Extending your Argentina Tourist Visa in 32 simple steps

Anyone who has lived in Argentina will tell you its not exactly the poster boy of efficiency. So when it came time to renew my tourist visa I was able to accomplish it in 32 simple steps.

In Argentina the tourist visa is good for 90 days. This visa can be renewed by leaving and re-entering the country however given that I find myself in the center of the country in Córdoba that’s not always an option.

Just recently I extended my visa at the immigration office in Córdoba using these 32 simple steps.

1. Realize your 90 day tourist visa is expiring soon
2. Attempt to leave to Chile during a trip to Patagonia
3. Realize Chile is an 8 hour bus ride away and not feasible given your trip’s schedule
4. Research online to find immigration office in Córdoba, Argentina located at Caseros 676
5. Walk to the immigration office
6. Return home because the immigration office is closed at 4pm.
7. Return to immigration office the next morning
8. Enter immigration office to find a waiting room of 20 people and take a number
9. Wait
10. Have your number called only to have another person sprint up and take your place
11. Wait
12. Aggressively sprint towards the free chair once the next number is called.
13. Be informed that the office to extend visas is actually upstairs
14. Head upstairs and knock on a few office doors until you find the right one. Door is labeled “Prorroga“
15. Explain the situation, sign paperwork, and receive a document to take to the bank
16. Leave migration office to get photocopy of passport and pay the fee at the bank
17. Walk 7 blocks to Humberto Primo to find the bank to pay the 600 peso fee.
18. Enter the lobby of the bank and be informed that the bank to make payments is actually around the corner
19. Find the bank and pay 300 peso fee
20. Walk back 7 blocks to migration office
21. Stop to buy a bottle of water (sin gas)
22. Photocopy passport and page with most recent stamp
23. Re-enter migration office and head directly to the second floor
24. Find a waiting room of 6 people
25. Wait
26. Smile at nice lady each time she leaves her office to indicate you’ve brought everything back.
27. Wait
28. Read Che Boludo! to brush up on your Argentine slang
29. Wait while playing blackjack on your phone
30. Lose $2100 fictional dollars playing blackjack
31. Get called into the office and be given the passport with a fresh 90 days as well as all other additional paperwork.
32. Kiss nice lady on the cheek and leave to enjoy 90 more days in Argentina

Simple as that.