Visiting Argentina with a cruising yacht does require a substantial amount of paperwork, numerous checks and daily position reporting. Customs rules and laws for visiting yachts (both private and commercial) do tend to change with each government, however in 2019 cruisers reported that as long as the rules are followed, procedures are in the main straightforward.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
General Process:
Yachts arriving from overseas must clear with the following authorities:
- Health Control (not in all ports)
This does not appear to be necessary in all ports. For example, arriving in Buenos Aires from Uruguay does not require clearance with Health. However, arriving in Mar de Plata from Uruguay (or another foreign port) does. Health officials also visit yachts leaving the country from Mar del Plata. There is a charge for this service. If arriving from another Argentinian port, these checks are not required.
- Harbour Authority/Yacht Club/Marina
At the Marina or first Prefectura office you visit, make sure that you receive the Raoul (roll). It sometimes takes some persuasion, but without this, you will not be checked into the country by Immigration. The Raoul is a form filled out with all the yachts particulars (mostly taken from the ship’s papers) and the passport particulars of the captain and crew.
The Raoul can be downloaded, printed off and filled in at this link.
You will need to fill it in approx. five times on arrival. Get used to this form as at each subsequent port in Argentina, you must fill in the same form again (often three times).
A good idea (to save you time) is to fill in an extra form on arrival, leaving those fields clear that change (e.g. previous port and next port), then copy it 40 times. You can then just fill in the blanks at each port before having it stamped.
- Immigration
Immigration will stamp the passports and the forms from the yacht club/marina.
- Port Captain (Prefectura Naval Argentina)
You will need to visit the closest Prefectura office to where you are moored. The Prefectura must stamp the forms first before going to Customs. If they refuse to, be persistent and insist they call Customs to confer (to save you a return trip).
- Customs
They should give you a customs document which allows you to stay the same amount of time as your visa (in most cases 90 days).
Domestic Cruising:
Cruising in Argentina involves giving your position every day and in each stopover visiting the Prefectura upon arrival and departure and filling in more forms (as outlined above).
Every boat must check in on a daily basis with the Prefectura by a pre-agreed method (E-mail, satellite phone, SSB or VHF frequency) while sailing between Argentine ports. Get a written contact sheet and log your attempts to call to avoid possible fines on arrival at your destination. If heavy weather is forecast, you may even get weather information sent back from the Prefectura. Further details under Restrictions below.
CLEARING OUT
International Clearance:
On departure from the country, skippers must visit the Prefectura once again to complete more paperwork. They will want to come to the boat the morning of departure and do a safety inspection (life-raft (service date), life jackets (certificates, dates), flares (dates), lights, bilge pumps, etc.). A useful translation of the safety check list to English and Dutch by Sailors for Sustainability can be found at: http://j.mp/SfSArgEqReq.
Cruising between Argentina and the Falklands (Las Malvinas)
Argentina’s new conservative government continue to press the country’s claims to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands. They have also always claimed a section of the Antarctica Peninsula as part of their territorial waters.
Whilst the procedure to apply to sail in these waters does involve some form filling, it has eased in recent years and latest reports (from a British yacht) is that permission was granted by e-mail within a week of sending the completed form.
This permit is needed by ships and all sailing vessels using Argentine waters en-route to the Falklands, South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands – all UK controlled. This is being aggressively policed and large fines are made for those making unscheduled stops, even in an emergency. For example, two private yachts in the last 2 months of 2010 were fined $6000 US for visiting the Falklands without Argentine permission. In both cases Force Majeure was claimed (engine problems/weather), however, this was not considered an issue when being assessed for the fines.
Applying for “Permiso”
You do not have to be in Argentinian waters to apply for permission. First, complete the application form which can be downloaded here. Then send the form to all three e-mail addresses below:
kstm@prefecturanaval.gov.ar
info@prefecturanaval.gov.ar
infodiop@prefecturanaval.gov.ar
A response should be returned within approximately 7 days.
A useful report with feedback from cruisers who have applied for “permiso” can be found here.
Useful numbers
Argentine Consulate: +44 (0)20 7318 1340
Embassy of the Argentine Republic: +44 (0)20 7318 1300