Money and duty free for Argentina
Currency and Money
Currency information
Argentine Peso (ARS; symbol AR$) = 100 centavos. Banknotes are in denominations of AR $20,000, 10,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10. Coins are in denominations of $10, 5, 2, and 1. Centavos 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 are still legal tender but have fallen into disuse due to their diminished purchasing power.
US dollars are widely accepted in hotels, tourist centres, and for large transactions. As both peso and dollar prices may sometimes be denoted with just "$", it's advisable to confirm the currency when in doubt.
Credit cards
Credit and debit cards are accepted in urban areas. In remote regions, it's prudent to carry sufficient cash.
ATM
ATMs (cajeros automáticos) are widely available in Argentina, particularly in cities, towns, and tourist areas. However, daily withdrawal limits are often low due to currency devaluation, with many ATMs limiting withdrawals to a few thousand pesos per transaction.
In addition, fees for international withdrawals can be high, usually over 10% per transaction, plus any fees from your home bank.
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 10:00-15:00.
Currency restrictions
Visitors to Argentina can import up to US$10,000 or its equivalent without declaring.
Exporting foreign currency for amounts higher than US $10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies is prohibited. Minors aged between 16 and 21 can exit Argentina with a maximum of US $2,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, and minors under 16 years old can exit Argentina with a maximum of US $1,000 or its equivalent in other currencies.
Argentina duty free
Overview
The AFIP page states that travellers (over 16) travelling to Argentina by air or sea can bring in:
• Personal items such as clothing, a phone, and a laptop or tablet without paying duties.
• Goods value up to US $500, plus an extra US $500 allowance for items purchased at duty-free shops upon arrival.
Travellers (over 16) arriving by land or river can bring personal items and goods with value up to US $300.
For travellers under 16 years old, the duty-free allowances are 50% of the amounts mentioned above.
Travellers should declare items that might not be considered part of normal luggage (such as expensive camera equipment or musical instruments) upon arrival and show the declaration on departure.
If the value of goods exceeds the duty-free allowances, a 50% duty is applied to the excess amount. Travellers are advised to check for the latest AFIP guidelines.
Banned Imports
Firearms (unless under licence from the National Arms Registry), explosives, flammables, narcotics, and goods considered a risk to health or safety. For further information regarding limits and restrictions, please visit AFIP website: http://www.afip.gob.ar/viajeros