Argentina’s Borders Remain Partially Closed

Last January 30, Argentina’s Chief of Cabinet Ministers issued Administrative Decision No. 44/2021 which extended until February, 2021 the suspension of the Pilot Test to reopen incoming tourism for nationals or foreign residents from neighboring countries  whose destination is the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA). The test had been approved via Administrative Decision No. 1949/2020 and took force on October 29, 2020, but it was suspended as of December 25 due to the increase of COVID-19 cases throughout the region.

Similarly, the suspension of direct flights to and from the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands remains in force pursuant to Administrative Decision No. 2252/2020. The Argentine Civil Aviation Administration (the “ANAC” after its acronym in Spanish) was authorized to expand the list of countries depending on how the epidemiological situation unfolded.

In that same vein, the Office of Migration issued Provision No. 233/2021 in which it extended the term of Provision No. 3911/2020 (as amended by Provision No. 4019/2020) which stipulated that the Ezeiza International Airport and the San Fernando International Airport are the only border crossings authorized for entry by air of nationals or foreign residents and of non-resident foreigners who are direct relatives of Argentine citizens or residents and who enter Argentina temporarily out of necessity and without requiring a Visa.

The Office of Migration also established that individuals may exit Argentina by air through the aforementioned border crossings, as well as by land through other authorized border crossings between Argentina and neighboring countries.

Furthermore, entry is authorized at the Buenos Aires Port (Buquebus Terminal) for nationals and foreigners residing in Argentina only and, exceptionally, for foreigners not residing in the country who are direct relatives of Argentine citizens or residents and who are entering the country temporarily out of necessity without requiring a Visa.

Those who enter Argentina must complete the “Electronic Affidavit for Entry into the Argentine Territory” and submit a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before traveling. In addition, all travelers must quarantine for 10 days from the time of the test and have traveler’s insurance covering COVID-19 treatment. International carriers and crew members in exclusive exercise of their activity, among others, are exempted from these requirements.

Regarding air transportation, Administrative Decision No. 44/2021 established that the Argentine Office of Migration, the ANAC, and the Ministry of Health will coordinate the necessary actions to stipulate flight schedules and the number of passengers that will enter the country gradually and daily. Thus, it has established the obligation to reduce by 30% the schedules of flights coming from Mexico, the United States and Europe, and by 50% those coming from Brazil.

Lastly, the Administrative Decision recommends that nationals and foreign residents and, in particular, those over the age of 60 and individuals in high risk groups, defer their trips abroad if they are not performing essential activities. The departure and re-entry to and from Argentina means accepting the health and migratory conditions of the destination country upon leaving and of Argentina upon returning, thus assuming all sanitary, legal and economic consequences involved.

Conditions include not being able to travel with symptoms compatible with COVID-19, having traveler’s health insurance that covers the treatment of COVID-19 abroad, and reporting where you’ve been over the last 14 days before re-entering the country, among others.