What countries can you visit with a US visa? Per each destination’s official sources, it depends on your passport: Taiwanese and mainland Chinese holders can skip the Mexican visa, Malaysian holders can apply for a Canadian eTA instead, and Hong Kong and Singapore holders mostly do not need the US visa in the destinations compared here.
This guide draws mainly on official sources from each destination. It compares ordinary passports from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and mainland China, and is written for readers with a valid US visa who want to know what else it is good for. It covers only four verified destinations (Canada, Mexico, Peru and Serbia) and clears up two common misconceptions about the UAE and Armenia. It is not a complete global list, and a destination that is not listed does not mean you cannot go.
Key Points
- Who should take note: anyone with a valid US visa asking “what countries can you visit with a US visa?”, across 5 ordinary passports (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, mainland China), especially readers planning to add Canada, Mexico or Peru to a trip.
- Hong Kong and Singapore passports: in most of the destinations compared here, you can already enter without the US visa, so it does not help; if you fly to Canada, remember to apply for an eTA.
- Taiwanese and mainland Chinese passports: a valid US visa lets you skip the Mexican visa, for stays of up to 180 days, limited to tourism, business, transit and other activities that do not involve earning income. The US visa and the passport must both stay valid for the whole stay, and ESTA does not count.
- Malaysian passport: from 26 May 2026, holders of a valid US visa can apply for a Canadian eTA instead. It costs C$7, lasts up to 5 years and is for air travel only; cruises still need a visitor visa.
- Mainland Chinese passport: a US visa with at least 6 months of validity means no Peruvian tourist visa is needed, for up to 180 days. Serbia can allow a longer stay, but check the limits first.
- Rules change: meeting the conditions does not guarantee entry, which is still decided by local officers. Check the destination’s latest official notice before you travel.
One Table, Five Passports: What Countries Can You Visit With a US Visa?
The table is based mainly on destination government and embassy or consulate pages. Each cell is labelled. US visa helps: the US visa actually gets you something. Can already enter: you can enter without the US visa, which does not mean unconditional entry. US visa does not replace it: the US visa cannot stand in for the requirement. To confirm: the official information is not enough to reach a conclusion.
| Your passport | Canada | Mexico | Peru | Serbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Can already enter: eTA required | To confirm: the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s list shows visa-free, but no Mexican official source was found to confirm it | Can already enter: visa-free for 90 days | Can already enter: visa-free for 14 days; no clear text on whether a US visa lengthens the stay |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | Can already enter: an eTA if the passport has a national ID number, otherwise a visa | US visa helps: can skip the Mexican visa | Can already enter: visa-free for 90 days | To confirm: check with an embassy or consulate |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Can already enter: eTA required | Can already enter: no visa needed | Can already enter: visa-free for 90 days | Can already enter: up to 90 days within 6 months |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | US visa helps: can apply for an eTA instead | Can already enter: no visa needed | Can already enter: visa-free for 90 days | US visa helps: a visa is normally required, but entry is allowed with a valid US visa |
| 🇨🇳 Mainland China | US visa does not replace it: a visitor visa is needed | US visa helps: can skip the Mexican visa | US visa helps: can skip the tourist visa | US visa helps: the stay can be lengthened from 30 to 90 days |
For Singapore and Malaysia, the Mexico entry rests on the Mexican Embassy in Singapore’s page. The Serbia information has more limits, so read “Serbia: The US Visa Helps, but Official Information Is Limited” below first.
Is a US Visa Enough? Three Steps to Check
Beyond the table, the same three steps work for other destinations:
- Did this passport need a visa to begin with? Where you could already enter, do not count it as a benefit of the US visa.
- What can the US visa replace here? Skipping the destination’s visa, applying for an eTA instead and lengthening a stay are different things.
- What other conditions apply? Look at the validity of the US visa and the passport, how you enter, the purpose of the trip and the length of stay.
Hong Kong Passport: The US Visa Is Mostly Not Needed, but Canada Still Needs an eTA
With a Hong Kong passport, the US visa is mostly not needed in these places. The key point is to remember Canada’s eTA.
- Canada: HKSAR passports and BN(O) are both in the eTA category. No visitor visa is needed, but you must apply for an eTA (electronic travel authorization) before flying. A US visa makes no difference to this.
- Mexico: the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s list shows HKSAR passport holders can go visa-free for up to 90 days. The list is published by the Hong Kong government, so check official Mexican sources before you travel.
- Peru: already visa-free for 90 days, so the US visa is not needed.
- Serbia: already visa-free for 14 days. Whether a US visa lets a Hong Kong passport holder stay longer is not clearly stated in official sources, so do not assume it does.
Taiwanese Passport: A Valid US Visa Can Replace the Mexican Visa, but ESTA Does Not Count
Taiwanese passport holders normally need a Mexican visa. With a valid US visa they can skip it, limited to tourism, business, transit and other activities that do not involve earning income. Among the destinations compared here, this is the clearest use of a US visa for a Taiwanese passport.
- Which US visa: Mexico’s liaison office in Taiwan specifies a valid multiple-entry visa that stays valid for the whole stay.
- ESTA does not count: ESTA is a US travel authorization and cannot replace a US visa. People with only ESTA still need a Mexican visa.
- Validity and length of stay: show the US visa and passport on entry; both must stay valid for the whole stay. The stay can be no more than 180 days, and entry is still up to Mexican immigration officers.
Other destinations:
- Canada: ordinary passports that include a national ID number need an eTA; others need a visa. This has nothing to do with the US visa.
- Peru: already visa-free for 90 days, so the US visa is not needed.
- Serbia: whether the US visa rule applies has not been confirmed. If you plan to go, check with an embassy or consulate first.
Singapore Passport: Most of These Benefits Are Already Yours
With a Singapore passport you do not need a US visa for any of the four destinations in this guide. If you fly to Canada, you still need to apply for an eTA.
- Canada: no visa, but an eTA is needed.
- Mexico: the Mexican Embassy in Singapore’s page says no visa is needed for stays of up to 180 days, limited to activities that do not involve earning income.
- Peru: already visa-free for 90 days.
- Serbia: already visa-free, up to 90 days within 6 months.
Malaysian Passport: A US Visa Can Be Used to Apply for a Canadian eTA
From 26 May 2026, Malaysian passport holders with a valid US visa, or who have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years, can apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa when flying to Canada. The details below come from the eTA eligibility and validity pages of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How long the US visa must be valid | Valid on the day you apply for the eTA; it need not still be valid when you fly to Canada |
| Fee | C$7 |
| Validity | Up to 5 years; ends earlier if the passport expires, and a new passport needs a new application |
| How it can be used | Air travel only, including transit through Canadian airports; land and sea arrivals (including cruises) still need a visitor visa |
| Stay | Short stays, usually up to 6 months |
| Passport | You must travel on the same passport used to apply |
Being eligible does not mean approval is certain. IRCC’s wording is that you “can apply”.
Other destinations:
- Serbia: normally needs a visa. With a valid US visa, entry is visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days. See the limits below.
- Mexico: the Mexican Embassy in Singapore’s page says no visa is needed for stays of up to 180 days, limited to activities that do not involve earning income.
- Peru: already visa-free for 90 days.
Mainland Chinese Passport: The US Visa Does Different Things in Mexico, Peru and Serbia
Of the four destinations here, a valid US visa is useful for a mainland Chinese passport in three, and it does something different in each. It is not useful for Canada.
- Mexico: with a valid US visa you can skip the Mexican visa for stays of up to 180 days, limited to tourism, business, transit and other activities that do not involve earning income. Show the US visa and passport on entry; both must stay valid for the whole stay. Mexico’s liaison office in Taiwan specifies a multiple-entry visa, while its consulate general in San Diego and embassy in Singapore say only “valid”, so holders of a single-entry US visa should check with an embassy or consulate first. US permanent residents also do not need a Mexican visa. People whose US visa has expired, or who hold only an I-20, an EAD work card or other US status or work documents, cannot rely on those documents and need a separate Mexican visa.
- Peru: a US visa with at least 6 months of validity (or US permanent residence) means no tourist visa is needed. Peru’s official table lists 180 days, counted over 365 days, with no extension. Official sources do not say when the 6 months starts or whether the US visa must have been used, so people whose US visa has close to 6 months of validity should check with a Peruvian embassy or consulate first.
- Serbia: already visa-free for 30 days; with a US visa, up to 90 days in any 180 days. See the limits below.
- Canada: a visitor visa is required. Mainland China is not on the conditional eTA list, so a US visa cannot get you an eTA.
Serbia: The US Visa Helps, but Official Information Is Limited
Under the rules page currently on the Serbian foreign ministry’s website, holders of a valid US visa can enter, transit and stay for up to 90 days in any 180 days, for no longer than the visa’s validity and with no advance application. Pay attention to how each passport is treated and to when the information was last updated. This rule cannot be used for a work residence permit. The foreign ministry’s rules page shows no update date, the China country page was last updated on 3 April 2018, and the Singapore and Malaysia country pages show no date either. Mainland Chinese passport holders can stay up to 90 days; the example in the foreign ministry’s FAQ is a Schengen visa, and the same rule also lists the United States. Check once more with an embassy or consulate before you travel.
The UAE and Armenia: Two Common Misconceptions
Do Mainland Chinese Passport Holders Need a US Visa for a UAE Visa on Arrival?
No. Ordinary mainland Chinese passports have had mutual visa exemption with the UAE since 16 January 2018, so a US visa adds nothing.
Watch the number of days. A notice from the Chinese Embassy in the UAE on 14 April 2025 says up to 90 days in every 180 days, with at least 6 months of passport validity and a fine of 50 dirhams for each day of overstay. The general note in China’s foreign ministry table of mutual exemptions still says 30 days, so check again before you travel. Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysian passports are also on the UAE foreign ministry’s visa-exempt list and do not need a US visa. Taiwanese passports are not on this list, so check separately with official UAE sources.
Can a US Visa Get You Into Armenia Visa-Free?
No. Armenia’s temporary exemption from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2027 is based on residence permits from the United States, the EU, Schengen countries or the six Gulf states. Visas do not count.
- Malaysian passport: the only one of the five on this list. It works only with US residence, valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry; with only a US visa, you still need an Armenian visa.
- Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong passports: already visa-free, so the US visa is not needed.
- Singapore passport: Armenia’s two lists are inconsistent, so check with the embassy before you travel.
- Taiwanese passport: not on the Armenian foreign ministry’s visa-free list. Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs lists an e-visa that can be applied for online before entry, for stays of 21 or 120 days. Check official Armenian sources for conditions.
Three Final Checks Before You Travel
- Passport: check the rules for the passport you actually hold. With the same US visa, a different passport gives a different answer.
- Destination: check the destination’s latest official notice, and confirm anything marked “To confirm” here with an embassy or consulate.
- This trip: check whether your US visa and passport are valid long enough, how you enter, what you will do and how long you will stay.
What this guide lists are only the conditions for skipping a visa or applying for an eTA instead. Whether you are admitted is still decided by local officers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries can you visit with a US visa?
It depends on your passport. Within the scope of this guide, Malaysian passport holders can use it to apply for a Canadian eTA; mainland Chinese and Taiwanese passport holders can skip the Mexican visa; mainland Chinese passport holders can also skip Peru’s tourist visa; and Hong Kong and Singapore passport holders mostly have no use for it in these places.
Is an expired US visa still useful?
It varies. For a Canadian eTA, the US visa only needs to be valid on the day you apply. Mexico requires it to be valid for the whole stay, Peru requires at least 6 months of validity, and a stay in Serbia cannot go beyond the visa’s validity.
I hold a Taiwanese passport and only ESTA. Can I go to Mexico without a visa?
No. ESTA is not a US visa, so Taiwanese passport holders with only ESTA still need a Mexican visa. Only a valid US visa lets you skip it, limited to tourism, business and transit.
With a Hong Kong passport and a US visa, do I still need an eTA for Canada?
Yes. HKSAR passports and BN(O) are in Canada’s eTA category anyway. No visitor visa is needed, but you must apply for an eTA before flying, whether or not you have a US visa.
Does a Malaysian eTA still work after the US visa expires?
Yes. The US visa only needs to be valid on the day you apply for the eTA, and need not still be valid when you fly to Canada. The eTA lasts up to 5 years, ends earlier if the passport expires, and a new passport needs a new application.
What Countries Can You Visit With a US Visa on a Mainland Chinese Passport?
Within the scope of this guide, Mexico and Peru can be visited without their visas, and a stay in Serbia can be longer. Canada does not work: mainland China is not on the conditional eTA list, so a visitor visa is needed.
Can I work in Mexico on a US visa?
No. Mexico’s liaison office in Taiwan refers to business, tourism, transit or activities that do not involve earning income. Working needs separate arrangements.
If you are planning a multi-country trip or want to confirm which rule applies to your passport, bring your situation to Ask Zagdim.
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Important Disclaimer and Data Notes
This article is general information and is not legal advice, and it does not guarantee entry. The content is current as of 31 October 2026 and draws mainly on destination government and embassy or consulate pages. Some “already visa-free” entries rely on lists from the departure-side government, as noted in the text. Rules for other destinations change often and are not included. Visa rules can change at any time, so rely on the latest official notice from each destination.
References
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Citizens From Some Visa-Required Countries / Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – Canada Strengthens Indo-Pacific Ties Through Changes to Visa Requirements for Eligible Travellers From Indonesia and Malaysia / Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – What You Need to Enter Canada / Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – Find Out About Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) / Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego – Visas / Mexico’s Liaison Office in Taiwan – Visitor Visa / Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs – 2013 Reminder: ESTA Holders Still Need a Mexican Visa / Embassy of Mexico in Singapore – Visas / Hong Kong Immigration Department – Visa-Free Access or Visa-on-Arrival for HKSAR Passport List / Government of Peru – Visa Requirements and Exemptions for Foreign Citizens With Ordinary Passports / Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Requirements / Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Frequently Asked Questions / Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Regime for Entering Serbia: China / Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Regime for Entering Serbia: Malaysia / Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Regime for Entering Serbia: Singapore / Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa / Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Temporary Visa Exemption: List of 111 Countries / Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – List of Countries With Which Armenia Has a Visa-Free Regime According to Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements / Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – List of Countries Whose Citizens With All Types of Passports Are Unilaterally Exempt From the Requirement to Obtain a Visa / Taiwan Bureau of Consular Affairs – Armenia Visa and Entry Information / UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Exemptions for Non-Citizens / Chinese Embassy in the UAE – UAE Adjusts Visa-Free Stay Period for Chinese Citizens (14 April 2025) / Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Table of Mutual Visa Exemptions
