Holding a US, UK or Schengen visa? 25 places that accept it for Indian passport holders

In short: If you already hold a valid US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visa, or residence in one of those places, a surprising number of countries will let you in without applying for their own visa, or give you a visa on arrival. The rules are narrow: the visa usually has to be valid for months more, sometimes multiple-entry, and the stay allowed is short. Here is the checked list.

Visa on arrival or e-Visa with a visa from a richer country

• UAE. Visa on arrival for Indians holding a valid visa, residence permit or Green Card from the US, the EU or the UK. Since 13 February 2025 also for residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore. The official pages we read do not state the duration or fee.
• Saudi Arabia. Visa on arrival for Indians with a valid US, Schengen or UK business or tourist visa who have travelled on it at least once. The stamp must be clearly visible; a digital stamp is not accepted (MEA's list).
• Egypt. Visa on arrival for Indians holding a valid US, Schengen, UK or GCC visa who have travelled on it at least once (MEA).
• Oman. Visa on arrival for holders of a UK, US, Australian, Japanese or Canadian visa (MEA).
• Turkey. A single-entry e-Visa valid for one month, online at evisa.gov.tr, for holders of a valid Schengen, US, UK or Ireland visa or residence permit. For tourism or commerce only.
• Antigua and Barbuda. Visa on arrival for 30 days, US$100, only with a valid US, Canada, UK or Schengen visa or resident card.

Visa-free with a visa from a richer country

• Philippines. 30 days for tourism with a valid US, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit (14 days without).
• Mexico. Exempt with a valid visa or permanent residence from the US, Canada, Japan, the UK or a Schengen country. Some consulates require it to be multiple-entry and valid for your whole stay.
• Peru. Exempt with a US, Canada, UK, Australia or Schengen visa that has at least six months' validity left (even if unused), or permanent residence in one of them. Up to 180 days a year.
• Colombia. Up to 90 days with a valid US or Schengen visa (at least 180 days' validity left) or a US or Schengen residence permit.
• The Bahamas. Up to 3 months with a valid Canada, UK, US or Schengen visa that has at least 6 months' validity left.
• Guatemala and El Salvador. Under the Central American CA-4 rules, Indians with a valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa are treated as visa-exempt.
• Argentina. Indian tourists with a valid US visa can enter without the electronic travel authorisation (AVE).
• Dominican Republic. Indians who can legally enter the EU, the US, Canada or Great Britain do not need a Dominican visa; a Tourist Card is usually bought with the air ticket (MEA).
• Montenegro. Up to 30 days with a valid Schengen, US, UK or Ireland visa or residence permit.
• North Macedonia. Up to 15 days with a multiple-entry UK, US or Canada visa, or up to 15 days per entry with a multiple-entry Schengen C visa.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina. Up to 30 days at a time with a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa; the Ministry of Security's newer guidance also lists US visas. Documents differ, so confirm with the embassy.
• Moldova. No visa for holders of a valid EU/Schengen, UK, US or Canada visa or residence permit.
• Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania. A valid double- or multiple-entry Schengen visa is accepted for up to 90 days in 180.
• Kyrgyzstan. 7 days visa-free with long-term multiple-entry US, UK or Schengen visas, arriving by air at Manas International Airport.
• Belarus. 30 days visa-free, but only under strict conditions: a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, flights in and out through Minsk airport within 30 days, medical insurance of at least €10,000 and enough funds.
• Ireland. Indians living in India with a valid UK short-stay visa can use the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme.

Transit without a visa

• Singapore. Up to 96 hours of visa-free transit for Indians with a valid visa or long-term pass for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or the US, valid at least one month, plus an onward ticket out within 96 hours.

Traps (our advice)

1. Validity left. Peru, Colombia, the Bahamas and others count months of validity left, not just that the visa is valid today.
2. Visa type. Some countries want a multiple-entry visa. A single-entry visa already used may not count.
3. Entry point. Kyrgyzstan and Belarus restrict which airport you can use.
4. Final say. Border officers can still refuse entry, even if you meet the rule.
5. Rules shift. Countries change these exemptions, so confirm before you fly.

What we could not confirm

• Visa-on-arrival fees and durations for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman, because the pages we read do not state them.
• Whether every item on India's MEA visa list is current: the MEA page says its data is as on 2 February 2026.

How we checked this

Each country's rule was read on a government page (embassy, immigration authority or foreign ministry) or on India's Ministry of External Affairs visa-facility list, on 10 and 11 November 2026. See each country's sources in our visa guide.