U.S. Begins Process to Restore Visa Waiver Access for Argentina

Key Point  

• On July 28, 2025, the U.S. and Argentina signed a statement of intent to explore Argentina’s reentry into the Visa Waiver Program 

U.S. and Argentina Move Toward Visa Waiver Reentry 

On July 28, 2025, the U.S. and Argentina signed a statement of intent to initiate Argentina’s potential reentry into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The agreement was signed in Buenos Aires by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein and Argentine Minister of National Security Patricia Bullrich. 

Background: Argentina and the U.S. Visa Waiver Program 

The U.S. government removed Argentina from the VWP in 2002. The current process reflects a renewed effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation on travel vetting and border security. According to DHS, Argentina now has the lowest visa overstay rate in Latin America and has seen a 25% increase in travel to the U.S. in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. 

What is the Visa Waiver Program?  

The VWP allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Reentry into the program requires meeting a range of security and policy benchmarks, including: 

• Implementation of biometric passport systems 
• Information sharing on criminal and terrorist threats 
• Maintaining a low visa refusal rate 
• Compliance with U.S. counter-terrorism and immigration enforcement standards 

The statement of intent does not guarantee reinstatement but signals DHS’s willingness to work with Argentina as it pursues eligibility over the coming years. 

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