Attention all US Passport Holders: You no longer need to pay a reciprocity fee to enter Argentina!
Reciprocity fees need to be paid for, period. Not by everyone and not for every country, but if you need to pay it you better be well aware of it and prepared before you try to embark. The reason I am so firm about this is because I was absolutely shocked as I was waiting to board my flight to Argentina and witnessed six US citizens scrambling to figure out what do because they did not pay the reciprocity fee yet.
In order to step foot on an airplane from the United States headed for Argentina, you must either show proof that you either a) were born in Argentina b) are a citizen of a country that does not require the reciprocity fee payment or c) have paid the reciprocity fee. If you are a dual citizen with a passport of a country that is exempt, then you will not have to pay the fee as long as you enter and leave Argentina with that passport. You can read more about traveling as a dual citizen here.
What is a reciprocity fee?
A reciprocity fee is not a visa, it’s a fee governments charge certain non-citizens for traveling to their country because the country they are nationals of charges their citizens when coming in as a tourist. The United States charges Argentinian citizens $160 for entering, so in turn, Argentina’s government charges US citizens the same amount when they arrive in Argentina.
The reciprocity fee for American citizen coming to Argentina is $160 and it is required to be paid for when traveling to Argentina overland, by sea or by air. The fee is only imposed because the named countries below charge Argentinian citizens to enter their country and while it is a lot of money, the reciprocity fee is valid for 10 years.
Other nationalities that have to pay the reciprocity fee when entering Argentina are Australian and Canadian, but the amounts vary:
US Citizens
Cost of fee is $160 USD valid for 10 years
Canadian Citizens
Cost of fee is $150 USD valid for 5 years
Australian Citizens
Cost of fee is $100 USD valid for 1 year
How to Pay the Reciprocity Fee
If you are traveling to Argentina and need to pay the reciprocity fee, then you will need to create an application online and have it printed out. The whole process is easy and instant.
First, go to Provincia NET and create an account.
Then click on Create New Form. Enter all of the information it asks including your passport number.
Go ahead and make your payment and then submit your application. After you have completed the sign up and payment process, you MUST PRINT OUT your receipt which will allow you to board the airplane to EZE as well as enter Argentina. Immigration will scan the barcode on the receipt to make sure it’s a valid receipt.
I suggest keeping the reciprocity receipt paper clipped to your passport and keeping a second copy somewhere else in your bag in case you lose one. You can always go back and print out an additional copy, but consider how unlikely it will be to find a computer with a printer when you need it last minute at a border crossing overland somewhere.
Other Reciprocity Info:
Great news: Chile no longer requires reciprocity fees from US Citizens!
While not all South American countries require a reciprocity fee, keep an eye out for those $130+ like for Paraguay and Bolivia.
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