URGENT: EZE Entry Requirements Re: Age
 

Hello fellow FTers,

I will be traveling to EZE alone this week for pleasure. I am 20 years old. Something compelled me to visit the State Department's website about the country, and now I'm a little concerned. The State Dept website mentioned that anyone residing in Argentina, regardless of nationality, must have a notarized letter from their parents giving him or her permission to leave the country. I assumed this applied to residents of Argentina, which wouldn't apply to me since I would have a tourist stay and a US Passport.

But then I found the website of some language learning school that says:
In Argentina, people over 21 years old are considered of legal age, therefore, any person less than 21 years of age wanting to enter the country alone or with a person that is not a legal guardian must present a written authorization signed by their mother, father, or guardian endorsed by the Argentine consul in the place of origin. The document can be included in the minor’s passport.

Can anyone with prior experience comment on the likelihood of being denied entry into Argentina for being just a little shy of 21?

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

You will not have issues entering the country. As I understand it if you are not an Argentine citizen nor a child of an Argentine parent, you should be fine.

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

Now that Ive re read your post I suggest you call the nearest Argentine consulate and reconfirm this.

In some of South America your age is based on your nearest birthday, not your most recent past one. I don't know if Argentina follows this practice, but if it does, and you were born at least 20 years and 6 months ago, you'd be considered 21 years old and therefore OK.

(I seem to recall a flap at a world beauty pageant over this several years ago. It had a minimum age of 18, with the concept of "18" not further defined in the rules. One of the South American contestants was 17 years and 6+ months. She was considered 18 in her home country, but not by the world organizing body. I don't recall how it ended.)

I phoned the consulate in New York and was told "no problem, no problem" by the woman who answered the phone. I have also found more detail -- in both languages -- on the official embassy websites. I will print everything in the event that I get a hard time. Looks like this applies only to residents/citizens of Argentina. Thanks for the replies.

I have never read about such a rule at all. I myself am 19 years old and planning to go to Bs. As. next year, when I will be 20,75 years old, and after researching my plans never came across such a rule about entry.

You are unlikely to have a problem. Of the 18-21 year old US and UK nationals I know to have flown to Argentina by themselves, none had problems with immigration on arrival or departure.