Argentina

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Argentina, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730(link is external), also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here(link is external).  Go here(link is external) for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Argentina, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office(link is external) at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Argentina. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts(link is external)(FinCen Report 114(link is external)). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control(link is external) (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations(link is external) webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Argentina at 40 out of 100 (85th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  somewhat corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce(link is external) is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act(link is external) requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance(link is external) webpage.   

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group(link is external) by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office(link sends e-mail) property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations(link is external).

Articles

The US Department's page on Argentina may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

ARGENTINA REOPENS ITS AIR AND SEA BORDERS TO TRAVELERS FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES OCTOBER 30 AS PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO BEGIN THE GRADUAL REPOPENING OF THE COUNTRY AMID THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) PANDEMNIC. MOST OTHER TRAVELERS ARE BANNED UNTIL NOVEMBER 8. TOURSIM ACTIVITIES REMAINED BANNED. RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR PROTECTIVE FACEMASKS AND ADHERE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES WHEN IN PUBLIC. AUTHORITIES COULD REIMPOSE, EXTEND, FURTHER TIGHTEN, OR OTHERWISE AMEND ANY RESTRICTIONS WITH LITTLE-TO-NO NOTICE, DEPENDING ON DISEASE ACTIVITY OVER THE COMING WEEKS.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Argentina on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

Quality health care is available in Buenos Aires, somewhat available in other cities, and less available in rural areas. Medical facilities may expect immediate payment in cash. In Buenos Aires, dial 107 for an ambulance. In the suburbs outside Buenos Aires, dial 911. Elsewhere in Argentina, use of a taxi or private transportation may be preferable to a public ambulance.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas, especially in Buenos Aires. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Drinking water in urban areas is generally safe. However, power outages at treatment facilities and other problems may lead to contaminated tap water. Travelers should assume water in rural areas contains potentially dangerous pathogens and chemicals. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink bottled, boiled, or purified water.

Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often have poor hygiene standards and should be avoided. Visitors should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Argentina, including:

  • Malaria, transmitted via mosquito bites, in northern rural areas bordering Bolivia and Paraguay.
  • Dengue fever, transmitted via mosquito bites, from October through May in urban areas from Buenos Aires northward.
  • Yellow fever, yet another mosquito-borne illness, in the northeastern forested areas.
  • Leishmaniasis, transmitted through sand fly bites, in urban parts of Misiones and Corrientes provinces, including the cities of Posadas and Corrientes..

Crime is a serious risk in Argentina, especially in the city of Buenos Aires and in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe, and Mendoza. Petty theft is common at tourist attractions, shopping centers, public transportation hubs, and near hotels. Keep handbags secure at all times. Avoid traveling alone, especially at night. If threatened, surrender valuables immediately.

Vehicle theft and carjacking are increasingly common. Armed assaults and kidnappings aimed at foreigners are also on the rise, based largely on perceptions of wealth. Travelers should eschew public displays of high-end clothing, jewelry, or electronics.

Argentine police officers rarely speak English. In general, they are poorly paid and equipped. Yet they are fairly reliable in serious crimes and emergencies. 

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Furthermore, some crimes are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

  • Dual Nationals: U.S.-Argentine dual nationals may have to follow special rules that apply to Argentine citizens. In some cases, the U.S. government may have trouble providing protection abroad to dual citizens.
  • Currency Exchange and Access:  You must show your passport to exchange money. Keep all receipts related to buying pesos.  Be careful if you are offered illegal exchange rates. and do not exchange money on the street. The Embassy does not exchange money.
  • Hunting and Fishing/Transporting Firearms: If you plan to hunt or fish, follow all gun and game laws. Some U.S. citizens report problems bringing guns into and out of Argentina. 
  • Adventure Travel: For local authorities,Local resources are limited for helping visitors lost or injured in remote areas can be hard. Travelers visiting isolated and wilderness areas mustshould learn about local conditions and give their itinerary to park or police officials.
  • Argentina has the highest mountain outside ofin the HimalayasAmericas, Mount Aconcagua.  Several U.S. citizens, including expert climbers, have died while climbing the mountain.  Rescue missions are often impossible.

LGBTI Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Argentina.