Buenos Aires Documents And Formalities

Requirements

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US need valid passports to enter Argentina and to return home. Make sure that your passport is up to date and has been recently renewed before traveling; returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can apply for a passport at any passport office or at selected post offices and courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the official website of their country’s government or passport office. Any new passport or renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a very steep fee. Note that “rushed” passports still take up to two weeks to arrive.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend that you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate in a part of your baggage separate from other important or official documents.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. To expedite its replacement, you must show ID and proof of citizenship; it also helps to know all information previously recorded in the passport. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be lost forever. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country.

Visas, Invitations, And Work Permits

Visas

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US do not need visas for stays of less than 90 days in Argentina. For longer stays, visas (US$30) are required. Contact the nearest Argentine consulate or embassy (listed under Argentine Consular Services Abroad) for forms, more information on how to get a visa, and details on entrance requirements. US citizens can also consult http://travel.state.gov. Entering Argentina to study requires a special visa—for more information, see Beyond Tourism).

Work Permits

A work permit is required to work in Argentina—this right is not guaranteed by admittance to the country. For more information, see Beyond Tourism.

Identification

When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including a photo ID. A passport and a driver’s license or birth certificate will suffice. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss and keep photocopies of all of them in your luggage and at home.

Student, Teacher, And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation; access to a 24hr. emergency help line; and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance). Some discounts include savings at hostels, food establishments, and athletics facilities. Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years old. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.

The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and similar but limited discounts. To qualify for the card, teachers must be currently employed and have worked a minimum of 18hr. per week for at least one school year. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.

Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs, ITICS, and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).

The International Student Exchange Card (ISE Card) is a similar identification card available to students, faculty, and children aged 12 to 26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, access to a 24hr. emergency help line, and the ability to purchase student airfares. An ISE Card costs US$25; call ☎800-255-8000 (in North America) or ☎480-951-1177 (from all other continents) for more information, or visit www.isecard.com.

Customs

Upon entering Argentina, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by Argentina’s customs service. Goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” means that you won’t pay tax in the country of purchase. Duty-free allowances were abolished for travel between EU member states on June 30, 1999, but still exist for those arriving from outside the EU. Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your home country’s allowance. In order to expedite your return, make a list of any valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling abroad. It’s a good idea to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.

Argentina has a value added tax (VAT) of 21%. Money spent on VAT in Argentina can be redeemed at the airport upon departure for purchases of over AR$70 made at tax-free shopping participant stores. Make sure to fill out the required forms at the airport or at participating stores.