Overstaying your Tourist Visa in Argentina

Many people overstay their Tourist Visa in Argentina and pay a flat-rate fine of 50 pesos when leaving.

It's Cheaper

• Cost of a round-trip ferry ride from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay (every 90 days): about 100 pesos
• Cost of a round-trip bus ride from Mendoza to Santiago, Chile (every 90 days): about 120 pesos
• Cost of Visa renewal at the Office of Immigration (every 90 days): 100 pesos

Once you are illegal, the charge to leave Argentina, regardless of how long you overstayed, is only 50 pesos. In my case, it was over two years illegal.

You pay the fine in cash at the border and will get a receipt. The attitude of the official who took the fine reveals that it's a very common occurrence.

It's Fairly Safe

• In three years in Argentina, no police officer ever asked to see my passport.
• One airport worker seemed annoyed that my Visa was expired, but didn't know what to do, and let me board the airplane anyway (for a domestic flight).
• A worker at the Immigration Office once told me, "It's OK to travel within Argentina with an expired Visa. Argentina is a very generous country." (If anyone ever questions your lack of Visa, tell them that the Immigration Office told YOU the same thing.)

But of course, your experience may vary!

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