Customs Regulations in Argentina

Document- and Good-Standards*

Documents Required

• Original passport with Manifiesta Esperar Equipaje No Acompanado (note stating that the owner of the goods is expecting a household goods shipment), stamped by Customs
• Bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Original national identity document (DNI) or original Residencia Precaria (if DNI is unavailable)
• Permanent resident visa, if applicable
• Full contact details (phone, e-mail, and address of delivery)
• Migration certificate (must indicate the entries and departures of the owner of the goods for the previous 2 years – sea / truck shipments only)
• Caution policy issued by a local insurance company for air shipments (foreigners holding a temporary visa)
• Clave Unica de Identification Laboral (CUIL) certificate / Clave Unica de Identificacion Tributaria (CUIT) certificate (Argentine and foreign citizens with a permanent visa)
• Customs guarantee
• Diplomatic franchise from the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomats and military personnel)
• Residence certificate
• Temporary permit

Specific Information

• Owners of the goods must declare to Customs officers upon entry that a shipment is expected, and a note must be provided in the passport (diplomats are excluded from this requirement).
• Diplomats must present a full copy of the passport stamped by the diplomatic organization or the official foreign organization where the owner of the goods is employed.
• The origin of the move is the last place of residence of the owner of the goods.
• If the owner of the goods’ passport was issued within 12 months, a previous passport must be presented; for citizenship in multiple countries, all passports must be presented.
• Shipments must arrive within 6 months of the owner of the goods’ stamped date of entry.
• Owners of the goods should be available upon request for attendance at Customs clearance.
• All shipments are subject to physical inspection.
• Documents must be received by the agent at least 48 hours prior to the arrival of the shipment.
• The residence certificate must be issued by the Argentine Consulate in the origin country and state the time lived abroad; if the owner of the goods has lived in multiple countries during the previous 2 years, certificates are required from each country.
• The diplomatic franchise must be obtained by the diplomatic organization or the official foreign organization where the owner of the goods is officially employed.
• If the owner of the goods has lived abroad for more than 12 months and has not re-entered Argentina for more than 60 cumulative days during the 12 months prior to re-entry, the shipment can be imported duty free.
  • The owner of the goods can import only one shipment duty free every 3 years (Argentine and foreign citizens with a permanent visa).
• If the owner of the goods has been living abroad for more than 2 years, the shipment can be imported duty free.
  • Customs will not consider how many days the customer has accumulated in Argentina during the 12 months prior to re-entry.
  • The owner of the goods can import only one shipment duty free every 7 years (Argentine and foreign citizens with a permanent visa).
• Shipments of foreigners holding a tourist visa cannot be imported.
• All documents written in Spanish must be translated by an official translator and certified by the Colegio Argentino de Traductores.
• All documents must be certified and legalized by the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Foreigners with a temporary resident visa must pay taxes and duties for the importation of household goods and personal effects of approximately 50% of the freight on board (FOB) value or bring them into the country under temporary admission, as follows:
  • The items must be guaranteed (bonded) for the duration of the visa or a period determined by Customs when the shipment is released;
    • The bond must be renewed before the expiration date.
  • The goods can be guaranteed by a local insurance company through a Poliza de Caucion or, if the owner of the goods’ employer is registered as an import / export agent in Argentina, through the signature of a person authorized (most commonly performed).
  • If at the expiration date of the guarantee the visa has not be renewed, the goods must be re-exported before the expiration date of the guarantee and the visa.
  • If a permanent residence visa has been obtained, the goods must be nationalized, and the guarantee will be cancelled without paying taxes or duties.
  • The bond system is applicable for all moves arriving by sea, land, or air.

Motorized Vehicles*

Documents Required

• Owner of the goods’ original passport
• OBL / CRT / AWB (2 copies)
• Vehicle title / documentation (foreigners holding a temporary visa)
• Original purchase invoice, certified by the Argentine Consulate at origin country
• Diplomatic franchise (diplomats and military personnel)
• Temporary admission forms, completed and signed by owner of the goods (foreigners holding temporary visa)
• Resident certificate (issued by the Argentine Consulate in the origin country)

Specific Information

• The vehicle title must be under the owner of the goods’ name for at least 3 months prior to departure from the origin country.
• Vehicles must arrive within 6 months of owner of the goods’ entry date.
• Vehicles must be registered / titles under the owner of the goods’ name.
• The importation of new vehicles is subject to the Ministry of Commerce regulations and is limited to certain types of vehicles.
• New vehicles may not be imported.
• Diplomats can import used or new cars with a diplomatic franchise issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs duty free.
  • The owner of the goods should confirm that diplomatic status will allow the procedure.
• Returning Argentine citizens may import used vehicles only (one car and one motorcycle for each adult member of the family).
  • The importation will be dutiable, except in very specific cases.
• Foreigners with permanent resident status may import used vehicles only, under the same rules that apply to returning Argentine citizens.
• Foreigners with a temporary visa may import used vehicles under temporary admission and will not be charged duties and taxes.
  • Vehicles are only allowed temporary admission for the duration of the visa and can be renewed upon renewal of the visa.
  • Vehicles must be removed from Argentina prior to the expiration of the visa.
• Vehicles must retain original plates.
• Argentine citizens possessing a residence certificate, issued by the Argentine Consulate from the origin country, and living abroad for more than 2 years can import one car duty free unless the car is valued at more than USD $15,000, then duties and taxes will be assessed on it.
• The duties and taxes are as follows:
  • Standard autos 81% of the cost, insurance, and freight value (CIF)
  • Diesel 100%   CIF
  • Motorcycles 110%   CIF
• The residence certificate must state the duration the owner of the goods has lived abroad (Argentine citizens with permanent residence visa).

Pets

Documents Required

• Veterinary health certificate
• Vaccination record

Specific Information

• The veterinary health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival and stamped by the nearest Argentine Consulate, if possible.
• All documents must accompany animal for entry.
• Dogs and cats arriving from Asia (except Japan) and Africa must obtain a special import permit prior to arrival.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Archeological or paleontological patrimony (fossils, human, remains, collections and sediment geological, etc.)
  • Once admitted to the country, its export will not be permitted
• Works of art and monuments of recent antiquity (authorization is required)
• Wood or items must be treated specifically for pests
• Weapons (must be declared and authorized by the Registro Nacional de Armas (RENAR)
• Alcoholic beverages (30 liters)
• Items considered commercial (determined through quantity, quality or type)
• Original paintings and works of art (specialized form is required; check with agent)

Prohibited Items

• Items compromising public, animal, and agricultural health
• Organic products (soil, firewood, wood, animal parts, dried insects, etc.)
• Narcotics or illegal drugs
• Pornographic material of any kind
• Dangerous, toxic or flammable items
• Stolen or smuggled items
• Currency (actual or counterfeit)
• Food
• Spare parts or parts of any vehicle
• Items which contain an internal – combustion or outboard engines
• Items that are not considered as part of a move for Argentine Customs

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements for the customs regulations in Argentina have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.