Fresh Visa Info

[Mike51]

We're parked for a day in Iguazu Falls, and thought I'd pass on what our experience has been with the reciprocal visa charge issue coming down from the US. We've passed through all central and south american countries with a Pacific coast, plus Bolivia. In other words we did NOT visit Guyana, Suriname, Venezuala, Brazil (see below), Paraguay and Uruguay.

We each paid $135 for a five year visa in Bolivia. Contrary to what we had heard, we paid nothing to enter Chile, or Argentina (by land). We attempted (yesterday) to enter Brazil for the day to see the falls from that side -- upshot is that we were sent to the Brazilian consulate and learned that the cost would be 546 Pesos each, with no available break for a day trip -- same cost for a minute or a year. We decided the cost was too dear and declined.

Visa fee was either nothing or pocket change in all other countries. YMMV...
cheers!
Haciendolo…

[Mickey D]

Originally Posted by Mike51

We're parked for a day in Iguazu Falls, and thought I'd pass on what our experience has been with the reciprocal visa charge issue coming down from the US. We've passed through all central and south american countries with a Pacific coast, plus Bolivia. In other words we did NOT visit Guyana, Suriname, Venezuala, Brazil (see below), Paraguay and Uruguay.

We each paid $135 for a five year visa in Bolivia. Contrary to what we had heard, we paid nothing to enter Chile, or Argentina (by land). We attempted (yesterday) to enter Brazil for the day to see the falls from that side -- upshot is that we were sent to the Brazilian consulate and learned that the cost would be 546 Pesos each, with no available break for a day trip -- same cost for a minute or a year. We decided the cost was too dear and declined.

Visa fee was either nothing or pocket change in all other countries. YMMV...
cheers!
Haciendolo…

This is great current info Mike, thanks! BTW, how much is 546 pesos in USD?

Can you imagine the out cry from local businesses around that area if they knew Day Tripper Tourists were being charged this for just a Iguazu day trip? They'd have a fit!

Have you heard anything about transit visas? (visa transito) where you are given a limited time to transit the country? Safe travels!

[markharf]

It's a hundred thirty five, more or less--same as charged to Brazilians for American visas. Multiple entry, five year duration, must be used initially within a certain amount of time (which I'm far to lazy to check). It's not a bad deal, all considered; Brazil's huge, with lots to see.

Everyone knows how this works; it's not a secret. There are no transit visas. There are no exceptions. It's the same in Bolivia, and some day it might be the same at land borders for Chile and Argentina (at the moment it only applies at international airports).

No one's forcing anyone to go to Brazil, Bolivia, or anyplace else. It's not the end of the world. Deal with it.

Mark

(from Pocone, on the northern edge of the Pantanal)

Edit to add: oh, and the fee for Paraguay is US$65

[Zigeuner53]

just went over from Chile
no problem, no charges
I flew into Chile and they didn't charge me either...maybe i was lucky.

Zig

[TravellingStrom]

I think it is dependant on Nationality, I never had to pay to get into Bolivia, yet some Americans with me did.

The Argentines will charge Aussies coming into the BA airport(nowhere else just yet), but will not charge Americans

Back home and bored
(non) TravellingStrom

[markharf]

Yeh, we're talking 'Mercans here. Other nationalities work differently. The Argentina rule is a new one, and they plan to expand it to land borders, but who knows when that might happen? Americans are definitely one of the primary targets. The Chile fee might have been suspended following the earthquake--seems to me I read something about this happening, but I might have been dreaming.

In any case, this is the way the world works. Visas are sometimes free, sometimes expensive, often arbitrarily enforced or used as political tools. And the Brazilian shopkeepers in Foz do Iguacu are far more aware of such things than anyone sitting at home in the States.

Welcome home, Richard! I'll be joining you in the Borderless State of Boredom in another four months.

Mark

[marker]

did you trý to get to the Falls on the brazilian side ?
When you cross the border from Arg into Brazil you have to stop and search for the immigration (and customs)yourself to get the passport stamped. For a 1 day Falls visit this is not necessary and you can just continue towards the Falls (i.e. do not have to stop and get off the bike).
When returning to Argentina the same, you just pass by the customs and immigration offices of Brazil and continue towards Argentina (where you do have to and will be stopped). Well at least that is my experience and has been over the years and quite a few times I crossed the border there.

[oneworldbiker]

Before everbody runs away with visa issue in central and south America.. The visa cost is due to America and many other countries charging South and Central Americans for a visa in their country.. As a UK citizen it cost us nothing to enter any south or central american country as we do not charge them to visit the uk/europe as a tourist... the visa cost is the same as your home country.... Its a political thing.. UK citizens may be banned from entering Argetina soon if the current political situation over the Falklands is not resolved.... Another political argument over oil rights...

think we pay for visas for parague.. (sorry cant spell).

think i may have gone or rambled on a bit.....

Have gone to many countries where American citizens have a waiver/ no charge for visas and as a UK citizen had to pay for visa to enter country...


Where there are swings you will always find a roundabout.. as the saying goes.......

[Mr Steam Turbine]

I flew into Ezazia International Airport in Buenos Aires from Miami in January and they were charging all Americans the $135 Entrance Fee. It's good for 10 years and it's what the US charges Argentinians to enter the U.S. so it sounds fair to me...