a visa for Japan?

No. Argentine citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days.

Is ETIAS needed for Europe yet?

No. As of 2 October 2026 ETIAS, the EU's planned pre-travel authorisation, was not in operation. The Entry/Exit System, which records biometric data at the border, has applied since late 2025.

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