Rules for overlanding in Argentina

To drive in Argentina temporarily you need an International Driving Permit carried together with a valid Italian licence — check what applies to the licence you hold. The permit is good for one year, and never beyond the expiry of the licence behind it; converting a licence is only possible for foreigners resident in the country.

A vehicle can be imported temporarily for eight months, renewable for another eight. It is done with a sworn statement ("Declaración Jurada de Admisión Temporal de Vehículos de Turistas"), a "Libreta de pasos por aduana" or an FIA carnet de passages en douane.

Carry a letter of authority from the owner, written in Spanish with the signature notarised.

Temporary policies can be taken out with a local company or through the Automóvil Club Argentino.

The blood alcohol limit is 0.5, tightened to 0.2 for motorcyclists and zero for professional drivers.

Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. Seatbelts are compulsory front and rear, and a child under 10 cannot sit in the front.

All motor vehicles must run with headlights on, by day as well as by night. On rural roads and motorways, use high beams after dark.

Private cars, minibuses, buses and trucks must carry a fire extinguisher, two warning triangles and a first-aid kit.

Most motorways are toll roads. Tolls are paid in cash or with prepaid cards.

An emergency decree of 28 May 2025 requires every foreigner entering Argentina to sign a sworn statement giving the reason for the trip and confirming they hold insurance covering their medical needs. The implementing rules have not been approved, so in practice the statement is not being asked for yet, but the ministry strongly advises arriving insured in case it starts being enforced.

No visa is needed for tourist stays of under 90 days, extendable by up to 90 more at a local immigration office if the passport has enough validity left. There is no stated limit on the number of entries, but each one is assessed by the migration authority, which can turn you back if the stated purpose does not convince it.

You can bring in or take out less than USD 10,000 or the equivalent freely; above that, entry requires a special customs declaration (form OM 2249) and taking the money out has to go through a bank transfer. The ceiling is USD 5,000 for under-16s, and cash machines that accept foreign cards are widespread in the larger cities.

Foreigners and Argentines are treated the same. Trafficking and dealing carry sentences of more than three years, while personal consumption is not punished.

A foreign-registered vehicle can be admitted into Argentina temporarily for tourism for up to 8 months, extendable if the national immigration authority (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones) grants the traveller a further stay. Entry requires the vehicle's ownership title, or a power of attorney if you are not the owner, plus a driving licence valid in Argentina. (AFIP — Ingreso de vehículos de viajeros residentes en otros países)

Argentina's customs authority requires two civil-liability insurance certificates for a temporarily imported vehicle: one covering injury to third parties and one covering damage to property and objects not carried in the vehicle, both with cover valid in Argentina. (AFIP — Ingreso de vehículos de viajeros residentes en otros países)

Drones flown within visual line of sight (Open category) don't need prior flight authorisation, but operators must file a sworn declaration with ANAC's National Aircraft Registry. Maximum height is 122 metres, dropping to 43 metres within 5 km of a runway threshold without prior authorisation. (ANAC — Nuevo marco normativo para la operación de drones)

In Argentina's national parks, recreational vehicles (motorhomes, camper vans, mini-campers, roof-tent vehicles) may not be driven off the roads authorised for public use by that vehicle category. (Administración de Parques Nacionales — Reglamento para vehículos recreativos (Resolución 631/2022))

Camping, parking or staying overnight anywhere not authorised for recreational vehicles is prohibited inside Argentina's national parks. Unserviced free camping areas cap the stay at 5 consecutive days and serviced campgrounds at 30 consecutive days; park staff can shorten the 5-day limit depending on the vehicle's wastewater tank capacity. (Administración de Parques Nacionales — Reglamento para vehículos recreativos (Resolución 631/2022))

Argentina's national communications regulator (ENACOM) announced on 26 February 2024 that it had authorised the arrival of OneWeb, Starlink and Amazon Kuiper to provide internet access through satellite technology. (ENACOM — ENACOM autoriza la llegada de empresas de Internet Satelital)