'Entry fee for Americans' Travel

Argentina Expat from Bariloche (Contact Member) -

Starting January 1, Argentina will be imposing a US$132 entry fee for Americans. This is to make up for the US$130 visa fee the United States charges Argentineans.

Brazil started this long ago when the USA changed their in transit visa policy. With Brazil you have to do all the paperwork too, so it much more closely matches the USA requirements.

Chile has had the fee for some time. In Chile when you leave the secured area of the airport you have to pay the fee and get a stamp in your passport so you don't have to pay a second time.

Argentina claims that the situation has been unfair for years... where Argentineans must pay to go to the USA and American's can go to Argentina for fee! They claim they will collect some US$40 million a year from the new fee (and to be fair its not just Americans, but any persons has to make the same fee an Argentinean would pay to go to their country).

Politically, of course it is unfair now and the new policy will make things fair. Will it be economically fair to the tourism industry and economy of Argentina?

That $40 million in fees would come out to be about 300, 000 American tourists in a year. If 10% changed their minds and decide to go someone without a fee there could be 30, 000 less tourists in a year. Let's say conservatively they were going to spend $1, 000 each while in Argentina.. there you have $30 million removed from the economy and tourism industry!

Will this fee affect your plans to visit Argentina?

Comment #1 Danny (63.176.159.230) -

I think its very fair for Argentina to charge Americans if America charges Argentineans.

Comment #2 Eric (190.135.8.28) -

We are americans who live in Uruguay.

Based on all of the conversations I've had with other expats living in Uruguay, it is safe to assume that instead of making quick trips on the buquebus to Argentina , many are going to start going to Chile and Brazil. where the entry fees are cheaper.

Comment #3 Argentina Expat from Bariloche (Contact Member) -

Well... are you a resident of Uruguay or are you making quick trips to renew your 90 day Uruguayan entry stamp?

If you are a resident of Uruguay you should be able to enter Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay with just your Uruguay ID (leave your passport at home)... as long as you are traveling between those countries!

I entered Argentina on my Uruguayan Cedula and then tried to leave Argentina at the Airport to go to Asia. The immigration officer was in a bit of a snit about it. He said to use my password to enter Argentina next time I was going to Asia.

When I returned from Asia I tried to enter Argentina with my Cedula and the immigration officer said I could only use it when arriving from another Mercosur country.

When I left Argentina to Uruguay via Buquebus the Argentina and Uruguayan immigration officers are sitting next to each other. The Argentina officer was about to check me out of Argentina on my Cedular till I noted the entry stamp was in my passport! Then he stamped my passport and the Uruguayan immigration officer just wanted my Cedula and not my passport!

The moral of that story is that you probably can't escape the fees if you are going to Argentina and then plan to leave for someplace else!

If you do you have an Uruguayan Cedula, Brazil is probably the cheapest place to visit for a quick trip somewhere.

If you don't have a Uruguyan Cedula you will have these "problems":

Chile: US$100 (increased to US$130?) entry fee. They stamp your passport, so this should be a one time per passport fee.

Argentina: US$130 entry fee. Is this per entry, or similar to Chile?

Brazil: Need a visa. If applied for in USA or Costa Rica the cost will be US$130 and it will be valid for 5 years. If applied for in Uruguay it will cost roughly US$230 and be valid for 90 days.

Costs aside I find that Brazil is much more interesting and pleasant to visit. If you are not an Uruguayan resident and plan to spent time in the area... get your Brazilian visa BEFORE you come down.

Comment #4 Aldo Alan Marchant (190.136.232.110) -

I'm an American going to Brazil. I paid the required $130 fee. If America charges Brazilians going to America $130, then the fee is fair.

What paying the fee to a country does is this: The tourism industry loses $130 per tourist as the host country, its Travel Bureau, ends up pocketing that money, not the travel industry, as it should.

Comment #5 Jerry (63.176.159.85) -

The, "BIGGER" problem is that many people will see the $130 fee and decide to go some place that doesn't annoy tourists for political reasons.

So, the Consul gets $130 per tourist and the country gets thousands fewer tourists... calculate the impact on the tourism industry.

With flights around $1000 and a week in a hotel maybe $700 and say food for 2 $350... a 1 week trip would bring $2050 to the tourism industries (and I bet that is a low figure for many people!).

So... if the fee loses 1, 000 tourists in a year (just 3 a day) that would be an annual loss of over $2 million to the tourism industry.

Comment #6 Tommy (63.176.159.250) -

I'm sure there are still a lot of people who are willing to pay the fee to go on a beautiful vacation.

Comment #7 Jack (63.176.159.157) -

And a lot more that will have a beautiful vacation someplace else! The joke is on Argentina.

Comment #8 pat paulson (66.190.51.52) -

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF RECIPROCAL ENTRY FEE HAS BEEN IMPOSED YET?

IS THE FEE $131.00USD PER PERSON?

HOW IS IT PAID FOR AND WHERE?

IF IT HAS NOT BEEN IMPOSED YET WHEN?

Comment #9 Chirs (63.176.159.226) -

Argentinians must be nuts to do this fee. They will remove this fee in the future for sure cause it would damage their tourism income when there's no more coming to them cause of their selfish move.

Comment #10 Gus (63.176.159.112) -

I was completely oblivious to the world of travel fees. And Danny, even though I am new to this world, I can clearly see your post makes no sense. If America charges Argentina, why can't Argentina charge America?

Comment #11 cwemoy (63.176.159.237) -

Whatever reason there is in charging the entry fee, I believe there is a justifiable cause. Given Argentina are yet to impose the rule, travellers to America got accustomed to the requirement ages ago. The big question is whether there will be a direct impact on the tourism industry and how far the government will go to make sure an effect of any kind is kept in control. Why don't they make the fee at par with what America charges?

Comment #12 John from Istanbul (Contact Member) -

Politically it is sensible and justifiable.

Economically it is downright stupid. Why would a country on the brink of economic disaster with a good tourism business want to discourage travelers from visiting their country?

Argentina rarely keeps anything under control with respect to their economy...

All that aside the people in Buenos Aires are generally nasty... so for a pleasant vacation go some place else and won't worry about any fees.

Comment #13 Isaac (63.176.159.166) -

I agree with you John. Why would a country not at all at par with the USA impose such a requirement. I am wondering though, what did the USA have in mind in the first place?

Could it be that imposing the fee seeks to counter what Argentines going to America go through?

Perhaps they have pictured more revenue and I doubt that even Americans would stop traveling there. It is said that renewed political stability and favorable exchange rate are ensuring a huge comeback in the tourism industry.

Comment #14 moy (63.176.159.228) -

Why would such a move be selfish of the Argentinians? If I read it well, they are doing that to counter the fee the USA charges Argentinians crossing over. They stand to benefit in the end not only from Americans but all other nationals too.

It all depends on how this will be welcomed. If it affects the tourism industry, the country would lose economically but not politically.

Comment #15 John from Istanbul (Contact Member) -

Because their tourism industry will lose millions of dollars of business so the government can collect thousands playing political games.

Comment #16 Eve (63.176.159.142) - 11/24/09 16:16

Not only should they at least consider making the fee on par, both countries should probably even consider reducing the payment fees a little. That is a pretty high cost for something like a Visa, and an especially high price for an entry fee, soon no one may even be able to afford to take the bus, prices need to fall.

Comment #17 Eve (63.176.159.240) - 12/20/09 13:23

But who am I to say... I am no politician and am very much glad for such.

Comment #18 curtis (63.176.159.60) - 01/06/10 19:00

Aren't we all very much glad for that eve.

Comment #19 John from Istanbul (Contact Member) - 01/07/10 08:08

"Argentina Entry Fee"

Since Argentina has imposed the US$132 entry fee per American... I can see no reason to visit Argentina. Brazil is a much more wonderful country and the people are much more friendly.

Get your Brazilian Visa (same cost if you get it before you leave the USA)... and you can experience the beauty of nature and some great beaches.

Comment #20 Luis (124.168.165.2) - 01/15/10 00:18

"Rauth"

I'm an expat living in Australia for the past 25 years. My Autralian wife and children wiIl be going to argentina for the last time this March, as I totally disagree with the decision of charging this ridiculous fee. I love Argentina, but the politician have gone too far. From now on, we'll be spending our tourist dollars in South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. "No llores por mi Argentina"...

Comment #21 Pavel (135.11.3.4) - 01/19/10 15:54

"Fee worked - to turn away tourists"

I was planning to go to Argentina and Chile for 2 weeks with my wife in the spring, but just found out about these entry fees. While $130 does not seem like a lot, if I add them up for 2 countries for 2 ppl, that is $520 - spent not on hotels or flight, but on some useless government fees. It changed my decision on where to go. Instead I am going to Phillipines (ticket price about the same). This $500 will get me ~5 nights at a nice hotel. So I guess what sounded like a just move for Argentinian government - in the end ended up hurting their own economy.

Comment #22 Irish Elaine (190.135.26.208) - 01/20/10 08:03

"only at Ezeiza airport"

I could be wrong but I thought they had decided only to impose this fee for people arriving at Ezeiza airport...

Now I suppose most American's flying directly to Buenos Aires will probably land there and so it doesn't help them much, but they could always fly to Montevideo, see the beautiful beaches of Uruguay, and then cross the river on the Buquebus and not pay the fee.

Comment #23 Sonny (63.176.159.172) - 01/28/10 21:41

Hi there guys. If ever that I would like to enter in the country of Argentina, how much would it cost me? I am interested in learning all of this stuffs since I am to travel in the countries near Argentina. That is why I hope to hear from all of you guys here regarding this matter. Thank you very much guys and have a nice day ahead. Keep safe.

Comment #24 Michaela (201.236.152.83) - 02/12/10 14:36

""Argentina via Chile""

Hi, I am a US citizen studying abroad in Chile and trying to plan a trip to Argentina. Does anyone know if i can get in with my Chilean cedular without paying the fee?

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