There is no visa for Antarctica itself — no country owns the continent. What matters is the gateway country you travel through: nearly all Antarctica cruises depart from Ushuaia, Argentina or Punta Arenas, Chile, so it is those countries’ entry rules that apply to your trip. (New to planning a polar expedition? Start with our guide on how to get to Antarctica.)
The good news: citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU can enter both Argentina and Chile visa-free for tourism (stays of up to 90 days), and neither country charges reciprocity fees any more. For full details, see our Argentina visa requirements and Chile visa requirements guides.
