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Categories: Travel
Tags: reciprocity fee, tourism, visa
UPDATE: As of June 4, 2010, the Argentina entrance fee has increased from U$S 131 to U$S 140 in reciprocity for the US increasing their visa fee.
In October 2008, we reported that Argentina was planning to charge a reciprocal fee to tourists entering from countries that charge its citizens a visa or entrance fee. Well, that plan was put on indefinite hold — until now that is.
According to the Argentina Immigration web site, the new fees are imminent. The following file was posted there today:
The new fees seem to apply only to Americans (US $131), Canadians (US $70), and Australians (US $100). For Canadians, the fee is listed as a single entry, which would imply that Americans and Australians get multiple entries.
Of course, in true Argentine style, details are still sparse at this time. When the new fee goes into effect has not yet been specified. Also, if multiple entries are permitted, how long those entries are good for has not yet been specified either. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more. (UPDATE below.)
The original Argentine immigration article (english) on the reciprocal fee was published February 1, 2009, and mentioned that that the fee will only be charged at the Ezeiza airport, so that should mean that those ferry trips many expats make to Colonia will not cost more. We especially love how they specifically call it the “eye for an eye” fee rate and express their wishes that Argentina will be added to the list of countries that are granted a visa waiver from the US.
So, does this change your travel plans?
UPDATE: The US Embassy just published an advisory noting this new fee goes into effect December 20, 2009 and once paid is valid for 10 years:
Airport Entry Fee
December 11, 2009This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens that on December 20, 2009, the Government of Argentina will begin charging American Citizens visiting Argentina for business or tourism an entry fee of $131 U.S. dollars. The fee will be collected only at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. Once paid, the fee permits multiple entries into Argentina for ten years in accordance with United States visa reciprocity. Americans may pay in dollars, by credit card, or with travelers checks.
U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, M-F, at 1-888-407-4747, or if calling from outside the U.S., at (202)-501-4444. For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at 4300 Avenida Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires;
telephone+54-11-5777-4354; after hours emergency telephone +54-11-5777-4873; ACS unit fax +54-11-5777-4293; e-mail BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov; web page http://argentina.usembassy.gov.Americans living or traveling in Argentina are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Argentina. Americans without internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
This email is UNCLASSIFIED.
Thankfully this update was unclassified and we could all get the news. 
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I knew they were looking forward to applying this fee before, seems that the times have come. It's important to say again that this is not a visa, just a fee.
While $131 dollars is not a huge amount of money in terms of the total cost of a trip to Argentina it can be costly for large families and those people visiting Argentina on a budget. While it won't be killing the goose that laid the golden egg I do think it will reduce US tourism and cost the Argentine economy more than the money it is intended to raise. Not a smart idea in this economy. Airfares to Argentina remain high. The increases in hotel, dining and related costs which skyrocketed a few years ago have not significantly come down. Buenos Aires is not the bargain destination it once was and this fee is another straw on the camels back.
why are comments not showing up?
While $131 dollars is not a huge amount of money in terms of the total cost of a trip to Argentina it can be costly for large families and those people visiting Argentina on a budget. While it won't be killing the goose that laid the golden egg I do think it will reduce US tourism and cost the Argentine economy more than the money it is intended to raise. Not a smart idea in this economy. Airfares to Argentina remain high. The increases in hotel, dining and related costs which skyrocketed a few years ago have not significantly come down. Buenos Aires is not the bargain destination it once was and this fee is another straw on the camels back.
Argentina can suck it. I'm going to give them monopoly money.
Yep, just cancelled a trip to BA based entirely on this fee… I understand it, but am not willing to pay it.
I was planing on going to BA in November……..not going now…..that is my "eye for an eye"……..lets see……hmmmm….prolly would have spent about $1500 over there…..
entering now via Montevideo, sucka pucks
Sooo if the US rescinded its fee then Argentina (and Brazil while we're at it) would do the same? COME ON USA!! Just take away the damn fee! Is it really that necessary for entry fees to exist in the first place?
p.s. Not to be too critical…but I find it hilarious that some people are responding as if their ONE trip is going to hurt the Argentine economy and somehow convince their government to change their mind. Plenty of other tourists will take your place (because they aren't paying fees or are willing to pay it based on the fact that it is, for all intents and purposes, "fair"). You can stay home or go to some other place alright, but you still are the ones who will be missing out
Interesting blogpost. For me as an traveler from overseas germany, berlin it is importend to watch out what´s going on in US. regards
Yeah, I'd be more inclined to suggest that if you want to protest by cancelling your trip, it might also be productive to write to the appropriate US officials and remind them that it works both ways.
No change! Still going in Feb!
What is not fair is those who embark on a ship and sail off the same day as they arrive. Arrive at the airport, pay the fee, get on the bus to the ship and get on the ship. If you sail into Argentina and fly out of BA do you pay the fee?
This fee is only charged for people at the two major airports – Ezeiza and Aeroparque. It is an entrance only fee, not a departure fee.
what if you've gone into argentina before (Bariloche) and didn't have to pay the fee then? Do you have to now?
Yep, anyone without the visa who flies into EZE or Aeroparque must pay the new fee.
It makes little sense to me. The fee that Argentinians pay is to the US gov't, so it's like a tax that individuals pay to the gov't, like our income taxes. So the aggressor is the US gov't, and the payer is the Argentine citizen. Now the Argentine gov't wants to be the aggressor and make the US citizen be the payer. The US citizen was not the aggressor in the first place, so why punish them? The US citizen already pays tons of tax to the US gov't and will not see a dime of the fees that Argentine citizens (not the Argentine gov't) pays. So it's just an excuse for the Argentine gov't to gather more fees. Also, the fees for visas are for the vetting of Argentine citizens traveling to the US who might try to stay illegally. Argentina does not require US citizens to get visas, since the risk of an US citizen illegally immigrating to Argentina is virtually nil. Bottom line: for my family of four, Argentina is now an unattractive option. We'll try Easter Europe instead.
Ridiculous !!! To b eye for an eye we should stop the Americans after they pay the 140$ and send them back after all that is what they do , they charge 140$ for an appointment that in 80% of cases last 35 sec. And they use that money to harass the immigrants in their country . Who need this people ??? With Bs As at 90% hotel occupancy how much will change with this 5 assholes they say will cancel the trip ? To 89.99%? Fuck them !! Stay away gringos !!! O shut the fuck up and pay
Charge the fee, and if people want to come, they will. Personally, instead of going to Brazil, I discovered Peru when Brazil first instituted the fee…and this time, instead of Argentina, I'll discover Uruguay and then back over to Peru. I'll stay about 3-4 weeks, which means that Argentina and Brazil can both suck it.
Andres, not a problem, I'll just spend my money elsewhere and leave Argentina to find other ways to pay its enormous debt in foreign currency.
Remember the best cure against a headache is to cut your throat and the best cure against getting more tourist to Argentina is to make it more expensive.
Andres's coment is obviously from a person who is not educated. The fee is in response to the United States's fee. Is it a good response or poor response? Idk. Probably not the way to do it. this government likes to bump heads a lot. If you want to come you are welcome. If not, its not that big of a deal. Andres is right in that our hotels are at a 90% capacity. I would like things to be different, but why does the US charge so much? supply and demand. the same applies here. stupid response by our govt. as the rule says, unto others…..
everyone is welcome here, paying 100 dollars extra isnt going to change things, its still an amazing experience…
Border controll sucks at the best of times, making people pay for entrance fees or visa's is just wrong. I am going anyway and will pay the dumb ass fee. I am sure its a beautiful place with great people and worth every cent. so I will pay it and consider it as an investement of great memories.
I just found out about this and am leaving tomorrow, so I will be paying it. Had I known, i would have been more clever about my entry.
Yeah, it's a nice welcome!