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Argentina Entrance Fee To Go Into Effect

By on in Travel

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:

Argentina to begin charging entrance fee

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, 2009

This 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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Argentina’s Proposed Tourist Entry Fee Postponed Indefinitely

By on in Living, Travel

Argentina Tourist Entry Fee Postponed IndefinitelyUPDATE:  The fee has gone into effect. Please check out my newer post on Argentina’s new entrance fee.

Good news for expats and tourists alike!  Argentina’s proposed tourist entry fee which was scheduled to start January 1, 2009, and then re-scheduled for March 2009, has been postponed indefinitely.  This means that those trips to Uruguay will not cost anymore for us expats. ($131 US was the reciprocal rate for American citizens.)

Argentina had planned to use this money to help modernize many of their immigration computer systems, estimating that it would bring in $40 million per year. However, they never did any research as to how it would impact tourism before they enacted the legislation. Now, amid the global recession, tourism in Argentina has fallen for three straight months, and there’s no end in site.  With tourism bringing $4 billion annually to the Argentine economy, the thought of charging an additional fee without knowing how it may further impact the tourism decline may have been enough to put this proposal on hold indefinitely.

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Buenos Aires News: Edition 8

By on in News

Buenos Aires NewsSorry for the delay in posting, but we’ve been travelling a lot recently.  We’ll be trying to get back to some more regular postings soon! For now, here’s some news…

Tourism Declines Again In November [The Argentine Post]
The Argentine Post is reporting that the number of people visiting Argentina declined for the second consecutive month in November, falling 8% to 188,705 people from a year earlier. The decline comes after a 6% drop the previous month and seems to be yet another indication that Argentina will find it hard to escape negative fallout from the global economic meltdown this year.

How Palermo’s Streets Got Their Names [Trendy Palermo Viejo]
An interesting article about how the streets of the Palermo neighborhoods in Buenos Aires got their names – names of countries, legislators and scientists.

Argentine Peso Worst Latin Currency on Devaluation [Bloomberg]
Another article about the falling Argentine peso and the government’s willingness to let it gradually fall. They report that it may drop to 3.9 or 3.95 by the end of 2009.

They’re Here: New Transit Fares Take Effect [Yanqui Mike]
25% price increases have taken effect in the subways, buses and trains of Buenos Aires.  La Nacion reports that the new fares are causing some confusion too.

Argentine Inflation at 7.2% for 2008 – Yeah, Right [D for Disorientation]
The official governemtn numbers put inflation in Argentina at a low 7.2% for 2008, the smallest rate in 4 years.  However, independent sources put it at about three times higher than that.

Buenos Aires Playa [BA Travel Guide]
Stuck in Buenos Aires for the hot summer?  Head to the beach in the city.  From January 16 to February 28, 2009, the Buenos Aires city government presents “Buenos Aires Playa” (Buenos Aires Beach), an oasis for those residents and visitors who have to spend the summer in the city.  The two man-made “beaches” feature sand, beach chairs, sun shades, water fountains, food, activities and more.

Argentina: American climber dead on Aconcagua [AP]
A U.S. man died Friday while scaling Argentina’s Aconcagua mountain, becoming the fifth climber to perish this month on the highest peak in the Americas.

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Buenos Aires News: Edition 6

By on in News

20% Of Kids Say It’s Ok To Pay Bribes [Argentine Post]
The Argentine Post has an interesting summary of a survey by the Argentine education ministry conducted on public school students aged 11-15.  20% of the students surveyed say it’s sometimes or always ok to pay a bribe while 30% say it’s ok to avoid paying taxes. Check out the article for other interesting details.

Argentina Strikes Give Travelers Holiday Headache [Bloomberg]
Subway workers in Argentina walked off their jobs today, disrupting travel for as many as one million commuters as employee demands for increased pay and job security disrupt banks, taxi service and the holiday season. Gas station owners and about 140,000 bank workers plan to stop work next week. Cab drivers are threatening to stay off the roads Dec. 24 and 25, when many residents will try to shuttle between holiday parties.

Human remains found in Argentine detention center [Associated Press]
Inside a once-secret detention center where political dissidents were tortured and killed during Argentina’s dictatorship 25 years ago, forensic anthropologists have discovered a pit containing 10,000 bone fragments.  The first discovery of human remains inside a detention center confirms the testimonies of hundreds of survivors who have said for years that authorities tortured, killed and burned the bodies of political opponents, they said Tuesday…

Argentine lower house passes questioned tax breaks [Reuters]
Argentina’s lower house passed early on Thursday a package of tax breaks that the administration hopes will stimulate the economy but critics say could encourage money laundering instead.The law includes huge tax cuts on undeclared offshore funds that are repatriated, tax incentives for companies that put under-the-table workers on the books, and deals for tax evaders who sign up for payment plans.

Argentina’s Buenos Aires Scrooges Forced to Rescind Ban on Christmas Carolers [LAHT]
The decision by the government of Buenos Aires this year not to authorize the tradition of caroling in the street on Thursday sparked a heated controversy among defenders of the Christmas spirit which eventually was settled by the revocation of the measure.

Argentina looks to taxis to get economy moving [AP]
Argentina’s government hopes 15,000 new taxis will help get the economy moving. President Cristina Fernandez says the government will offer taxi drivers credits on half the value of a taxi at a below-market interest rate of 11 percent It’s part of a series of programs to boost production and ease credit in South America’s second largest economy.

Going pinker on the Plata – Gay Tourism in Buenos Aires [Economist]
Gay tourists have flocked to Buenos Aires since Argentina’s 2002 currency devaluation made it one of the world’s most affordable destinations. Tourism officials reckon that at least a fifth of foreign visitors to the city are gay.

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