Argentina reopens Salta airport and border crossing with Bolivia

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Argentine government authorized the reopening of the international airport of Salta and the Salvador Mazza border crossing with Bolivia, as part of the relaxation of health measures following the decrease in the number of Covid-19 infections. In order to enter, travelers must comply with vaccination and PCR test requirements.

Both the airport and the border crossing are now considered “international safe corridors” for entering the country, thus joining other borders now operating again, such as Paso de los Libres, Corrientes.

People entering the country must comply with the “protocol for the entry of international travelers in safe air and land corridors,” as established by Chief of Cabinet Juan Manzur, through Administrative Decision 1041, published today in the Official Gazette.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER SALTA

Persons entering Salta from outside the country, both through the airport and the Salvador Mazza border crossing, must comply with the following requirements:

1. Complete the Sworn Statement form of the National Direction of Migration.
2. Proof of vaccination: full vaccination schedule, completed 14 days before the trip.
3. No symptoms compatible with SARS-COV-2.
4. Proof of negative PCR result 72 hours before entering the country.
5. In the case of foreigners, Covid-19 travel insurance must include hospitalization and isolation coverage.
6. Foreign tourists without a full vaccination schedule are not allowed to enter the country.
7. Payment of all necessary diagnostic tests (rapid antigen or RT-PCR), and centralized isolation costs, i.e., they must bear accommodation costs in case of isolation.
8. Should a sample by rapid antigen test of travelers test positive for SARS-COV-2, such traveler and his/her close contacts shall undergo RT-PCR at the same location.

Travelers with a negative result in the entry test and without a complete vaccination schedule for Covid-19, must comply with mandatory isolation for 10 days (from the date of the test sample taken at the time of entering the country) at their home or hotel, or until the completion of RT-PCR with a negative result on the seventh day.

In the case of travelers with a negative result and with a full vaccination schedule for Covid-19, the following is recommended:

• Travel in safe groups
• Not attend mass events
• Avoid use of public transportation
• Wear a face mask at all times
• Call 148 when symptoms develop
• The result of the RT-PCR test on the 7th day after arrival should be sent to [email protected]. If the swab is negative, the follow-up period ends. If the test is positive, isolation will be indicated for 10 days from the date of sampling, with accommodation at the traveler’s expense.

OPEN BORDERS

The government is in the process of reopening border crossings as “safe corridors.” On Wednesday it announced that the Paso de los Libres-Uruguayana land crossing reopened after almost 2 years of pandemic restrictions.

Until further notice, only residents or residents from neighboring countries will be able to enter Paso de los Libres, provided they present a full vaccination schedule, as well as a negative PCR and electronic declaration.

Migration Director Florencia Carignano said on Wednesday that Santa Fe, San Juan and El Calafate will join the reopening of Paso de los Libres and Salta.

“The important thing is to take care of what we have achieved so far. The pandemic is not over but we are reopening as long as steps are safe,” the director said.