Due to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta) in various countries affecting several continents, the Argentine National Government together with the National Directorate of Migration decided to extend the closure of Argentine borders, the prohibition of tourist entry, suspension of international flights, and the compliance with special requirements in those cases that are expressly authorized for entry into the Argentine Republic, until August 6, 2021, inclusive.
Among the measures implemented and requirements established for entry into the Argentine Republic are the following:
- Tourism: Borders remain closed to tourism. Foreign citizens wishing to enter the Argentine Republic for tourism purposes will not be allowed to do so.
- Exceptionally, the entry of non-resident foreign citizens is restricted to prior entry authorization by the National Directorate of Migration. Non-resident foreign citizens entering to perform essential work, with prior authorization from the National Directorate of Migration, must comply with the mandatory isolation period.
- Authorized border crossings: The only authorized border crossings for entry into the Argentine Republicof native Argentine citizens and/or foreign citizens residing in the countryare the Ezeiza, San Fernando, Jorge Newbery Metropolitan Aeroparque airports, as well as the Buenos Aires Port terminal. For entry authorized as an exception by the National Directorate of Migration, through land border crossings, the provincial jurisdiction must have safe corridors in place.
- National authorities recommend that all Argentine citizens and/or foreign residents in the country, especially those over 60 years of age and/or those belonging to at-risk groups defined by the health authority, not travel and postpone their trips abroad unless they are for essential activities, to avoid the difficulties and sanitary conditions required upon re-entry, considering the rapid evolution of epidemiological conditions.
- International flights: Authorizations and permits that had been issued for passenger air transport operations on direct flights originating from or destined for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and African countries, as well as those originating from Brazil, Chile, and India, are still suspended due to the new lineage in the sequencing of local samples, regarding the entry of people.
- Family members: The procedure for entry into the national territory through the authorized international border crossing for non-resident foreign citizens who are direct relatives of Argentine citizens or foreign residents in the Argentine Republic and do not require a consular visa to enter the national territory remains suspended.
- Daily quotas for entry into the Argentine Republic: Weekly quotas have been established on passenger flights for the re-entry into the national territory of Argentine citizens and/or foreign residents currently abroad, as follows: 5,200 slots for the week from 07/10/2021 to 07/16/2021, inclusive; 6,300 slots for the week from 07/17/2021 to 07/23/2021, inclusive; and 7,000 slots for the weeks from 07/24/2021 to 07/30/2021 and from 07/31/2021 to 08/06/2021, inclusive, respectively. The National Civil Aviation Administration may increase, decrease or eliminate these quotas, subject to the intervention of the national health authority. With regard to international maritime and river passenger transport, a quota of up to 2 ships per week with a capacity of 50% each, which may correspond to different operators, has been established.
- Native citizens and/or authorized foreigners entering the Argentine Republic must comply with the following requirements:
- Complete the online sworn declaration of entry into the country from the National Directorate of Migration 48 hours prior to boarding. The places where each citizen has been in the last 14 days prior to re-entry into the country must be declared;
- Attach a negative PCR test (sample taken 72 hours before boarding);
- Have travel medical insurance that includes hospitalization and isolation coverage for COVID-19 during the stay in the Argentine Republic;
- Undergo a SARS-CoV-2 test upon arrival in the country, the cost of which must be borne by the entering citizen;
- Undergo another SARS-CoV-2 test on the seventh day of arrival in the country, the cost of which must also be borne by the entering citizen, as a condition for the end of the mandatory isolation period.
- Isolation: Those entering the country are required to isolate themselves in places determined by the provincial governments and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires for 10 days, counted from the test performed in the country of origin. The cost of stay in the isolation places will be borne by each passenger.
- Positive PCR result upon entry into the country: Those citizens who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon entry into the country must immediately undergo a PCR test for genomic sequencing, as indicated by the national reference laboratory. Likewise, those who test positive in this test and their close contacts must comply with mandatory isolation in places designated by the corresponding national authorities until safe transfer to their place of residence, if applicable.
- Negative PCR result upon entry into the country: Those citizens who test negative for PCR upon entry into the country must comply with mandatory isolation in the respective domiciles designated by the corresponding national authorities and undergo a test to end the isolation.
- Positive PCR result on the seventh day of entry into the country: Those citizens who test positive for PCR on the seventh day of entering the country, must have the intervening laboratory take steps to have the competent national authority genomically sequence the laboratory sample and the local health authority immediately trace the close contacts of the citizen who made the trip, based on the mechanisms provided for the traceability of their entry and transfer to the mandatory isolation location.
- The cost of testing and genomic sequencing must be borne by the entering citizen.
- Requirements for transporters and crews:
- Land: Foreigners and nationals must have a negative COVID test, which will be valid for 7 days from the date of the test. These tests must be performed prior to starting the trip, near their place of residence;
- Ships: Foreigners must remain on board and will not be relieved in the country; nationals must undergo an antigen test within 72 hours of entry; and
- Air: Foreigners must move in a bubble in the country and comply with health protocols; nationals must move in a bubble abroad and undergo antigen testing at least 15 days or less. This obligation extends to the transfer crew if they have not respected the bubble mode.
- Group international travel: Group international trips, including those for graduates, retirees, study, non-official sports competitions, tourist groups, and recreational and social activities, remain suspended.
- International and tourist transport operators: They must inform users of the current restrictions, the conditions set by each jurisdiction in which the traveler resides, and the possibility that these conditions may be modified in light of the evolution of the epidemiological and health situation. They must also seek flexibility in rescheduling the dates of previously contracted trips, to facilitate compliance with the recommendation to postpone non-essential trips abroad.
- Infractions and sanctions: National authorities will ensure that those returning from travel comply with isolation in their homes and will file criminal complaints in case of non-compliance with isolation, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 205, 239, and related articles of the Argentine Penal Code, which respectively sanction with imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years for violating measures adopted to prevent the introduction or spread of an epidemic, and with imprisonment from 15 days to 1 year for resistance or disobedience to orders issued by public officials.