Argentina – Buenos Aires Lockdown Extended, Certain Inbound Flights Banned
AR – Buenos Aires Lockdown, Certain Flights Banned
On 21 December 2020, Argentina’s government published a Decree extending the lockdown for the Buenos Aires metropolitan region until 31 January 2021. Also, it is important to note, due to the rapidly-evolving coronavirus situation in the United Kingdom and other European countries, Argentina has been prohibiting flights into the country from the United Kingdom and a few other countries.
On 21 December 2020, Argentina’s government published Decree N° 1033/20201 in the Boletín Oficial extending the lockdown for the Buenos Aires metropolitan region until 31 January 2021.
Also, it is important to note, due to the rapidly-evolving coronavirus situation in the United Kingdom and other European countries, and with a view to recent policies introduced by many other countries, Argentina has been prohibiting flights into the country from the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Netherlands, and Australia.2
(For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2020-477, 2 December 2020.)
WHY THIS MATTERS
The measures established in Decree N° 1033/2020, could continue to delay travel plans by residents of Buenos Aires and individuals who have plans to travel to and from (as well as within) the Buenos Aires metropolitan region.3
The banning of inbound flights from the above-mentioned countries means travel interruptions and considerable inconvenience for travellers, including foreign workers from these countries trying to come/return to Argentina. At this stage, until normal flights are resumed from these countries, remote work and work-from-home arrangements are recommended.
The measures restricting group gatherings, limiting people’s movement within the metropolitan region and at border crossings, advising people to keep 1.5 meters apart, using a face mask and gel-alcohol, and avoiding meetings in closed spaces, are still in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.4
Details
Arrivals into Argentina are forbidden for foreign nonresident individuals through ports, airports, international border crossings, and any other access points, to reduce the chances of infection transmission and spreading of COVID-19.
In an abundance of caution, flights from the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Australia have been suspended, as a new, fast-spreading strain of coronavirus has been identified in these countries.
Additionally, Argentina’s borders with neighboring countries are experiencing restrictions until further notice.
Please note that individuals authorized by the National Immigration Office to come to Argentina from affected areas5 must provide information about their itinerary, declare their address in the country, and undergo a medical examination (that should be as minimally invasive as possible), to determine the potential risk of contagion and the preventive actions to be taken.
Measures advising people to keep 1.5 meters apart, to use a face mask, to use gel-alcohol, and to avoid meetings in closed spaces, are still in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
KPMG NOTE
The evolving situation and the regular extensions of the lockdown present considerable challenges.
Individuals impacted by the extended lockdown and with plans to travel to Argentina – particularly the Buenos Aires metropolitan area – may wish to consult with their travel agents, global mobility advisers, and immigration legal counsel as soon as possible for advice on next steps.
FOOTNOTES
1 See the “Decreto 1033/2020” published (in Spanish) in the Boletín Oficial. (Decreto 1033/2020 DECNU-2020-1033-APN-PTE, Distanciamiento Social, Preventivo y Obligatorio y Aislamiento Social, Preventivo y Obligatorio.)
2 See the “Decisión Administrativa 2252/2020” published (in Spanish) in the Boletín Oficial: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/239143/20201224 . For more information, see “El Gobierno nacional adoptará nuevas medidas y requisitos para el ingreso al país” at: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/interior/migraciones/ddjj-migraciones .
3 For further information about travel under current restrictions, see “COVID-19 Quiénes pueden viajar” at: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte/covid-19/quienes-pueden-viajar . For other measures in place governing travel in light of the coronavirus pandemic, see “Normativa para viajar, ingresar y egresar del país” at: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/coronavirus/ingresar-egresar-argentina .
4 For more on such measures (in Spanish) see “Nuevo coronavirus COVID-19: Información, recomendaciones del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación y medidas de prevención” at: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/coronavirus-COVID-19 .
5 Affected areas include European countries, Schengen members, United Kingdom, United States, South Korea, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, and Iran.
VIEW ALL
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not offer immigration services or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Argentina.
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