While answering another post it occurred to me that I haven't seen any mention about the reciprocity fees supposed to be collected in advance at all air and land points of entry into Argentina starting very shortly. As I understand it, you are supposed to go on line before arriving at the point of entry and pay any fee due by credit card. You will not be able to pay on arrival, which is a big shift. You will also be required to pay the fee no matter how you're arriving, which is an even bigger shift. Formerly, land arrivals were exempt.

As I understand it, the advance payment requirement for air arrivals takes effect December 28th 2012. The policy for land arrivals is due to take effect Jan 7th, 2013.

This only applies to people carrying passports who have already had to pay when arriving on international flights into B.A. That includes, of course, Americans, Canadians and Australians, plus some more countries: hopefully, you know who you are.

Please note that I'm only reporting what I heard from usually-reliable sources. If the whole thing falls flat, it won't be the first time that's happened. Probably, you'd prefer not to spend the entire day riding over one of the unpaved high passes from Chile, only to be turned back at the border just as it starts to get dark and cold. Check it out yourself, and do whatever needs to be done.

I've got no information about the specifics, but I've seen enough talk about it elsewhere that it must be easy to learn more about. Google is, in certain respects, your friend.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thought I would share the official Argentinian press release: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones | Accesible

It confirms exactly what Mark said (just in Spanish). We intend to cross from Chile Chico to Los Antiguos (Carretera Austral to Ruta 40) around Jan 10th. We'll post our experience here. Stay tuned...

__________________
Seattle to Argentina - Starting Oct 2011
www.LifeRemotely.com

Always happy to hear when I get it right. I'd also be curious about insurance--whether they ask, demand, or care at all. Seems to be increasingly necessary, although I crossed there without.

Checking your blog from time to time: looks like a good trip. Enjoy!

Mark

I received the following from the Australian government smart traveller service the other day. Not sure what other nationalities it applies to.

Went online to pay and it is a little cumbersome, but relatively easy.


Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Argentina for the most up-to-date information.
Australian tourists are charged a “reciprocity fee” of USD100. The fee is valid for multiple re-entries within a period of one year as of the date of first entry. At present the fee is only collected for entry at Ezeiza and Jorge Newbery International Airports in Buenos Aires. After 7 January 2013, this fee will be applicable at all ports of entry. Passengers arriving on cruise ships are exempt.
The reciprocity fee is payable on the Argentine Migration website. Those who pay online will have to print the receipt and submit it to immigration authorities at the airport. Payment of the fee on arrival will be accepted until until 28 December 2012 at the Ezeiza International Airport.
Australian citizens whose passport shows they were born in Argentina are exempt from the fee and should pass through the Argentine passport control line on entry in order to be exempt from the payment. Australian citizens holding a business visa are also exempt from payment.
Argentina has introduced biometric entry procedures at Ezeiza International Airport, Jorge Newbery International Airport and at the Buenos Aires ferry terminal. Visitors to Argentina are required to have their thumbprint scanned by an inkless device and have a digital photograph taken on arrival.
Children (under 18 years of age, as defined by local law) travelling alone or with one parent may be required to provide a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) to the Argentine authorities. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Argentina well in advance of departure from Australia for further advice.
If you are travelling to or from Argentina via the United States you will need to meet US entry/transit requirements. You should check your visa needs well in advance of travel with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States. See also our travel advice for the United States of America.
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Argentina as a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission and recommends travellers to all departments in Misiones Province and parts of Corrientes Province (Beron de Astrada, Capital, General Alvear, General Paz, Itati, Ituzaingo, Paso de los Libres, San Cosme, San Martin, San Miguel, Santo Tome) are vaccinated against yellow fever. Iguazu Falls is located within Misiones Province.
Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.
Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia if you are aged one year or above and have stayed overnight or longer in Misiones Province in the six days prior to your date of return to Australia.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

I will see what happens tomorrow, will be crossing from Brazil to Argentina at Paso de Los Libres.

Is effective from January 7.

Just in time for all the Dakar rally people crossing into the country.

Jessica,

I will be doing that same crossing later this year so any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

BTW I love your blog. Very useful.

Bill, best to pay that reciprocity fee somewhere more convenient that at an isolated border crossing. It is required for Australians and Americans and a couple of other nationalities of countries that levy similar fees on Argentinians. Few other countries do the same so nothing unfair about it.
You also need to make prior arrangements for Paraguay and Brazil as well if you cross at land borders.

PS But don't pay it months before you cross, because for Australians, it is only good for 12 months from the day you paid it.

__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

bobinbahia,

...(American; Brazilian permanent residency card did not help) was forced to pay $160 reciprocity fee online at the Chile Chico crossing...

It is my understanding that countries charge (or waive) the reciprocal fee based on citizenship. If you produced a Brazilian passport, it would document that you are a citizen of Brazil and exempt from the paying the reciprocal fee. Residence and citizenship are treated differently.

I was born in the US and my grandmother was born in Ireland. The steps to getting a US passport are obvious. After producing a chain of documents that prove I am descended from my grandmother, completing a few forms, writing a couple of checks, the Republic of Ireland issues a certificate that I am a citizen of Ireland. My name is entered into the "registry of foreign births". With the supplied certificate I was able to apply for a passport. I carry two passports when I travel. Guess which one I use when entering Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina...and every other country that I ride into.

I flew into La Paz, Bolivia where US citizens pay a reciprocal fee. At immigration I slid the declaration form across the counter. On the form I listed my US address, where I reside. The official started to charge me the reciprocal fee until I produced my Irish passport. The disappointment on his face was delightful to me.

A funny duel citizen story. I had been traveling in Latin America for 5 months when I needed to return to the US for a few weeks. In preparations for immigration in Miami travelers need to fill out the declaration form, notably the section that lists the countries your have visited on your trip. I used up all of the space provided with two letter abbreviations,

MX, GU, ES, HN, NI, PA, CO, VZ, BR, GY, SR, GF, UR, AR, BO

As I slid the form across the counter I said I might have forgotten a country. The official looked at the form, then at me, and asked, "What's going on?" I said, "I've been traveling overland across Latin America." He quickly leafed through my passport and said, "Welcome back." He never commented that I had no stamps in my US passport for any of the countries I had visited. I guess this happens all the time...

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

There are no more fee's for Canadians or American's at the Argentina border crossings.