No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Argentina’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Argentina set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Argentine Consulate in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Argentina, your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. If you are a resident in Argentina, your passport must be valid for entry.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.
\n\nYou can visit Argentina without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days.
\n\nTo stay longer, or to work or study, you must meet the Argentine government’s entry requirements. Contact the Argentine Consulate in the UK.
\n\nImmigration authorities no longer stamp passports on entry. If you need proof of your entry or exit, contact the Argentine Migration Office (in Spanish).
\n\nIf you wish to extend your stay for another 90-day period, get advice from the Argentine Migration Office before your current stay ends.
\n\nIf you’re travelling to Argentina for any purpose other than tourism, contact the Argentine Consulate in the UK about the visas or permits you need and how to apply.
\n\nChildren aged 17 and under who are resident in Argentina need written permission (‘Autorización de viaje’) from the non-accompanying parents to leave the country.
\n\nNon-resident children aged 17 and under who have remained in Argentina for 1 year or more are treated in line with resident children and also need permission. You can get permission from a notary public in Argentina or the Argentine Migration Office (in Spanish).
\n\nYou can get full information on the requirements from the Argentine Migration Office (in Spanish) or from your nearest Argentine consulate.
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Argentina guide.
\n\nYou may need a yellow fever certificate for onward travel to some other countries, due to the risk of yellow fever in Argentina.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Argentina (in Spanish). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\nYou must declare cash or travellers cheques worth more than 10,000 US dollars (in Spanish).
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nTerrorist attacks in Argentina cannot be ruled out.
\n\nAttacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
\n\nPolitical demonstrations and picketing are more common in Argentina than in the UK. Some demonstrations attract large numbers of people, and they can occasionally turn violent. Demonstrations are particularly common near Congress (‘Congreso’) and the Presidential Palace (‘Casa Rosada’).
\n\nYou should:
\n\nThere have also been occasional Falklands-related protests, including outside the British Embassy and British-affiliated businesses in Argentina.
\n\nGroups of demonstrators (‘piqueteros’) sometimes block major roads at times of social unrest. These can include the major routes into and out of Buenos Aires City. This can cause significant delays.
\n\nWhen planning to travel:
\n\nThieves and pickpockets operate on public transport and at bus and train terminals.
\n\nTo reduce the risk of theft:
\n\nThefts from unattended vehicles, especially hire cars, are also common. This happens frequently in Bariloche, but can happen across the country.
\n\nIn crowded places, thieves can cut handbags open. They can snatch a mobile phone while you are using it on the street. Thieves on motorbikes can snatch bags from pedestrians.
\n\nThieves – often women – use distraction techniques and may work in teams of 2 or more. A common form of distraction theft reported in Buenos Aires is the ‘mustard scam’. Thieves take your bags while an accomplice pretends to help you remove mustard they have sprayed on you. If this happens to you, politely but firmly refuse help and walk away.
\n\nIn Buenos Aires, be particularly cautious in:
\n\nIn Mendoza, be particularly cautious downtown.
\n\nIn Santa Fe, be particularly cautious in Rosario.
\n\nArmed robberies are a risk. If you are the victim of a robbery, hand over your cash and valuables without resistance.
\n\nBe vigilant in La Boca, Buenos Aires, especially in the streets outside the Caminito tourist area. To reduce your risk, stay in the designated tourist area where there are high-visibility police patrols.
\n\nKidnappings including ‘express kidnappings’ – short-term opportunistic abductions – occasionally happen in Argentina. Victims of express kidnap are held and forced to empty their bank accounts by making bank transfers or going to ATMs, after which they are normally quickly released. Be aware of your surroundings and always let someone you trust know your whereabouts. If you are a victim of kidnapping, follow the kidnapper’s instructions.
\n\nTo reduce your risk:
\n\nDrinks and food can be spiked and could put you at risk of robbery or assault. Do not leave drinks unattended in bars and restaurants and do not accept food or drink from strangers.
\n\nBe alert to the possible use of ‘date rape’ and other drugs. Alcohol and drugs can reduce your vigilance, making you less in control.
\n\nThere have been reports of foreign tourists being robbed or assaulted after inviting into their accommodation someone they have recently met, online or in person.
\n\nDo not become involved with illegal drugs of any kind. Possession of even very small quantities can lead to a lengthy prison sentence.
\n\nArgentine society is open and diverse. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is rare. Same-sex marriage is legal. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nThe government of Argentina has stated that it intends to pursue legal action against oil and gas companies engaged in hydrocarbon exploration in the Falkland Islands. If you’re travelling to Argentina and think you may be affected by this type of legal action, seek independent legal advice.
\n\nBefore you consider a surrogacy arrangement in Argentina, consider the challenges and risks involved, and make sure you seek specialist independent legal advice both in the UK and in Argentina. For more information, read FCDO guidance on surrogacy overseas.
\n\nSurrogacy is not regulated by law in Argentina and surrogacy arrangements are not enforceable in law.
\n\nLocal authorities may consider surrogacy arrangements to be illegal. Criminal investigations into surrogacy agencies and associated service providers are ongoing. Some intended parents have faced issues obtaining birth certificates and when attempting to leave Argentina with the child born to them through surrogacy.
\n\nChildren born through surrogacy in Argentina are Argentine citizens and must leave the country on an Argentine passport. They are also subject to local regulations applicable to the exit of minors in Argentina. See Travelling with children.
\n\nIf you take part in extreme or adventure sports, including paragliding, climbing, off-road driving and hot air ballooning, make sure:
\n\nYou will have to pay for most helicopter rescues, including in Mount Aconcagua.
\n\nAltitude sickness is a risk when hiking in parts of Argentina. See Health.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Argentina, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou’ll need to have both the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
\n\nRespect for speed limits and traffic signals varies. Drivers can make unexpected turns or brake suddenly.
\n\nVehicle crime is a problem. Always keep car windows closed and doors locked when driving in major cities.
\n\nTake care when driving in the province of Misiones, close to the borders with Paraguay and Brazil. The area is used to smuggle goods. Seek local advice from customs officials if you intend to drive in this area.
\n\nBook taxis in advance if possible. If you hail a taxi in the street, only use a ‘radio taxi’. These have a clearly visible logo on the car doors.
\n\nThe Buenos Aries government has a list of authorised radio taxi operators (in Spanish).
\n\nFlights from Argentina can be unreliable. Check for delays or cancellations before travelling to the airport.
\n\nActivist groups sometimes try to disrupt UK-flagged ships or commercial shipping working off the Falkland Islands. Contact the local authorities before travelling. Most cruise ships and visiting tourists should not be affected.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nMany northern provinces experience occasional flooding. This can disrupt transport and could lead to shortages. Flash floods can occur during heavy rains, in provinces including Buenos Aires. Monitor local media and follow instructions given by the local authorities.
\n\nThere is a risk of earthquakes in Argentina, particularly in the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, Salta and Jujuy. Monitor media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
\n\nThe US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
\n\nThe Copahue Volcano on the Argentina-Chile border erupts occasionally, and the authorities will evacuate the area. If you’re travelling to this area, monitor local media reports and follow the advice of the local authorities.
\n\nWildfires can occur throughout Argentina and can spread rapidly. They may lead to road closures and affect the air quality in nearby areas.
\n\nIf you find yourself in or near the affected areas of any fire, monitor local media reports to stay informed of the rapidly evolving situation and follow the advice of the local authorities.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nDial 107 or 911 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Argentina, including:
\n\nAltitude sickness is a risk in parts of Argentina. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nHantavirus is present in Argentina. Read more information about hantavirus in Argentina on TravelHealthPro. Further guidance on hantavirus is available from the UK Health Security Agency and Argentina’s Ministry of Health (website in Spanish).
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nMedical facilities are good but can be expensive. Public hospitals tend to be crowded.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Argentina where some staff will speak English.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nAmbulance: 107
\n\nFire: 100
\n\nPolice: 911 or 101
\n\nTo contact the emergency line (911) in Buenos Aires from outside Argentina call: +54 11 4309 9600, extensions 261099 or 261098
\n\nFor English-language safety tips or to file a police report online, go to the Buenos Aires Police website (only accessible in Argentina).
\n\nTourist Police (‘Comisaría del Turista’): +54 911 5050 9260 (24 hours)
\n\nTourist Police WhatsApp: +54 911 5050 9260
\n\nTourist Police (‘Comisaría del Turista’): +54 261 413 2135 (24 hours)
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO provides guidance on how to help yourself stay safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThe Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Argentina on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
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