In July 2025, the Argentine government quietly introduced a new policy that is very favorable for Chinese passport holders. If you are a Chinese citizen and hold a valid U.S. visa, such as a B1/B2 visitor visa, or a valid Schengen visa, congratulations: you can now travel to Argentina without getting a separate Argentine visa. In the past, Chinese travelers who wanted to visit Argentina—even if they were only transiting overnight in Buenos Aires—had to apply for an electronic travel authorization called “AVE,” which was both inconvenient and costly. That requirement has now been officially eliminated. Just bring your valid U.S. or Schengen visa, and you’re good to go.

Policy details

According to Notice No. 328606, published by the Argentine government in the Official Gazette on July 21, 2025:

Citizens of China and the Dominican Republic holding ordinary passports may enter Argentina directly without a visa or AVE, provided they hold a valid U.S. visa issued under the same immigration category, such as a tourist visa.

Simply put, as long as you hold a valid visa in the same category, you can skip the extra paperwork and fly directly to Argentina.

Which visas qualify?

The visas currently confirmed to qualify for visa-free entry include:

  • U.S. visas, such as B1/B2 visitor visas and F1 student visas
  • Schengen visas, such as Category C short-stay tourist visas

What if you have a U.S. green card or work visa?

Although the notice only explicitly refers to visas in the “same category,” if you are a Chinese passport holder with a U.S. green card or a work visa such as H-1B, we recommend having a Schengen visa as a backup to be safe. So far, we have not seen official clarification that a green card or work visa is treated as one of the qualifying visa categories, and border officers may interpret the rule differently. This is especially worth preparing for if you plan to transit through Argentina from a third country or spend more time traveling there.