Argentina & carnet de passage
 

Grant, and the others,

Once again I come with a question to get a certitude : The bike will arrive in Buenos Aires in mid december by cargo, do I need a carnet de passage to go free from the custom ?
I read opposite opinion about that subject !

A carnet is not required for Argentina - however, it does make it a lot easier when shipping in. Arriving at a land border crossing you absolutely do not need a carnet.

At a port you may have a hassle with the customs guys, but it should be possible without a carnet.

Make sure you have all your documentation in good order and have lots of time and patience, dress nice and all the usual.

We used a carnet - because we had one still from Africa and didn't know we didn't need it - and they didn't know what it was at the airport in BA!

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi,
sorry Grant, I have different expieriences. we were asked in December 1999 for the carnet at Buenos Aires Airport. They would not let our bikes in without one.
We never used it afterwards, crossing in and out of Argentina by land.
Werner

Werner,

I wasn't aware that you had needed a carnet. I thought you went by sea?

When we entered BA airport in December 98 it was a new office and a new crew, who didn't have a clue what they were doing. We struggled through, using the carnet because we had it. We had the impression that we might have gotten through without it.

Max Elia did not have a carnet at about the same time, and he came in by air. I'm sure others have done it also. BUT it may take a lot of work and time.

So entering Argentina by air is questionable without a carnet!

What about by sea?? Anyone know?

Dear Friends,

YOU DO NOT NEED A CARNET AND THAT IS DEFINITE ARGENTINE LAW. Argentine Customs Resolutions from the A.N.A nrs. 308/84, 3751/94 and 3752/94 are the legal basis for my assertion. It is stated here that entry requirements for foreign registered vehicles belonging to tourists are: (1) Original Ownership Papers OR Carnet the Passage -EITHER OR! One OR the other! -thus the Carnet is NOT a pre-requisite. Further you need (2) Passport and (3) Original Transport Document (air waybill / bill of lading) if entering by AIR or SEA -not required if entering by LAND for obvious reasons. This information has been provided by the "Administracion Nacional de Aduanas" -aka the Argentine National Customs Service- to the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an official "telex" dated 3 Jan. 2000.

If customs upon arrival starts asking you for a carnet it will be because (1) they do not know what the law says (lack of knowldge is common) and/or (2) they want you to "collaborate" -give them a tip. Although these two instances are rare that does not mean you might not suddenly get an idiot to process your entry. But Argentine law is clear on this point: NO CARNET FOR TEMPORARY ENTRY OF FOREIGN REG. VEHICLES UP TO 8 MONTHS, renewable for another 8.

As Grant said somewhere else on the Bulletin Board, whoever says something else is wrong. A copy of the above information will be available soon and is provided by a lawyer who also is a diplomat working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Buenos Aires. I entered with European registered vehicles, owned and registered to europeans. I have entered by land, sea and air. The law (meaning NO CARNET) is the same for all forms of entry. Land entry is very easy, then comes air, last is sea. The best thing to do if you have problems with air entry is to make your freight agent help you. The good agents have pretty helpful people at the airport, who in turn know the customs agents and how it all works. Do not waste your money on a carnet.

PS: A good agent to use -especially for all you Germans- if you are coming from Europe is Hellmans based in Munich, Germany. They have an excellent global network and a damn efficient office in Buenos Aires, plus a couple of problemsolvers permanently stationed at the airport. My experience with them is top of the pops.

Gonzalo Figueroa
Argentine




[This message has been edited by Gonzalo (edited 10 October 2000).]

Just to back that up, I've been told EXACTLY the same by the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) here in the UK and I won't be bothering with one when I go out there. I suggest you save the money for beer! :-)

Hi Grant, could you pls. post the actual name-number so we can find the exact law. It would be useful to have a printout upon entering the country, to clear any ambiguities. Has anyone visited the site http://www.aduanaargentina.com/ ?

all the info should be in there but it is in spanish...

<<If you want I may provide the name and number of the Argentine Customs Regulation where this is made clear, as well as the text from a cable from the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs on which requirements for foreign reg. vehicle entry are listed.>>

Hello Frederic,

I plan do a travel around south america and starting from Argentina begining of march. I would appreciate a lot to talk with you in order to exchange information. Could we get in touch?

Thanks for your answer.
Michel
michel.de.schoutheete@sap.com