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Where can US Green Card holders travel without a visa?

Updated 2026-08-27 · every rule verified against official government sources

A US Green Card is a serious travel document long before naturalization. Regardless of your citizenship, permanent residence in the US waives or simplifies the visa of 18 countries: Mexico for up to 180 days, Argentina, Colombia and Georgia for 90, Saudi Arabia (90) and the UAE on arrival, and a simplified e-visa for Türkiye. The verified list:

Infographic: a valid US Green Card unlocks 18 countries visa-free, on arrival or via simplified e-visa

Why do countries do this? US permanent residence signals a completed, deep vetting — Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and others accept it in place of their own visa process.

Latin America & the Caribbean

🇲🇽MexicoVisa-free, 180 daysvisa must be valid; residence must be permanent🇦🇷ArgentinaVisa-free, 90 dayspermanent residence of the US, EU, UK or Canada🇨🇴ColombiaVisa-free, 90 daysUS visa (not transit C1) or Schengen visa/residence permit valid for at least 180 days from the date of entry🇬🇹GuatemalaVisa-free, 90 daysvalid visa (generally multiple-entry — a used single-entry visa does not qualify); residence of the US, Canada🇨🇷Costa RicaVisa-free, 30 daysvisa must be valid for at least the length of stay; B1/B2 type for US visas🇩🇴Dominican RepublicVisa-free, 30 daysvalid visa or residence permit🇵🇦PanamaVisa-free, 30 daysmultiple-entry visa, used at least once to enter the issuing country

Balkans & the Caucasus

🇦🇱AlbaniaVisa-free, 90 daysmultiple-entry visa that has already been used to enter the issuing country🇬🇪GeorgiaVisa-free, 90 daysvalid visa or residence permit of one of ~50 listed states🇷🇸SerbiaVisa-free, 90 daysvalid visa or residence permit🇧🇦Bosnia & HerzegovinaVisa-free, 30 daysmultiple-entry visa or residence permit of Schengen/EU/US; continuous stay up to 30 days, 90 days total per 18

Middle East

🇸🇦Saudi ArabiaVisa on arrival, 90 daystourist/business visa that has been used (entry stamp of the issuing country present)🇪🇬EgyptVisa on arrival, 30 daysvalid AND used visa (US/UK/Schengen/Japan) or a Western residence permit; return ticket and funds; issued at t🇹🇷Turkeye-Visa required, 30 daysordinary visa required (an e-visa does NOT qualify as the supporting document) or a US/UK/Irish/Schengen resid🇧🇭Bahraine-Visa required, 14 daysvalid US/UK/Schengen visa (or Green Card), or GCC residence (3+ months); Indians with these documents can also🇴🇲OmanVisa-free, 14 daysvalid visa or residence permit of the US/UK/Canada/Schengen/Australia/Japan, or GCC residence; longer stays av🇦🇪United Arab EmiratesVisa on arrival, 14 daysUS visa/Green Card or UK/EU residence valid for 6+ months

Asia-Pacific

🇵🇭PhilippinesVisa-free, 30 daysvalid visa or residence permit of an AJACSSUK country (US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore, UK);

The fine print that actually matters

⚠️ The card must be valid.

An expired Green Card fails everywhere; the UAE wants 6+ months of remaining validity. Carry the physical card.

⚠️ Green Card ≠ US visa.

The lists differ: Chile, Peru and Canada accept a US visa but not a Green Card; Argentina gives Green Card holders 90 days vs 30 on a US visa.

⚠️ Some rules want history.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia's visa-based routes want used documents; for residence-based entry the card itself is usually enough — check each rule's conditions.

And the rule that overrides everything: entry requirements change. Each rule on our US Green Card unlocks page cites its official source with a "last verified" date — re-check it (or your airline's Timatic) before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I travel with a US Green Card and no visa?

18 countries admit US permanent residents without their own visa, including Mexico (180 days), Argentina (90), Colombia (90), Georgia (90), Saudi Arabia (visa on arrival, 90), the UAE (visa on arrival, 14) and the Philippines (30). Conditions apply per country.

How long can Green Card holders stay in Mexico?

Up to 180 days visa-free — Mexico admits any traveler with permanent residence of the US, Canada, the UK, Japan or a Schengen country.

Does my citizenship matter with a Green Card?

Mostly no — these rules apply to visa-required nationalities across the board, but a few countries carve out exceptions; each rule page lists who qualifies.

Is the Green Card list the same as the US visa list?

No: a US visa unlocks 26 countries, a Green Card 18 — and they only partially overlap. Compare with the US visa guide.

Every rule above, with full conditions, official sources and your specific passport factored in:

See all US Green Card unlock rules →

More guides

US Visa GuideSchengen Visa GuideUK Visa Guide