New Rules on International Vessel Crew Relief and Entry

On November 6, 2021, Administrative Decision No. 1090/2021 was published in the Official Gazette amending prior Administrative Decision No. 951/2021 published on October 1, which established the requirements for entering the country.

The new measure allows crew relief on international vessels with foreign crews, provided crew members have completed a vaccination schedule at least fourteen days prior to entering the country. In addition, crew members are required to have entered the country through a means of transportation other than that of the relief. To that end, they are also subject to the same migratory and sanitary requirements as foreigners entering the country by such other means of transportation.

If these crew members have not completed the vaccination schedule fourteen days prior to entry, they must undergo a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine on land at an isolation site provided and supervised by the applicable shipping company. In addition, they must submit to a PCR test on the seventh day of isolation.

Foreigners disembarking to be relieved are subject to the sanitary requirements that apply when entering the country and must submit a statement of maritime health that includes an affidavit required by the National Directorate of Migration and negative PCR test results from a test performed on board plus a sworn statement of having completed a vaccination schedule.

If disembarking foreign nationals have not completed the vaccination schedule, their shipping company must provide them with onshore accommodations so they can quarantine. And they are required to take a PCR test on the seventh day of their isolation.

National crew members or crew members residing in the country for relays on international ships who have not been vaccinated may perform the mandatory isolation at home.

Furthermore, the Decision also adjusted the requirements for the reopening of cruises to Antarctica and cruises in Argentina. Thus, passengers embarking on a cruise ship in Argentina must submit a negative PCR test performed between 24 and 48 hours prior to embarking. Tests are not required at the beginning or end of the disembarkation for excursions, but antigen testing is required for the final disembarkation of the cruise.

Lastly, the Decision also affects air transportation, as the measure that established a quota scheme for the entry of passengers was decisively repealed. The entry restriction had already been lifted by ANAC as of October 19. Through the measure, international air crews with a full vaccination schedule were exempted from moving within the country under the bubble mode.

In addition, on November 11, Administrative Decision No. 1103/2021 was published, establishing migratory and sanitary requirements for Argentine residents in the country and foreigners domiciled in border towns located at no more than 50 kilometers from the safe land corridors authorized for entry into the country.