• Is a curfew in place? No.
  • While there is no curfew in place, national social distancing and quarantine orders are in effect.
  • The Government of Argentina has announced the extension of quarantine and social distancing measures. The following areas will remain in quarantine (“aislamiento social”) through at least December 20: the metropolitan areas of Bariloche and Dina Huapi in Río Negro Province; and the department of Puerto Deseado in Santa Cruz Province.  Per the latest order, most of the rest of the country (including the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area) remains in mandatory social distancing. Even in those areas under mandatory social distancing, strict limits on travel, gatherings, and other activities apply. Argentine authorities may extend this period. For more information, visit this page (in Spanish). You can read the text of the latest Presidential order here.
  • Plan to limit your movements in accordance with the latest guidelines, whether in an area under “quarantine” or “mandatory social distancing.”
  • Limited exemptions include movement to obtain food and medical care and travel to the international airport for ticketed passengers only. Additional information about movement exemptions can be found here  (In Spanish).
  • Masks or other face coverings are mandatory nationwide in public spaces, including public transportation and passenger vehicles.
• Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Yes.
  • Travel between cities, departments, and provinces is restricted. Additional information about movement exemptions can be found here  (In Spanish). Individual provinces may require additional local permits to enter or transit.
• The U.S. Embassy has restricted all non-critical official travel within Argentina for Embassy personnel. Personal travel for Embassy personnel within Argentina outside the normal home and work areas is highly discouraged.

Quarantine Information:

• Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.
  • All international travelers must arrive in Argentina with a negative PCR test administered no more than 72 hours before arrival. It is expected that travelers will need to provide test results to the airline before boarding at the point of departure.  Any Argentine citizen or foreign resident who arrives via a land border and chooses not to present a negative PCR test administered no more than 72 hours before arrival will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone who does not follow the mandatory quarantine and the health measures may be subject to criminal penalties.  If specifically directed by Argentine authorities to remain in place, you must comply.
  • In addition, provincial authorities introduce additional quarantine measures and travel restrictions with little prior notice. Please check the website of your province’s Ministry of Health for more details.

COVID-19 Testing:

• While Argentine government authorities may only test symptomatic patients, U.S. citizens may obtain COVID-19 tests at many private labs (diagnósticos/laboratorios). Appointments are generally required, and U.S. citizens must pay for the cost of their own test. The following is a non-exhaustive list of labs providing testing in the Buenos Aires area:
  • Diagnostico Rossi
  • Laboratorio Hidalgo
  • Diagnostico Maipu
  • IADT (Instituto Argentino de Diagnostico y Tratamiento)

Transportation Options:

• Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
  • Limited regular commercial flights to, from, and within Argentina are resuming operations.
  • Although commercial aviation is resuming, strict documentary requirements for all passengers apply. Contact your air carrier and provincial authorities for more information on documentary requirements at your point of origin.  Entry restrictions to Argentina remain in place, and most non-resident foreigners are still not permitted to enter Argentina
  • Domestic flights are restricted to essential workers as outlined in the national quarantine order as well as those seeking medical treatment. The Government of Argentina has also indicated that U.S. citizens may use these flights to connect with confirmed international departure opportunities from Buenos Aires. All passengers must have a valid Certificado Único de Circulación to travel and should consult with their air carrier and local officials regarding travel eligibility and additional requirements.
  • U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents seeking to connect to a confirmed international departure opportunity from Buenos Aires can also continue to avail themselves of private ground transportation options.  A list of private transfer “remis” companies still in operation is below in the “Travel to Buenos Aires and/or Ministro Pistarini International Airport” section.
  • Only limited commercial international flight options exist in Argentina.
• Is public transportation operating? Yes.
  • Limited public transportation within cities with strict limitations is operating.   In the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, only essential workers with a circulation permit may board public transportation. These regulations are likely to remain in place for the duration of the quarantine order. Travelers should expect further travel disruptions with little notice.
  • Long-haul intercity transportation options are restricted to essential workers as outlined in the national quarantine order as well as those seeking medical treatment.  The Government of Argentina has also indicated that U.S. citizens may use these transportation options to connect with confirmed international departure opportunities from Buenos Aires.  All passengers are required to have a valid Certificado Único de Circulación to travel and should consult transportation provider and local officials regarding travel eligibility and additional requirements.
• U.S. Citizens intending to depart Argentina should carefully review and understand the documentary requirements in the “Departing Argentina” and “Travel to Buenos Aires” sections of this page (below) before planning their travel.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

• Failure to adhere to quarantine, social distancing, movement restrictions, and other health guidance may result in fines and/or criminal penalties, up to and including arrest and jail time.

Consular Operations:

• U.S. Citizen Services: The Embassy continues to offer limited emergency passport and citizenship appointments for U.S. citizens with confirmed, imminent, emergency travel plans. Limited regular passport and citizenship appointments are periodically added; U.S. citizens may monitor the appointment system on our website.
• Visas: The United States Embassy in Argentina remains unable to resume routine visa services at this time.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date. In the meantime, the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) has been extended until December 31, 2021, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment with the already paid fee. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided under the “Expedited Appointments” tab here to request an emergency appointment.  Please don’t submit an Expedited Appointment Request more than 20 days before your intended travel date.

Departing Argentina:

Only limited commercial international flight options exist in Argentina.

Argentine immigration authorities require that all travelers entering or exiting Argentina submit an electronic sworn statement within 48 hours of their travel. The form is available here. Travelers may be required to present the confirmation e-mail they receive from this system in order to check-in for their flight.

Several commercial carriers, including American, United, and Aerolíneas Argentinas, show available direct flights to the United States.  Prospective passengers should monitor airline websites, as some flights may sell out quickly and all flights are subject to change. Passengers electing to book a flight with a stopover in another country should verify with their air carrier and that country’s immigration authorities their ability to transit at their stopover point. For booking questions and documentary requirements, contact your air carrier.

Passengers may be subject to CDC screening, health observation, and monitoring requirements upon reentry to the United States. For additional information, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Information for Travel page. In addition, travelers should check with the state and/or local health departments at their final destination in the United States regarding health measures and quarantine requirements.