Short answer: no—water baptism is not required for salvation, but it is very important.
The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by any work we perform. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8, NLT). Salvation happens when a person truly trusts in Christ, not when they go into the water.
A clear example is the thief on the cross. He believed in Jesus, and Jesus told him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43, NLT). He was never baptized, yet he was saved.
That said, baptism matters. Jesus commanded it, and it is an outward expression of an inward change. It shows obedience, identifies us with Christ, and publicly declares our faith. “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day” (Acts 2:41, NLT).
So baptism doesn’t save you—but if you belong to Jesus, you’ll want to follow Him in it.