Ringing in the New Year Argentina will start collecting its reciprocal tourist fee today, January 1st, 2009. The fee will be imposed upon foreigners entering Argentina whose country of residence charges Argentines a fee to enter. (Well doesn’t that seem fair.)
For American tourists that means the charge will be about USD $134 dollars, which is how much Argentines are charged to apply for a visa to the United States. There still will not be any visa requirements; this is just simply the price for the tourist visa.
Those entering from other countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia will also be charged. There are a total of 22 countries that fall under the reciprocal tourist fee.
There is good news however…
The good news is (yes, there is actually good news about having to pay USD $134 to enter Argentina) that there is no need to actually apply for the visa, and best of all, once the charge is paid it covers re-entry for a period of 10 years. This was one of the biggest worries for expats living in Argentina who are constantly renewing their tourist visa to be able to stay legally in the country.
Hopefully Argentina will put the approximately 40 million dollars it will be receiving annually thanks to these fees to good use. Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo assures the public that it will stating that “[the law] will allow [the government] to raise funds for the modernization of border passes across the country.”
Randazzo goes on to explain that the purpose of the change in policy is to implement “Equal requirements for all, regardless of country of origin.”
In a country where USD $134 is a lot harder to come by for Argentines wishing to enter the States, to many it didn’t seem fair that American citizens and other tourists could enter the country for up to 90 days free of charge.
It is believed that even with the implementation of the new entrance fee tourism to Argentina will not be halted. For many who wish to visit or move to Argentina a fee of USD $134 will not slow their plans.
We are just relieved that the government has made the visa a 10 year visa, allowing those residing in Argentina to continue to travel as freely in and out as their income permits after paying the initial fee.
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The fee has been put on hold until at least March 2009. We came through the airport on 1/1/09 and were not charged.
If Argentina really wanted it to be reciprocal they would waive the airport exit fee, that would be true reciprocity.
Fred
http://www.fourpointreport.blogspot.com
yo…does this mean that once the new visa fee goes into effect,i will not have to over to uruguay every 90 days to renew my visa?
That is correct Jamye. Once you have paid the fee for the visa, it is good for 10 years.
Now we just have to wait and see when they actually put it into action.
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The Gringo
How can this fee be paid? Can people use a credit card or does it have to be cash in local currency? Thank you!
eveyone always need some form of travel tips to prepare them on what to expect on their destination*;;