In this article, I’ll provide some vital information you need to know about the required documentation to travel to Argentina, and whether everyone needs a passport to enter the country.
Firstly, what should a tourist know about needing a passport for Argentina?
First and foremost, it’s crucial to know that each country has its own rules and requirements when it comes to the entry and stay of foreigners.
Therefore, it’s always important to visit the official immigration page of the country you’re going to, as it provides up-to-date rules for all tourists from anywhere in the world, in the case of Argentina, the Migraciones del Minitério del Interior.
For those traveling as tourists, you can enter the country for rest or leisure for up to three months, which can be extended by a similar period. However, it’s not allowed to carry out paid activities (looking for work in Argentina) during your stay as a tourist.
General rules on Passport and Visa for traveling to ArgentinA
For citizens of countries that do not belong to MERCOSUR, entry into Argentina requires a valid passport, but not always a visa.
A passport is an identification document issued by a national government for its citizens, which certifies the identity and nationality of the holder, mainly for international travel purposes. It usually contains information such as the name, place and date of birth, photo, signature, and other identifiable characteristics of the holder. It’s a standard requirement for travel between different countries.
A visa, on the other hand, is a conditional authorization granted by a country to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain, or leave that country. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner’s stay, territories within the country they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or the validity of the visa. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a country and are, in most countries, distinct from the actual procedures for entering the country and granting residence or citizenship in the country.
Which Tourists Don’t Need a Visa to Travel to Argentina?
Citizens of the European Union do not need any type of visa to travel to Argentina for stays of up to 90 days, they only need their valid passport.
The EU countries are Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, and Sweden.
In addition to citizens of the European Union, citizens of the following countries also do not need a visa to travel to Argentina for stays of up to 90 days: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, State of Vatican City, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong (with R.A.E.H.K. passport), Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States, Uruguay.
For stays of up to 60 days, citizens of Venezuela do not need a visa.
For stays of up to 30 days, citizens of Grenada, Hong Kong (with British B.N.O. passport), Jamaica, Republic of Kazakhstan, and Malaysia do not need a visa.
The above information was updated on 11/08/22 and consulted on the website of the Consulado General Y Centro De Promoción en Nueva York.
The best option for tourists from other countries is to consult the Argentine embassy in their country.
Look for information on the site in the Ministry of the Interior, which has a complete table with all the requirements for each country.
In addition, it is highly recommended that everyone understand how the exchange of their local currencies to the Argentine Peso works, heavily influenced by the American Dollar.
Do MERCOSUR tourists need a passport for Argentina?
In this respect, note that Argentina is a member country of MERCOSUR and, therefore, has slightly different rules for the countries in the bloc.
MERCOSUR, or the Southern Common Market, is an economic bloc established in 1991 aiming to promote the free movement of goods, people, and currencies among member countries, so tourism is included in this agreement.
The founding members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and since then, several other South American countries have joined the bloc at different levels.
Thus, MERCOSUR aims to facilitate trade and economic integration among these countries, and one of its distinctive features is the ease of travel, with citizens of the member countries needing only an ID card to travel between the bloc’s countries.
Besides the passport, what documents does Argentina accept from each MERCOSUR country?
If you’re a citizen of one of the MERCOSUR countries, entry into Argentina can be made with a passport or an identity document.
That’s right, you don’t necessarily need a passport to enter Argentina if you’re a citizen of one of these countries, because besides the passport, travelers from these countries can carry:
Chile
- Cédula de Identidad (Para nacionales y extranjeros residentes)
Brazil
- Registro de Identidade Civil
- Cédula de Identidade expedida por cada Unidade da Federacião com validade Nacional
- Cédula de Identidade de extrangeiro expedida pelo Ministério da Justicia
Colombia
- Cédula de Ciudadanía
- Tarjeta de Identidad
- Cédula de Extranjería
Paraguay
- Cédula de Identidad. (Para nacionales y extranjeros con residencia permanente)
Ecuador
- Cédula de Ciudadanía. (Para residentes)
Uruguay
- Cédula de Identidad. (Para nacionales y extranjeros residentes legales)
Perú
- Documento Nacional de Identidad
- Carné de Extranjería
Bolivia
- Cédula de Identidad
- Cédula de Extranjeros Residentes
Venezuela
- Cédula de Identidad. (Para nacionales y migrantes permanentes)
But remember, other official photo documents, such as a driver’s license or work card, are not accepted as identification for entry into the country.
Furthermore, always carry the physical document, as being printed on banknote paper, it guarantees its authenticity.
Similarly, the identity card should be in good condition and recent, that is, issued less than 10 years ago.
Despite this rule of documents less than 10 years old not being clear, what matters here is that your photo is recognizable and the document is in perfect condition, so it’s always recommended to travel, to any corner of the world, with the most updated document possible.
Finally, before traveling to Argentina
Always remember to check the latest information on entering Argentina. The rules can change, so it’s important to always update yourself.
We hope this publication has provided you with valuable information to help you plan your next trip to Argentina.
Maybe you have a question, additional tip, or advice to share with our community of travelers, we would love to hear your stories and experiences, so please feel free to leave a comment below.
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