How to Apply for an Argentina Visa for Filipino Tourists or Visitors

by Visa Guides & Immigration, Argentina20 comments

UPDATE AS OF FEBRUARY 2019: Do you hold a non-immigrant B2 United States visa? If yes, you can now easily apply for an Argentina Visa online via their AVE (Autorizacion Electronica de Viajes) system. To do this, just go to the National Directorate for Migration (Direccion Nacional de Migraciones; migraciones.gov.ar) website, select ‘AVE’, register, and then follow the next instructions and prompts (visa fee of $50, payable online).
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If you don’t hold a US visa, you will have to do the standard process stated below.

If you’ve been following my updates lately, you would know by now that I am soon going on my biggest adventure (yet): a trip to Antarctica! Of course, no single country or government owns Antarctica so visitors do not necessarily need visas to go there — however, if you’re sailing to this ‘White Continent’, most ships would depart from ports such as Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands, New Zealand, and South Africa.

In my case, I’ll be sailing on an expedition with Hurtigruten that’s starting from Argentina, and as a Philippine passport holder, I needed an Argentina visa.

Now… I gotta be frank: getting an Argentina visa has been the most difficult and most expensive tourist visa that I’ve ever applied for and paid for (so far). But despite that fact, the process can be fast and hassle-free given the right preparation and know-how; so with my experience and knowledge, I hope this guide will help you get that visa ASAP should Argentina be in your upcoming travel plans!

But first, a disclaimer:

NO ONE can give you a guarantee on your Argentinian visa’s approval: not even a lawyer, a consultant, a travel agent, or an embassy employee. Anyone who says otherwise is most likely going to be a scammer. That being said, what I can offer you here is a comprehensive guide with helpful tips to increase your chances of getting that Argentina tourist visa.

Application Process for Argentina Visa

Step 1: Determine the type of Argentina visa that you need to apply for

There are, of course, various types of Argentina visas out there that you can apply for: a visa for studying, a visa for business, a visa for being an Argentinian’s fiancé, etc.

For this particular guide though, I will only be discussing the requirements for a tourist visa since it’s an experience that I’ve gone through myself.

If, however, you have a different situation or purpose of visit, it’s best that you contact the Argentina embassy for more information and for the complete requirements via this email: [email protected]

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Step 2: Prepare the required documents for your application

Depending on your circumstance, click the symbol ‘+‘ below to view the corresponding requirements for each section. Make sure that you have authentic, original, and complete documents at all times!

(Section A) Argentina Tourist Visa WITHOUT Any Guarantor/Sponsor

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(Section B) Argentina Tourist Visa WITH a Guarantor/Sponsor

NOTE: Additional requirements may be needed as deemed necessary by the Consulate of the Embassy of Argentina – Manila.

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Step 3: Set your appointment for processing your Argentina Visa application

To schedule your application at the Embassy of Argentina, simply send them a request via email at [email protected] (please take note that visa applications are only done Mondays to Wednesdays, from 9:00AM to 12PM).

Once they reply to you and confirm your schedule, take note of their consular section’s details are as follows:

Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Manila – Consular Section
8th Floor, Liberty Center, 104 H.V. de la Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Tel: 845.3218/3219/3238 Fax: 845.3220
E-mail: [email protected]
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Filing Hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Monday- Friday)
Visa Release Hours: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Monday – Friday)

Once you reach the 8th floor, the entrance of the Embassy has a doorbell button on the left side — just push this and when you hear a beep, it means that you can proceed to open the door. Head directly to the counter and express your purpose. The officer will scrutinize your documents and ensure that everything is complete and in order.

If they deem your documents to be enough, they will give you a deposit slip indicating the visa fee that you will have to pay. As of October 2017, the fee is $150 (or Php 7,600~). For payment, you just need to head to the BPI branch in Leviste street which is just a few blocks away from the Embassy — afterward, you need to go back to the Embassy to provide the proof of payment/deposit.

NOTE: Be reminded that this visa fee payment is non-refundable and it does NOT guarantee the approval of your Argentina visa.

The officer will then advise you that they will call or email you within 10 days about the schedule of your interview.

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Step 4: Attend your interview appointment

They told me to wait for 10 days for a notification as to when I’ll be scheduled for an interview — however, they e-mailed me 2 days after and scheduled my interview for the next day.

Don’t forget to bring your passport for the interview (and any other documents that can help support your application). After submitting your passport at the counter, you will have to wait a bit until your name is called… I was scheduled for a 10AM interview but they only started the interviews at around 11AM, so it’s best that you bring something to entertain yourself with (you’re asked not to use your cellphone inside so maybe bring a book or a Kindle).

Now for the actual interview itself, mine only took about a minute, and I think it’s mostly because I wasn’t really staying in Argentina as much given that the main purpose of my trip was to Antarctica. The interviewer was the Ambassador himself and he was quite friendly — we spent a bit of time talking about Antarctica, as well Argentina itself!

Once we were done talking, the Ambassador said that I got the visa, and then the officer assisting him told me to get a claim stub at the counter which will show the date when I can claim my passport with visa.

If you’re curious about the possible interview questions that they will ask you, naturally, it will vary depending on your situation and background. Nevertheless, I can assure you that there won’t be any tricky questions! This is NOT a quiz but just a simple background check.
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Besides, I even had the chance to hear some of the other interviews (since the walls were thin haha) so to give you an idea, it will typically cover the following aspects:
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Your background: proof of strong ties with the Philippines, your job, your financial capacity, etc.
Details & purpose of your trip: where are you going to, why you’re going, how long, where you’re staying, if you have relatives/family in Argentina, if you prepared your itinerary, etc.
Your relationship with your sponsor: only if you’re applying with a guarantor/sponsor
Your travel history
Etc.
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Again: there really are no difficult questions since they only want to know more about you and your trip. So just be honest and concise.

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Step 4: Claim your Argentina visa

My claim stub indicated that my passport with Argentina visa will be ready after 1 working day, so I just headed back to the Embassy on the date mentioned. You bet that I was relieved when I finally saw the visa with my very own eyes!

When your Argentina visa is not granted, I’m NOT sure if the Embassy will give you reasons for the denial, nor do I know if they will let you appeal (since it’s an experience I haven’t [thankfully] gone through).
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That being said, I have a feeling that since the Embassy is so meticulous with the requirements, their acceptance of your application at Step #3 above might most likely mean that you already have a strong chance of getting your visa approved (but don’t take my word for it — all in all, I wish you the best of luck!)

• • •

Booking Essentials

Book an AirBnB
Booking.com

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck the prices with other popular travel insurance providers like World Nomads and HeyMondo (as my reader, you get 5% off)!
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However, take note a travel insurance’s affordability typically means lesser coverage; so please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which travel insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!

Looking for more travel tips in Argentina?

Check out my other detailed Argentina travel guides!

• • •

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

When is the earliest time that I can apply for an Argentina visa?

You can apply as early as three (3) months or 90 days before your planned trip date departure. Anyhow, the Embassy advises that you must apply at least 30 days before your intended date of departure from the Philippines.

How long is the duration of a tourist Argentina visa?

All tourist visa holders are permitted to stay in Argentina for a maximum period of 3 months or 90 days. If there’s a need to stay longer than 90 days, an extension can be requested from the National Immigration Office prior to the expiration of the period originally granted.

How much money should I show in my bank account?

The Argentina Embassy did NOT mention any minimum balance requirement, but after a bit of research, I found out that you must at least have $100 (Php 5,000~) per day of your stay — you can use this as a standard but of course, it’s always best if you have more.

How long does the Argentina visa process take?

The tourist visa application has a turn-around time of about ten (10) working days, however, due to the volume of applicants as well as due to your circumstance, it could be longer or shorter than the aforementioned. In my case, it took about only 5 days in total to process.

How can I follow up on my application?

If you haven’t heard back from the Embassy in 10 days, feel free to call or email them to follow up.

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Though the Embassy officers might give you a hard time on your Argentina visa application, always remember that they just mean well. In fact, with their help and this guide’s help, you’ll surely increase your chances of getting that coveted approval!

All in all, I hope that the tips and info that I’ve shared here will help guide you.

Good luck!

• • •

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At 21, I quit my corporate job in the Philippines to pursue my dreams. Today, I am a successful digital nomad (online entrepreneur, travel writer, & vlogger) living a sustainable travel lifestyle.

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20 Comments

  1. Gordon Alan Joseph

    Hello Aileen and thank you for the Argentina Tourist Visa Info! A question please: AT the beginning of this page you say that you can apply for a visa online. But further on you say that you applied at the Embassy. Would appreciate a clarification! I am headed to Argentina in December this year. Many thanks!!

    Reply
    • Aileen Adalid

      Hey there! Yes, because when I applied (at an earlier year before the new update) applying in person was required no matter if I already had a US tourist visa. But now, ONLY if you have a US tourist visa, can you simply apply online. If you don’t, you still need to go to the embassy to submit your application. Hope that’s clear :)

      Reply

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