Argentina has officially submitted its application to rejoin the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) from the United States. If accepted, this measure would enable millions of Argentines to travel to the United States for tourism or business without having to apply for a visa, as was already the case between 1996 and 2002 before the country withdrew following the economic crisis.
On July 28, on an official visit to Buenos Aires, the US Secretary of Homeland Security.., Kristi Noemsigned a preliminary agreement with President Javier Milei at Casa Rosada.
Discussions focused on migration, security and the fight against terrorism. This gesture is interpreted as a sign of a particularly close relationship between Milei and the American president. Donald TrumpThe Argentine government describes the relationship as a strategic alliance that goes beyond the purely economic.
According to Buenos Aires, this application marks the start of a demanding process: adoption of electronic passports, deployment of biometric systems, tightening of border controls... All measures designed to raise security standards and bring the country into line with international criteria.
Kristi Noem praised the progress already made, pointing out that Argentina has the lowest visa overstay rate in Latin America (around 1 %), and that travel to the USA jumped by 25 % in 2025.
But not everything conforms to the rules The refusal rate for short-term visas is close to 10 %, well above the 3 % limit required by US law. According to some sources, officials in Washington recognize that the move could be a political gesture.
If Argentina is accepted, it will join a select group of 42 countries. of which only Chile is a member in Latin America - whose citizens can stay in the USA for up to 90 days with a simple electronic authorization (21 $), without going through the conventional visa procedure. The go-ahead could come within two to three years, following security assessments and coordination between authorities in both countries.
| This prospect could also reinforce another Argentine project: the launch, announced in May 2025, of a citizenship by investment program requiring a minimum contribution of 500,000 $. Easier access to the United States via the VWP would be a powerful argument for attracting foreign investors. |
On the Argentinian side, this issue is headed by the Minister of Security Patricia BullrichMinister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Werthein and the ambassador in Washington, Alejandro Oxenfordin close collaboration with US agencies.
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