Which countries green card holders can travel without visa

No. As of April 26, 2022, lawful permanent residents of the U.S. must show the following documents for all methods of travel to Canada:

  • a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document) and
  • a valid green card (or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States)
Complete list of acceptable status documents for lawful permanent residents of the U.S.

You need an official proof of status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., such as one of the following:

  • valid permanent resident card (Form I-551)
  • foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (also known as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication [ADIT] stamp)
  • foreign passport with a temporary I-551 printed notation (“Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”) on a machine-readable immigrant visa upon endorsement with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection admission stamp
  • expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status)
  • expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [green card])
  • valid re-entry permit (Form I-327)
  • Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) and a passport-style photo

Bring your proof of status documents when you travel to Canada

To confirm your status as a lawful permanent resident in the U.S., you’ll need to show your proof documents to

  • airline staff when you check in for a flight to Canada
  • a border services officer when you arrive in Canada

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Eligible citizens or nationals from all Visa Waiver Program countries must obtain approval through ESTA prior to traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Visa Waiver Program travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States.

Please refer to the ESTA webpage for more detailed information or to apply for ESTA.

Additional Information

For additional Frequently Asked Questions on the Visa Waiver Program, please visit CBP's FAQ page for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

For more information about the Visa Waiver Program please visit the State Department's Travel Website.

* With respect to all references to “country” or “countries” in this document, it should be noted that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Pub. L. No. 96-8, Section 4(b)(1), provides that “[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.” 22 U.S.C. § 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, all references to “country” or “countries” in the Visa Waiver Program authorizing legislation, Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187, are read to include Taiwan. This is consistent with the United States’ one-China policy, under which the United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.

** British citizens only with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

October 17, 2022

Since 0:00 am (JST) on October 11, 2022, the visa exemption arrangements for 68 countries/regions as shown in the chart below are resumed.

68 Countries and Regions for Visa Exemptions

AsiaEurope
Brunei (14 days) Andorra
Indonesia (Note 1) Austria (Note 7)
Malaysia (Note 2) Belgium
Republic of Korea Bulgaria
Singapore Croatia
Thailand (Note 2) (15 days) Cyprus
Hong Kong (Note 3) Czech Republic
Macao (Note 4) Denmark
Taiwan(Note 5) Estonia
North AmericaFinland
Canada North Macedonia
United States France
Latin America and the CaribbeanGermany (Note 7)
Argentina Greece
Bahamas Hungary
Barbados(Note 6) Iceland
Chile Ireland (Note 7)
Costa Rica Italy
Dominican Republic Latvia
El Salvador Liechtenstein (Note 7)
Guatemala Lithuania
Honduras Luxembourg
Mexico (Note 7) Malta
Surinam Monaco
Uruguay Netherlands
OceaniaNorway
Australia Poland
New Zealand Portugal
Middle EastRomania
Israel San Marino
Turkey(Note 6) Serbia (Note 2)
United Arab Emirates (Note 8) Slovakia
AfricaSlovenia
Lesotho(Note 6) Spain
Mauritius Sweden
Tunisia Switzerland (Note 7)
  United Kingdom (Note 7)
・Period of Stay
  • The period of stay granted at the time of the landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia, and Thailand, “14 days” for Brunei, "30 days" for United Arab Emirates and "90 days" for other countries and regions.
  • (Note 1) For nationals of Indonesia (since December 1, 2014), visas are not required only for those who have registered ICAO-compliant ePassport to diplomatic missions of Japan in Indonesia (the embassy, consulates-general, or the consulate). Validity of the registration is three years period or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • (Note 2) For nationals of Malaysia (since July 1, 2013), Thailand (since July 1, 2013) and Serbia (since May 1, 2011) visas are not required only for holders of ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold such ePassport are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.
  • (Note 3) For citizens of Hong Kong, visas are not required only for holders of Special Administrative Region (SAR) passport issued by the Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China or British National Overseas (BNO) passports who have the right of residence in Hong Kong.
  • (Note 4) For citizens of Macao, visas are not required only for holders of SAR passport issued by the Macao SAR of the People’s Republic of China.
  • (Note 5) Visa exemption arrangements for Taiwan is limited to passport holders with a personal ID number.
  • (Note 6) For nationals of Barbados (since April 1, 2010), Turkey (since April 1, 2011) and Lesotho (since April 1, 2010), visas are not required only for holders of Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) or ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold an MRP or ePassport are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.
  • (Note 7) For nationals of those countries with visa exemptions permitting stays of up to 6 months under the bilateral visa exemption arrangements, those who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days are required to apply for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the period of permitted stay is to expire.
  • (Note 8) For nationals of the United Arab Emirates (since July 1, 2017), visas are not required only for those who have registered ICAO-compliant ePassport to diplomatic missions of Japan (the embassy, consulates-general, or the consulate). Validity of the registration is three years period or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • (Note 9) Nationals of Peru (since July 15, 1995) and Colombia (since February 1, 2004), are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.

Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) in compliance with ICAO standards

Which countries green card holders can travel without visa

MRP in compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards has certain individual information, which is able to be read by computer, entered on the identity page of the passport.

ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards

Which countries green card holders can travel without visa

ePassport in compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards has IC chip that stores certain individual and biometric data including a digital image of the passport photograph. ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards has ePassport’s symbol on the front cover of the passport.


Which countries you can travel with US green card without visa?

Here are the countries that Green Card Holders can visit without a visa:.
Canada..
Mexico..
Costa Rica..
Georgia..
The British Virgin Islands..
Aruba and Curaçao..
The Balkans..
Singapore..

How many countries can you visit with a US green card?

Currently, there are about 36 VISA-FREE countries for US green card holders. A US green card is a pathway to a US passport. While you wait for your US passport, your US green card is already making your current passport strong. Not as strong as a US passport but quite strong.

Can green card holders visit Europe without visa?

Do Green Card Holders Need a Visa to Travel to Europe? US Green Card holders, who are also nationals of third countries that have not established a visa-free regime with the EU, will need to obtain a Schengen Visa, in order to be able to travel to Europe.

Can green card holders visit other countries?

Yes, you can travel abroad as a green card holder — that's one of the many benefits of being a permanent resident. However, your trip must be temporary and you cannot remain outside the United States for more than 1 year.