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Without much fanfare, it appears that the Argentine government has increased the fee for overstaying your tourist visa from $50 pesos to $300 pesos for non-Mercosur residents and to $100 pesos for Mercosur residents. This change went into effect on April 21, 2009.
Currently most expats are in Argentina on tourist visas that expire after 90 days. There have been three common ways of extending this visa:
- Go to the Migraciones office and pay $100 pesos for a 90 day extension. This may only be done once before actually having to leave the country.
- Take the Buquebus ferry to Colonia, Uruguay for the day. This is a nice day trip, but was more costly than the other options.
- Just overstay your visa and pay the $50 peso fine. This involved no added penalties and only planning for some additional time at the airport.
The last method has now become considerably more costly in addition to being a bit risky. One recent departee was warned that if he overstayed his visa three times, he would not be allowed back into the country. As Argentine’s immigration and visa process has been traditionally lax, one cannot be sure whether this was rhetoric or part of an actual new policy to be enforced. We’ll continue to update this post as we get more information.
Anyone have any experience with this?
UPDATE (4/28/09): The new few to renew your tourist visa at the Migraciones office has also been raised from $100 pesos to $300 pesos. It makes that trip to Uruguay look more and more like an appealing option.
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31 responses so far ↓
1 Mich // Apr 24, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I recently shared my experience living in Taiwan on BA Expats as well that speaks to a changing immigration enviornment.
When I was in Taipei in the early '90s, the Taiwan govt. was notoriously lax about foreigners living and working in Taiwan on the 90 day renewable visa. I knew many people who had been there for years, worked for local companies, spoke flawless Mandarin, etc. etc.
Then one day, it all changed. The Taiwan govt. started running sting operations in bars frequented by foreigners, they wouldn't let people back in the country that were taking the Hong Kong run for visa renewal, and a friend of mine from France was actually escorted to her apartment by immigration officials, told to pack a bag, and was driven to the airport and sent out of the country.
After about 6 months, it was back to business as usual, but it just goes to show that you never know when a country will all of a sudden decide to start enforcing its immigration laws. It's always better to stay on the right side of visa requirements because past behavior is not always an indicator of the future.
2 buenosaireslife // Apr 24, 2009 at 2:34 pm
BLOGS: Argentina Increases Fee for Overstaying Tourist Visa | Discover Buenos Aires http://bit.ly/MmuDe #buenosaires
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
3 bellissimatina // Apr 24, 2009 at 5:43 pm
300 pesos to overstay tourist visa in Argentina http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/argentina-increases-fee-for-overstaying-tourist-visa
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
4 Yanqui Mike // Apr 25, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Splendid reporting, Will!
You've got good sources; please keep us up to date.
saludos,
Mike
5 DaVe // Apr 25, 2009 at 2:49 pm
No problem. Who's Will?
6 DaVe // Apr 25, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I agree. I've been doing the renewal thing just to keep it all up to date. I'm also looking into the Rentista Visa process now, so I'll let everyone know how that goes.
7 Fred B // Apr 25, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Great Job Dave, there are a lot of us here that just think they can simply pay 50 pesos and do this as many times as they want, a real eye opener!
Fortunately, I've got DNI, (married to an Argentine), se we're all set.
I will pass this important info on to people here on tourist visas.
Fred
8 Yanqui Mike // Apr 25, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Damn, Dave.
Your story was so hot that I couldn't wait to complement you …I mistook you for Discover*** Buenos Aires.
A thousand pardons, my friend,
Mike
9 Stafford // Apr 29, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Wow – I got out in the nick of time I guess. Left for the US on April 14th and only paid 50 pesos after overstaying by 6 months. Back in BA now with 90 days. Any info on whether the Uruguay option will continue to be as lax? Or will they start a policy where you have to be out of the country for 6 months before you can renew (like in the EU)?
10 DaVe // Apr 29, 2009 at 9:18 pm
So far, as long as you're out and back in you get another 90 days with no problem.
11 yogagirl // May 6, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Hi all…lot's of visa stories floating around. One woman went to the immigration office after her visa had expired, I believe, and was told to pay at the airport. My visa is expired..first time in a year and a half..got sick of going to Colonia and was told it was only $50 pesos at the airport…now it's gone up. Is it worth going to immigration or should I just pay $300pesos at the airport…need a DNI..have to start the process….by the way you can't endorse your birth certificate at the American Embassy…bad info on their website..need to send it into your state of birth…
12 DaVe // May 7, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Once your tourist visa expires by even 1 day, you can no longer renew at Migraciones and must pay the fee for overstaying at the airport. Both fees are now $300 pesos, but paying at Migraciones only gets another 90 days. You could technically overstay as long as you wanted and then only pay $300 pesos, but a lot of people like to comply with the law in case of any future issues.
13 Brian Grove // May 8, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Given the fact that the government broke their “contract” with us over the “decreto” for obtaining residencia (2 years, then 2 years, then permanent) by adding additional requirements and extending the temporary renewals from twice to who knows how many times, there is now no good reason to live here legally. Argentines, inc La beeping Presidenta don’t follow any law. Why should we?
I run a refuge – recently we had a case of maltreatment and corruption in a local municpality’s zoonosis. The animal protector was suspended instead of the perpetrator (now reversed after a massive campaign). Abuse and abandonment of animals (and children!!!) is rarely prosecuted and almost never punished, likewise domestic violence (despite government campaigns)
It’s a jungle. Argentines often say so, though I shall probably be condemned for saying so.
14 Gary // May 16, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi I am new to this group but have live in BA for close to two years. I am on a Tourist Visa but now am getting a Permanent DNI. I found a service that said they can get this for me in lest then TWO months. I have turned in all my paperwork and waiting for my letter of process of Permanent DNI. I am meeting this Monday in immigration to get the Letter with the service. There has been some delay since they said we were trying to get it last week. So I will keep you updated how this goes and maybe there is a better way to get a Permanent DNI. This is a service and they are charging me 1200 US but you only pay 700 US when you get your DNI processing paper from immigration. Then the rest when the Permanent DNI. They claim I will get my Permanent DNI within TWO months. I have a friend who has used them and got his but he is from Europe.
15 rick // May 19, 2009 at 4:18 pm
This site is a great service. I am in living in Catamarca and overstayed my tourist visa. In the past i always left the country not knowing it was only a 50 pesos fine, last year took a 24 hours bus ride to Santiago Chile to remain legal. I missed the 90 days by accident just the other day, but i am glad to hear it is a 300 peso fine, as on another site it said you could be fined 200 dollars for everyday you are over your 90 day stay and may not be allowed to return to the country. I am getting married June 5 so i plan to stay in the country atleast until then. Three hundred pesos does not seems like too much to pay, it costs alot more to get out of the country from here, not to mention the time it takes. I will get a DNI next year so this will not be a problem. Does anyone have any information about the fine process at the airport. How long does it take? Where do you go things like that? Thanks again for the info.
16 Nicholas // May 20, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I'm about to leave Argentina next week, and have overstayed my tourist Visa for about 1 month and a half. I was wondering: should I expect any trouble at the airport, and allot a significant amount of extra time before departure? Or should I just expect to pay the 300 pesos and have done with it?
Thanks.
17 Dio Ooi // May 31, 2009 at 7:35 pm
i want a DNI too.this is a sure why of obtaining it in 2 mths?? so 1200 USD?
18 Yanqui Mike // Jun 17, 2009 at 4:53 am
Buen viaje, Davy! It was good to have you.
You can keep following this topic …and help to follow it at IMAS:
http://www.immigrantmutualaid.com.ar/
Mike
19 tfsd // Jun 25, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Help! My daughter is living in B.A., teaching English to physically disabled young adults. She let her visa expire and for various reasons doesn't feel she can stay without a visa. This is her first "offence." Can she still pay the fine on the way out to Uruguay, stay there for at least 4 hours and come back in and get a new visa at the border?
20 Jennifer // Jul 2, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for this advice, my tourist visa has expired and I wasn't sure whether to go to migraciones.
Do you know what will happen if I try to travel by air within argentina?? Will I have to pay the fine at Jorge Newberry then am able to travel? Or am I not able to travel? Or do I have to leave the country and get a renewed visa before attempting to travel?
Any advice much appreciated.
21 Christoph // Jul 19, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Hi Gary,
Any new s yet about your DNI process? I am from Europe and I have been living in Argentina for about two years now and I am also looking for a way to get a DNI. Can you sent me some info about the service that you talk about?
Best regards,
Christoph
22 pete // Jul 28, 2009 at 5:17 am
if you visa has expired, can you still go to colonia for the day? would you be charged the fine at the ferry? i'm trying to avoid the hassle at the airport. thanks.
23 Nicola // Oct 3, 2009 at 10:34 pm
If i`m only part way through my 90 day visa and cross to Uruguay, will they stamp me another full 90 days on my return to BA or just the remaining days in my original visa?
appreciate any help, thanks
24 Mich // Oct 4, 2009 at 10:06 pm
You get another full 90 days from the day you return.
25 Sarah // Oct 19, 2009 at 11:09 pm
So they will definitely ding you if you leave the day after your visa expires? For example, my last entry was June 22, 2009 (meaning it expires this Thursday, Oct 22). I have a flight out of BA on Friday the 23rd. Will I be dinged? And if so, will it cause problems with my student visa processing? Thanks!
26 andrea // Nov 12, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I am leaving one day after my visa expires, and wondering if they will still charge me the 300 pesos for overstaying my tourist visa?
27 DaVe // Nov 12, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Yep, they are going to charge you. One day is still one day too much.
28 Dave // Dec 9, 2009 at 4:43 am
I left a few days after my 90 day visa expired last July – after this law came into effect; taking the buquebus to colonia. Nobody bothered – they stamped my US passport no questions asked; no penalty fee was levied. I don't think they have facilities for this at the ferry terminal, probably only at the airport.
29 Lau // Dec 16, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Did you end up traveling within argentina with an expired visa? I am in Argentina with the same situation – about to travel by plane to the south. I hear that I probably wont have problems but … probably is not good enough.
30 DaVe // Dec 17, 2009 at 8:32 pm
There is no problem if you are traveling inside the country. They do not check.
31 Tom Smith // Jan 18, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I've been here since October 19th, 2009 and I was suppose to go this morning to Immigration to pay the fine for the extension. I hope tomorrow I'm able to get and not get in trouble.
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