Argentina postpones again quarantine exemption for those traveling abroad for work purposes

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Argentine government has decided to postpone for the second consecutive time the entry into force of a measure to make its migration policy more flexible, which meant that those citizens or residents who travel abroad for work purposes and are vaccinated against Covid-19 were exempted from quarantine upon their arrival in the country.

The news was announced on the same day that such exemption came into force, and many have criticized what they consider to be a new display of improvisation on the part of the Argentine authorities in charge of the matter, which is complemented by the uncertainty experienced by passengers and airlines in view of a process of approval of international flights that is unique in the region, which is the reason why Argentina is the country with the worst level of recovery in that segment among the main markets of Latin America.

The first setback in this regard occurred on August 27 when, through Administrative Decision 846/2021, the government of Alberto Fernández had materialized this novelty, but the next day they had to go back on their decision and postpone it until September 20.

The measure indicates that those who have traveled for work purposes and have completed the vaccination scheme at least 21 days before re-entering Argentina, either in the national territory or abroad, may dispense with the quarantine.

In addition to submitting a PCR test performed at origin within 72 hours prior to boarding and the antigen test upon arrival, passengers must undergo a third PCR test on the fifth day and another one on the tenth day, all computed from the date of the first test and at the passenger’s expense.

It is also established that citizens or resident aliens must “carry out their work and/or commercial activities with extreme observance of the prevention and care measures, for a period of TEN (10) days computed from the taking of the negative PCR test sample at origin, performed within SEVENTY TWO (72) hours prior to boarding,” and state in the sworn statement “the work and/or commercial reason for the trip in question and the information of the employer, commercial counterpart or reference of the commercial and/or labor activity in question, attaching the pertinent certification and/or supporting documentation. Said documentation must be kept by the person entering the country, to be shown at the request of the competent authority.”