What countries can you visit with just a US visa?
Updated 2026-08-27 · every rule verified against official government sources
A valid US visa in your passport — any nationality — waives or simplifies the visa of 26 other countries. The headline unlocks: Mexico and Peru for up to 180 days, Chile, Colombia, Georgia and the Balkans for 90, Saudi Arabia and the UAE on arrival, and a simplified e-visa for Türkiye. Below is the complete list with stay limits and the conditions that actually matter.
Why do countries do this? If a US consulate has already vetted you, that vetting is accepted as good enough — Mexico, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and others wrote it into their entry law.
Latin America & the Caribbean
Balkans & the Caucasus
Middle East
Asia-Pacific & North America
The fine print that actually matters
The visa must be unexpired; Chile and Peru want 6+ months of remaining validity, the UAE wants 6 months on a visa or Green Card.
Albania, Panama, Saudi Arabia and Egypt require at least one entry stamp from the issuing country — a fresh, never-used visa fails this test.
Colombia excludes C1 transit visas; Argentina matches the visa category to your trip purpose; Türkiye's rule needs an ordinary sticker visa — an e-visa or ESTA does not qualify.
And the rule that overrides everything: entry requirements change. Each rule on our US visa (B1/B2 etc.) unlocks page cites its official source with a "last verified" date — re-check it (or your airline's Timatic) before booking.
Frequently asked questions
What countries can I visit with just a US visa?
A valid US visa unlocks 26 countries without their own visa, including Mexico (180 days), Peru (180), Chile (90), Colombia (90), Georgia (90), Saudi Arabia (visa on arrival, 90) and the UAE (visa on arrival, 14). Conditions such as visa validity and prior use apply per country.
Does an ESTA count as a US visa for these rules?
No. An ESTA is a travel authorization, not a visa — none of these rules accept it. You need an actual visa foil/sticker in your passport.
How long can I stay in Mexico with a US visa?
Up to 180 days visa-free with any valid US visa, per Mexico's National Migration Institute; the immigration officer grants the final stay length.
Does a US Green Card unlock the same countries?
Not exactly: 18 countries accept a US Green Card — Mexico for 180 days, Argentina for 90 — a partially different list. See the separate Green Card guide.
Every rule above, with full conditions, official sources and your specific passport factored in:
See all US visa (B1/B2 etc.) unlock rules →