The National Immigration Directorate (DNM) will implement a new provision starting November 1st, according to Provision No. 784/2024, which regulates the collection of a "Service Retribution Fee" for passengers leaving the country on vessels heading to international ports. This regulation aims to optimize the mechanisms of immigration control in ports and strengthen incoming tourism.
According to the new provision, each passenger must pay the Service Retribution Fee only once when making their first departure from national territory on vessels with itineraries that include stops at ports in Argentina. This fee is intended to cover the services that the Directorate provides to passengers and carriers at the time of leaving the country.
To facilitate the control and registration process, agencies and operators of cruises and cargo vessels must submit an "annual plan of arrivals and departures" or itinerary to the Maritime-Fluvial Control Directorate of the DNM. This requirement is established to monitor passengers entering and/or leaving the National Territory by maritime means and who are subject to the tax.
The DNM has specified that the amount to be paid by each passenger corresponds to the updated unified rate as of July 2024 under Decree No. 584, which ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the type of service and port of departure.
The new provision introduces significant changes in the control of international vessels, replacing the previous regulation from 2016. The implementation of this measure is expected to streamline the control of international passengers and ensure that procedures are effective and aligned with the operational reality of the country’s ports.
