I'm not surprised, as our government is desperate for collecting money in any possible way, to finance their populist policies and get personally richer in the process. They are trying to close any possible loopholes for collecting this fee.

Explaining to them that they might wind up killing the proverbial "goose that lays the golden eggs", is totally useless. They only care about the "here and now".

No matter what, you'll have a great time in our country, particularly if you look for good advice in this forum.

Am I to understand that it is ONLY at the airports that the fee is collected? What if one is entering through Bariloche? Is there a departure tax at EZE? I'll be in country in November. Thanks.

Calypso - the fee is only collected at EZE and AEP for international arriving flights, not on land crossings such as Iguazu or Bariloche. I'm assuming you are taking the bus/boat trip from Chile to Bariloche - it's amazing!

Any departure fees from EZE are already added into your international ticket. There are departure fees that must be paid at Calafate and Trelew airports (possibly others), but they are minimal.

Jeff - good info for future travels - thanks.

Thanks for your expeditious response! Will be flying out as a non-revenue passenger back to the US, should I be prepared (to be asked) to pay a departure tax, and if so, what is the typical amount? PaTricia

If the OP is right and he usually is, maybe they also want to cover land crossings.

I imagine they may get around to covering land crossings and other airports. At the moment it pays to fly to Mendoza via Santiago (staying in transit) to avoid the fee. Return to Chile (if visiting both countries) by land and avoid both fees.

I see one huge problem with this new system. Considering the number of travellers on this and other forums who have never heard of the fee and, if they have, have no idea where it is collected, what are they going to do about people who just arrive who have not pre-paid? Or are the airlines supposed to deny boarding if you don't have your little slip to get into Argentina? This assumes that the airline counter personnel at airports will know the varying amounts and conditions according to nationality and which nationalities need to pay.

Airline personnel use the Timatic system to verify immigration requirements when they check you in. I'm sure this new requirement can be entered into that system: CHECK THAT RECIPROCITY FEE HAS BEEN PAID. It's only U.S., Canadian, and Australian citizens who have to pay it for Argentina, although the three amounts are different. But, that's a good question: Will they deny boarding if you haven't paid in advance?

Last I remember, the airport departure tax was $29.

I have not paid a separate departure fee at EZE on either trip - 2010 and 2011 - Continental and American Airlines. My understanding is the fee is now built into your ticket fare although that was not the case in the past. I did pay a departure fee at FTE to fly back to AEP.

No, I haven't paid the departure tax separately either. The question was about a non-revenue passenger. I assume an airline employee? They're no going to be exempt from the departure tax and would have to pay it at some point.

AV......you said it so well!

This is SO crazy.......there WILL be SO many turistas who do not know about the fee.

CHEERS.

I would guess that if the fee should be pre paid then it is going to be enforced ,sooner or later , no matter where you enter Argentina... This would make sense to me, and a vrooster says they are desperated for
More money. The new one is that the Government will allow foreigners to vote after two years in Argentina so who knows may be sooner or later Americans would be able to vote besides paying the fee.....may be I am wrong

FYI: Just received the following from my travel agent.

"CHANGE IN RECIPROCY FEE FOR PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN ARGENTINA

Please be advised of an important change to the Reciprocity Fee’s policy for American, Canadian and Australian passport holders visiting Argentina.

Starting on September 1st , 2012, any passenger visiting Argentina with an American, Canadian or Australian passport will be required to pay in advance the Reciprocity Fee via online.

The new system will work parallel to the regular collection service performed at Ezeiza Airport until December 28th, 2012 and at Jorge Newbery Airport until October 31st, 2012. After the dates previously mentioned, the only method of collection would be online.

American, Canadian and Australian passport holders visiting Argentina will be required to pay the reciprocity fee online at the following site:https://virtual.provinciapagos.com.ar/ArgentineTaxes/. They must register and pay with a credit card. Once the payment is received, an electronic receipt will be given and passenger would need to show it upon their arrival in Argentina.

The lack of such proof of payment will generate the denial of entry of the passenger and consequent returning to their departure city by the airline. We strongly urge passengers to take the necessary precautions so that those passengers who travel to the mentioned airports with a scheduled arrival starting on November 1st, 2012 (Jorge Newbery) and December 29th, 2012 (Ezeiza) have the electronic receipt with them."


No mention of other entry points. Will be flying from BRC into
Jorge Newbery AEP on a domestic flight. Anticipated problems?

You pay the fee flying into Argentina on international flights which land at AEP or EZE. You do not pay if you fly into those airports on a domestic flight.

Does anyone know if they accept American Express credit card?

Does anyone know if they accept American Express credit card?

We really appreciate the updates on payment of this fee! As independent travelers, we probably wouldn't know till we got there in January. So thanks for keeping us all posted . . .

This is from the horse's mouth:

http://www.migraciones.gov.ar/pdf_varios/campana_grafica/tasa_reciprocidad.pdf

My suggestion is to delay payment until the date of your trip is near and check for any recent developments on this subject before paying.

I figure they take all major credit cards.

If you enter Argentina via a lake or mountain crossing (?) from Chile, as CalypsoGirl apparently will, you MAY be able to avoid this fee.

If you wish to play it safe, just pay it. It's good for 10 years. Y'all will LOVE Argentina and return over and over.

Have a great time in our country.

What a nightmare between this and the issues with converting USD I think Argentina drops to the bottom of my list!

not sure if new rules apply. would love feedback. I'm flying from the U.S. to Mendoza via Santiago...staying a few days...flying from Mendoze to Iguazu (IGR) staying a few days then flying to Buenos Aires (AEP). I leave the USA 31 OCT. will the prepayment rule apply for my internal flight arrival AEP?

your help much appreciated!

I was born in Argentina & hv both american & arg passports. I was told i can travel w my american passport & not be charged bc i was born in Arg. Does anyone know about this?

I can't answer your specific question, but why wouldn't you enter Argentina with your Arg. passport to avoid the problem? It's the law for Americans that if you have dual citizenship, you have to enter the United States with your U.S. passport. Why wouldn't Argentina require the same of its own citizens?

I just paid this fee the other day, after being alerted by our travel agent. We arrive in Argentina in November. It was very easy and appeared to be a secure website. They wanted to charge me in Argentinian pesos, so I paid using Capital One VISA, which does not charge foreign currency transaction fees.

I knew we had to pay the reciprocity fee anyway, so it was no big deal (except helping to make bureaucrats richer, of course).

So if the Argentine Government charges in Argentine pesos, it is even more expensive?
How many dollars were you actually charged Steamboatsista?

I have read the official Migraciones Information kindly posted by avrooster and noticed it covers entering the Argentine Republic so it would seem it applies to the people entering Argentina via Buquebus also?

Does any one entered Argentina after September 1 st via Buquebus?

If they charge in pesos, it would be less pesos than if you changed those dollars into pesos at the "informal" rate.

My receipt from Provincia Pagos shows $160 US was charged for my reciprocity fee. When I was going through the online process, it indicated that I could pay in US dollars or Argentinian pesos, but I could not click on or activate the US dollars option. So I thought I was paying in pesos, but my receipt definitely says $160 US.

Hmmmm......

I look forward to a mess on Nov. 1, less than three weeks away, since the on-line fee system does not yet appear to be on-line. Won't work for me, anyhow.
To be fair, the $75 fee for Canadians equals the cost of a temporary visa to visit Canada -- hence "reciprocity". For countries eager to attract tourism, it's dumb on both sides.

AV:

New band cd to send to you. (Will it get there if I do send it?)

Are you at same address, or has Christina taken it over?

I can't see a way to send you a pm on this forum.

Same personal email as well?

tptr

Hi, tptr!

I'm extremely grateful, but I would refrain from sending anything of any value by mail to Argentina.

Last Wednesday I sent you an e-mail. Didn´t you get it? You can write to me to that address.

I used the US Postal Service Special Delivery service,flat fee $38 dollars. envelope was lost. gone.
I made inquiries only to be told that a guy name Name Jorge signed for it.
I am very disappointed with the US postal service because I pursue the matter and they failed too.
I know better for next time.
In the past I had used the postal service without a problem I guess everything is deteriorating.

Graziella...........the problem didn't happen on the US Postal service end in the States..........probably on the AR end.

I've sent AV a Christmas card every year since our visit to BA...............I would be surprised if he received any of them.

tptr

"not sure if new rules apply. would love feedback. I'm flying from the U.S. to Mendoza via Santiago...staying a few days...flying from Mendoze to Iguazu (IGR) staying a few days then flying to Buenos Aires (AEP). I leave the USA 31 OCT. will the prepayment rule apply for my internal flight arrival AEP?"

NO, it is only payable on international flight arrival to one of the two Buenos Aires airports, AEP or EZE, not anywhere else such as Mendoza. Also, you avoid similiar Chile fee if connecting directly through Santiago (interline bags though).
And, it is an entry fee, not an exit fee, so it does not matter where you leave if you have not paid it.

We were in Buenos Aires in Oct. 2011 and paid the $140 fee. I have the receipt of payment and our passport is stamped. Do we have to pay the fee again in Feb. 2013? Passport is still good.

I understand it's good for ten years, so I don't see why you'd have to pay.

Have a great time in our country.

Kushie - you will not pay again, even though the fee has increased. I paid my $140 in Oct. 2010, returned in Sept. 2011 and Oct. 2012 with no fees.

If your passport expires during the ten years and you are returning to Argentina, just bring both passports to show your entry fee is still valid.

I paid the fee previously,less than 10yrs.,but dont have the receipt. My passport has an entry stamp(very pale). Is this enough?

That should be enough.

The rules have changed.

Until 28 December you can still pay on arrival at AEP or EZE.

After 28 December you have to prepay online before arriving at AEP or EZE.

On 7 January 2013 you must pay online befor entering Argentina at any point: all other airports, arriving by ship, crossing a land border.

http://www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles/?noticia=1632
Los nacionales de Australia, Canadá y EE. UU. que desde 2010 abonan la tasa de reciprocidad, a partir del 7 de enero de 2013 deberán pagarla para ingresar por cualquier paso de frontera del país. El cobro será electrónico vía web.

I am trying to find an English version to post but I just get lost in the Migraciones website.

My wife and I are entering Buenos Aires by cruise ship on 1/4/13 and are leaving by EZE on 1/7/13. Do we have to pay the reciprocity fee?

The charge at every entry point, not just the airports in BA, starts on the 7th of January. Reciprocity fees are charged entering and never exiting a country.

Well, I was just checking out airfares for Argentina. I really liked BsAr at was there with two groups, once in 2004 and again in 2005. Beautiful city, great food and steaks, nice products to buy and very reasonable, nice people but not a lot of tourist type of attractions. Saw and did most of the ones they had on the previous trip, even a bike ride to the delta.
I became friendly with my tour guide and we kept in touch over the years. Wanted to get back sooner, but too much to do. Finally, 2013 was to be the year. Sure airfare has doubled since 2004, but still. So here I am booking the flight and I am directed to the "Reciprocity web page" . I have paid fees before in the form of visas, the last being for Russia ($140) this past June. But $160! That is a bit much.
Well, I for one will vote NO!

I have been to Italy 14 times in the past ten years. There is no way I can see all that Italy has to offer if I went 114 times. I guess I will be keeping in touch via the internet until they tax that to death also. Just not enough in the way of activities and attractions to justify another $160 just to come and spend my money.
Too bad for Argentina.

PS. Hotels have gotten pricey too with added fees. Looks like I will be staying home.

Exactly the same amount Argentines pay to apply, not necessarily get, a visa for the USA. Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander.

Great sauce, but Argentina desperately needs increasing foreign tourism, not an exchange of sauces.

It would be nice if both sides dropped the charge.

In a previous post someone indicated that the Chilean reciprocity fee is good for life. Does this mean you can take an expired US passport with the Chilean fee paid, alongside your current US passport, to avoid paying the fee again at SCL?

No. The Chilean fee is good for the life of the passport, not yours! Once the passport expires, so does the coverage of the fee. For Argentina the fee is good for 10 years even in an expired passport. Note this is for a USA passport as terms vary by nationality.

Note that the argentinafees website says only prepaying for BA airports, but from the 7th of January 2012 you must prepay online for any entry point into Argentina; any land border or other airport. The exception is cruise ship passengers who will pay starting mid-year.

the link in maggioant's post is incomplete because it does not mention that as of January 7, 2013, entry into Argentina at ALL points are subject to the prepayment provisions.

Good catch, I left a comment on that website and they updated the information.

maggioant, I noticed that your posts with this link on another travel website had been removed. Is the website yours? Were you given an explanation?

When a new poster brings up 3 threads on about the same subject and posts on all of them only suggesting a certain website it requires the mods' attention.

The fact that apparently it also happened on TA only confirms this.

It was inevitable that the Argentine authority would find a WAY to collect the fee at all points of entry.
Uruguay does Not charge any fee to Americans.
Both countries are now MUCH more expensive than short time ago,

I am an Australian citizen. I currently live in Uruguay. I went for a holiday to South Africa via Buenos Aires with my two children. On my return trip home, I was stopped at Immigration at Ezeiza Airport because I was told I did not have a visa. I told the customs officers that I in fact did & I showed them I had a 90 day visa. The custom officers refuted the fact & detained me & my children for 6 hours with out being spoken to & would not answer any of my questions. There were nine U.S citizens detained from the same flight. We were all worried about what was going to happen to us. The nine U.S citizens were made to sign a form in Spanish & they got deported back to SA. I was the first person that they tried to get me to sign, but I speak Spanish & understood that it was a deportation document. I told the others not to sign the document, but they did. I was the last person left & I was told I did have a visa after all & I was asked by the customs officers why hadn't I said anything in the first place!! Those people are beasts & do not care about anyone. While I was detained, the customs officers laughed & taunted the detainees. Please apply for a visa/reciprocity fee online before you leave your country.

patti_urquijo: I don't quite understand what the problem was. Was it that they required payment of the reciprocity visa and that's why you posted on this thread?

You're mixing up terms here, Patti. The reciprocity fee is not a visa, and should not be called that. The fee is a payment that you have to make in advance online before you arrive at any port of entry in Argentina. The advance-payment requirement has been in effect for about three months now. If you don't take care of it before you arrive, it's trouble.

As someone on another board stated so well, it doesn't matter whether or not you agree that Argentina should be doing this. The point is that they are and that you have to abide by the rules.

Jeff: would it be correct to state that their airline should have warned them about what would happen when they landed in Argentina if the reciprocity fee was not paid for in advance?

And what is this 90-day visa Patti had?

Yes, avrooster, you would be correct in that: in fact, the airlines departing US airports will not even allow boarding for flights to Argentina without documentation of payment of the Reciprocity Fee.