LivingInPatagonia.com

Border Crossing by Car Information

Written by Jamie

Since we just crossed the border twice in the last week to Chile, I thought it would be a good informative post to explain the process. First of all, as temporary residents, we are not permitted to drive our own car into Chile. An Argentine can drive our car, or we can drive a rental car (which is what we did), but we cannot drive our own car. Apparently this changes when we graduate to permanent residents.

I will explain the process leaving Argentina and entering Chile. It is more or less the same thing both directions, although Chile was not concerned with what we were taking out of the country, only what we were bringing in. Argentina did not seem too concerned about what we were bringing in or taking out of the country.

In our case, we used Paso Cardenal Samore, west of Villa La Angostura. As best as we can tell, all the border crossings work the same way, one stop for each country.

You first stop at the Argentina customs post.  There is a guard that gives you a piece of paper. You then drive to the customs post, fill out a form and present your paperwork on the car as well as your passport/documento to the Gendarmeria (Frontier Police). They stamp the piece of paper. You then go into another line and show the same paperwork again to Aduans (Customs) Your piece of paper is then stamped again. You then leave the building in your car and show the stamped twice piece of paper to another guard on the Chilean side of the customs post.

You then continue driving until you cross the actually border and then encounter the Chilean customs post further down the road. There, you fill out a new form, and get a piece of paper that must be stamped three times. The third stamp involves them searching the car and/or having a dog sniff around. The Chileans are way more interested in what you bring into their country then the Argentines, from our limited experience.

It is important to note the times of the border crossing as they close down. Paso Cardenal Samore is open until 9pm on the Argentine side and 8pm on the Chilean side. This means if you pass thru the first entrance before closing time, you are OK. Also remember that Chile is one hour behind Argentina, at least at this time of year.

¡Buen viaje!