As a general rule, foreign visitors do not need to do any immigration procedure and can enter Argentina with a valid passport. Citizens of the MERCOSUR and Associated States countries (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) only must present their national identity document. An entry visa is required only for citizens of a few countries in the Americas region: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominica and Dominican Republic. To consult an updated list of all the countries for which this procedure is required, visit this link at the National Migration Office website. The maximum stay for tourists and business visitors in Argentina is up to 90 days.
The climate in the capital of Argentina is temperate humid, with four well differentiated seasons and homogeneous precipitation throughout the year. In October, the month in which the Summit will be held, the average temperature is 17.8°C, ranging between 13°C and 23°C.
The official language in all Argentine territory is Spanish. However, English and Portuguese are spoken by most people in the tourist industry.
Sanitary conditions in the country are very good. There is no need for any vaccination certificate to enter the country, except for cholera and yellow fevers for travelers coming from countries in which those diseases are endemic. The water provided by public utilities is drinkable. Public hospitals (which are available for tourists) are open 24/7 for emergencies free of charge.
Argentina's national currency is the Argentine peso. Note that it has the same symbol ($) as the dollar (don't be confused - prices expressed using the $ symbol are in Argentine pesos unless stated otherwise). US dollars are usually referred to using the symbol: U$S. It is easy to exchange money in Buenos Aires at casas de cambio (bureaux de change/currency exchanges) and at most banks - note that you'll need to provide identification. Illegal money changers operating in the street, particularly in areas such as Calle Florida, may claim to offer a slightly better rate for dollars and euros than banks and casas de cambio, but for safety it is advised to change money at regulated institutions. For the same reason, we do not advise changing large amounts of money at one time. Credit cards most commonly accepted are American Express, VISA, Diners and MasterCard. Some restaurants, hotels and shops may accept cash payments in US dollars with a favourable exhange rate. It is always worth asking.
In case of purchasing national products for more than AR$ 70 (per invoice) at stores which are part of the "Global Refund" system you are entitled to VAT reimbursement ( value added tax), and the reimbursement is done at the International Ministro Pistarini Airport (Ezeiza). International visitors receive a direct and automatic reimbursement of the 21% value added tax (VAT) charged on accommodation in Argentina. VAT on hotel stays and other accommodation will automatically be refunded for international visitors who pay with a foreign credit card or via bank transfer from a foreign bank. The new VAT rule covers hotel stays and other forms of accommodations, and includes VAT imposed on breakfast services if they are part of the cost of lodging. Other hotel services are excluded and must be billed separately. The rebate system is available to visitors who can prove with a valid passport or identification card that they live abroad, and who pay for their accommodation with a non-Argentine credit card or via bank transfer from another country. The process is completed at the time of billing, with no need for any extra paperwork.
Buenos Aires is a safe city. However, like with any large metropolis, petty crime and theft does exist, and visitors should always take precautions, particularly in tourist hot spots and crowded places. We recommend keeping your belongings with you at all times, taking licensed taxis, and ensuring your bags or rucksacks are kept closed. Stick to well-lit streets in the evenings and keep bling to a minimum.
The stores are generally open from Monday through Friday from 9AM to 8 PM at the main cities and Saturdays from 9AM to 1 PM, even though stores in the main avenues are open during the afternoon. Shopping malls are open from 10AM to 10PM, including weekends and holidays. The majority of banks are open to the public from 10AM to 3PM. Money withdrawals and other transactions can be carried out at ATMs 24/7. In the case of offices, they are usually open between 9AM and 6PM, mostly with a one-hour lunch break (from 12AM to 1PM or from 1PM to 2PM).
The voltage across the Uruguayan territory is 220V with a frequency of 50 Hz. Plugs may have two circular metal pins (Australian-style) or two flat angled blades and one vertical grounding blade (European-style). If you want to use a device without power adapter you can easily get transformers at affordable prices.
The international country code for Argentina is 54 and the city code for Buenos Aires is 11. If you are calling Buenos Aires from outside the country, dial 0054 11 and then the telephone number, if it is a fixed line. For mobile phones, dial 0054 9 11. Telephone numbers in Buenos Aires contain 8 digits. Local calls don’t require a prefix, unless you are calling a mobile phone, in which case you should add the prefix 15 and then type the 8 digit number. For calls from Buenos Aires to elsewhere in Argentina, please dial 0, then the regional code and the telephone number. For international calls from Buenos Aires, please dial 00 before the international number. Prepaid telephone cards are available from many tobacconists and newsagents (‘kioscos’), or call-shops/cyber cafes (‘locutorios’). Locutorios can be found all over the city, and offer telephone booths and internet access. Local sim cards/chips for your mobile phone can be bought from mobile phone stores and from many newsstands. Buenos Aires has over 250 free wifi hotspots in the city, including on the subte and metrobus transport networks. The BA WiFi app allows users to locate hotspots from their smartphones. Many bars, cafes and restaurants also have free wifi for clients.
For most of the services received (specially restaurants and food services) it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the amount paid, which is not always included in the ticket. Also it is customary to tip doormen, porters and ushers.
It is recommended that you check visa requirements with your local Argentine Embassy or consulate before you travel. To see the list of foreign diplomatic representations in Argentina, visit this page in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship website.
