Argentine Fee Increases

[kyshel]

I was hoping to get back to EZE (Buenos Aires) before they imposed the new fees...
alas!!


"Starting this week, all U.S., Australian or Canadian citizens arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, must pay a fee of up to $131 before entering the country.

The entry fee, which applies to revenue and nonrevenue passengers and all other pass riders as well, will be collected at the immigration desk upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires. American citizens may pay in U.S. dollars, by credit card, or with travelers checks. The $131 amount is equivalent to the charge that Argentine citizens pay for a visa to enter the U.S.

Once paid, the fee permits multiple entries into Argentina for 10 years in accordance with U.S. visa reciprocity. The Argentine government previously has said it would drop the entry fee if the U.S. and other countries cancel their visa requirement for Argentine citizens."

Now that huge steak isn't so affordable; the view of Iguacu Falls Argentina is as pricey as the Brasil side...

I guess it's not too terrible if you're using it over the multiple entry period (unlike the Brasilian visas) but you have to use it more than a few times to amortize the cost efficiently.Message Edited by kyshel on 12-30-2009 12:00 PM

[bonniejoy03]

Hi K. And thanks for the update. We just paid the same fee for our first entry into Chile. It is huge! I wasn't aware that Argentina had instituted this also. Oh well.......the price of travel keeps growing!

[omegaet]

....or, you have to save a ton of money on your LL auction package purchase to Argentina! We though we would be small enough to avoidthe reciprocal fee by flying into Santiago and crossing the border by surface...but they impose the same fee, if you attempt it.



Just another reason to find those affordable luxury packages when heading south!

[kyshel]

Seems they are imposing fee at the ferry terminal arriving from Colonia, Uruguay, so I can guess they are doing the same overland. I understand they're already closing the loopholes at Iguacu, so that's a double whammy if you have to get a Brasilian visa. At least [for now] you can get the 10 yr permit in Argentina w/out having to apply in home country. Let's see, 6-12 fine steak dinners at less than half the US price...divided by X visits = YUM factor Y + travel input multiplied by memories...Eureka!!!

[exflygirl]

aaaarrrggh! My passport expires this October. We're going to Buenos Airesmid-April. However, we're cruising to Mexico mid-February. Will I have time to get a new passport after the cruisebut before the trip to Argentina? Or will I really have to forgo 1 steak dinner and an exquisite pair of tango shoes to make up for this?Message Edited by exflygirl on 01-11-2010 05:12 PM

[kyshel]

You still need to have 6 mos on your passport to travel to most countries (I would check ARG ASAP)
I think you should get the new one immediately after your trip to MEX. By the time the Argentina trip comes around, you will be ready to pay the fee in Argentina and have 10 years of validity.
You are right on the cusp!

[kyshel]

and never ever give up the tango shoes!!! no sacrifice is worth that cost!!