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Puerto Rico visas

Puerto Rico tourist visa

The B-2 or combined B-1/B-2 visitor visa covers holidays. Some travellers can visit without a visa, while others need ESTA before travel.

Ways to get a Puerto Rico tourist visa

  1. B-2 or B-1/B-2 visitor visa

    Visa needed

    Travellers visiting for holidays or tourism who qualify for a temporary visitor visa.

    Fee
    US$185 application fee. An extra visa issuance fee may apply, depending on nationality.
    1. Show a specific trip purpose, a limited stay and ties outside the United States.
    2. Pay the application fee and attend a consular interview.
    3. If approved, travel with your visa and request admission.

  2. ESTA (online travel permit)

    eTA needed

    Eligible nationals of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries who hold a biometric passport and meet the programme rules.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days. This also includes time spent in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or Caribbean islands after arrival through the United States.
    Valid for
    Up to two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
    Entries
    Multiple entries
    Fee
    US$10.62 to apply, plus US$30 if approved: US$40.62 in total.
    1. Check that your nationality, biometric passport and travel history meet the programme rules.
    2. Apply for ESTA before arrival. Apply at least 72 hours before departure.
    3. If travelling by air or sea, use a participating commercial carrier.

  3. Visa-free visits for Canadian citizens

    No visa needed

    Canadian citizens visiting under most circumstances.

    Passports that qualify (1)

  4. Visa-free visits for Bermudian citizens

    No visa needed

    British Overseas Territories citizens of Bermuda with the required passport wording and Bermudian status endorsement.

    Stay
    Up to 180 days under most circumstances.

    Passports that qualify (1)

  5. Visa-free entry for freely associated states

    No visa needed

    Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau from birth or independence. Naturalised citizens must have lived in their country for at least five years and must not have gained citizenship by investment.

    Stay
    Indefinite entry, residence, study and work.

    Passports that qualify (3)

  6. Conditional visa-free entry for neighbouring jurisdictions

    No visa needed

    Eligible nationals of the Bahamas and eligible British Overseas Territories citizens of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands who meet their separate travel and document rules.

    Entries
    The Cayman Islands waiver allows one entry.
    Fee
    The Cayman Islands waiver costs 25 Cayman Islands dollars.
    1. Obtain the passport and police certificate required for your jurisdiction.
    2. For the Bahamas, request admission at a U.S. preclearance facility in the Bahamas.
    3. For the Cayman Islands, obtain a waiver from the Cayman Islands Passport and Corporate Services Office.
    4. Follow the route rules that apply to your jurisdiction.

  7. Border Crossing Card

    Other permit

    Mexican nationals who meet the requirements for a Border Crossing Card, which functions as a visa.

    Passports that qualify (1)

Who needs it

Holiday visitors need a visitor visa unless they qualify for a visa exemption.

Who doesn't

Eligible travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries can visit with ESTA for up to 90 days. Separate exemptions cover Canada, Bermuda, the freely associated states and certain neighbouring jurisdictions.

How to apply

  1. Show that your trip has a specific purpose and a limited length.
  2. Show that you have a home and other ties outside the United States that support your return.
  3. Pay the application fee and attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
  4. If granted a visa, travel and ask a border officer for admission.

What to bring

  • Foreign passport
  • U.S. visitor visa, unless exempt
  • Evidence of your trip purpose, planned length of stay and ties outside the United States

Good to know

  • A visa lets you travel to request entry. It does not guarantee admission.
  • A Customs and Border Protection officer decides admission. Form I-94 records the approved status and length of stay.
  • B visa holders may attend short courses that do not award academic credit.
  • New visas are restricted for nationals of certain countries, with limited exceptions.
  • Some B-1/B-2 applicants must post a bond of US$10,000, US$15,000 or US$20,000. Bond holders must use designated entry and exit points and follow the bond terms.
  • A law enacted in July 2025 would require a US$250 visa integrity fee for nonimmigrants, refundable after the visa expires if its conditions were met.
  • The extra visa waiver programme for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands does not permit travel to Puerto Rico.

Questions

Do I need a tourist visa for Puerto Rico?

Holiday visitors need a visitor visa unless they qualify for a visa exemption. Eligible travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries can visit with ESTA for up to 90 days. Separate exemptions cover Canada, Bermuda, the freely associated states and certain neighbouring jurisdictions.

What are the ways to get a tourist visa for Puerto Rico?

There are 7 options: B-2 or B-1/B-2 visitor visa (a visa from an embassy); ESTA (online travel permit) (an online travel permit); Visa-free visits for Canadian citizens (no visa at all); Visa-free visits for Bermudian citizens (no visa at all); Visa-free entry for freely associated states (no visa at all); Conditional visa-free entry for neighbouring jurisdictions (no visa at all); Border Crossing Card (a special permit).

Who can go to Puerto Rico without a tourist visa?

Canadian citizens visiting under most circumstances. British Overseas Territories citizens of Bermuda with the required passport wording and Bermudian status endorsement. Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau from birth or independence. Naturalised citizens must have lived in their country for at least five years and must not have gained citizenship by investment. Eligible nationals of the Bahamas and eligible British Overseas Territories citizens of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands who meet their separate travel and document rules.

Can I apply online for Puerto Rico?

Yes: ESTA (online travel permit). Eligible nationals of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries who hold a biometric passport and meet the programme rules.

How much does a Puerto Rico tourist visa cost?

US$185 application fee. An extra visa issuance fee may apply, depending on nationality.

What documents do I need for a Puerto Rico tourist visa?

Foreign passport; U.S. visitor visa, unless exempt; Evidence of your trip purpose, planned length of stay and ties outside the United States.

How do I apply for a Puerto Rico tourist visa?

1. 1. Show that your trip has a specific purpose and a limited length. 2. 2. Show that you have a home and other ties outside the United States that support your return. 3. 3. Pay the application fee and attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. 4. 4. If granted a visa, travel and ask a border officer for admission.

What rules do I have to follow on a Puerto Rico tourist visa?

A visa lets you travel to request entry. It does not guarantee admission. A Customs and Border Protection officer decides admission. Form I-94 records the approved status and length of stay. B visa holders may attend short courses that do not award academic credit.

Does my passport change whether I need a tourist visa for Puerto Rico?

Yes. Rules depend on the country that issued your passport. Open the Puerto Rico visa page and choose your passport for a plain answer.

Can a tourist visa for Puerto Rico be refused?

Yes. Officials can refuse a visa or entry, even after you apply. Give true answers, bring the documents asked for, and keep proof of your onward trip and money.

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