Arrival Card: Question about recent visits to Latin America

[Voyages]

This question on the arrival card into Australia... something like "Have you been to Latin America in the past 30 days?"

I haven't thought much about this question until recently, as I am heading to Brazil, Chile and Argentina in June.

Do you know why Australian customs/immigration/quarantine is interested in passengers who've been to Latin America? Does it have anything to do with the Yello Fever vaccination certificate?

Thank you,

Voyages.

 

[Dave R32]

A business colleague and I had to tick yes to that question some years ago as we had visited Venezuela. We were curious to see if our immigration or AQIS process would be more involved.

The only "extra" question we were both asked was "while in Venezuela did you visit any farms?". As the answer was no we were sent straight through without delays, we figured it must relate to Foot and Mouth disease or something similar.

Cheers
Dave.

 

[dajop]

Do you know why Australian customs/immigration/quarantine is interested in passengers who've been to Latin America? Does it have anything to do with the Yello Fever vaccination certificate?

Yes if you visit an area designated as a potential Yellow Fever area you are required to produce the Yellow Fever certificate, otherwise you may be taken for questioning and required to undergo observation in the coming weeks. These areas are rather specific (particularly the jungle and equatorial areas), and there are huge tracts of some countries (eg Brazil) that are not yellow fever areas, so not sure what would happend if you confirmed visiting Brazil, but only went to Rio, for example which is outside the yellow fever area.

When I returned from a trip that included Buenos Aires in 2006 (only part of of Sth America I visited), I was questioned and said it was only Buenos Aires, but still they asked if I had a yellow fever certificate, now I could have gone down the path of arguing that such certificate was not required for travel involving only Buenos Aires, but it was far simpler just to show them the vaccination certificate which I did have.

 

[kpc]

Last week, I arrived back after spending 2 weeks in Argentina, I was waved through without any request for a yellow fever vaccination; the passenger to my side had been to Brazil, and did not have a yellow fever vaccination card, and was asked to wait for a quarantine inspector:shock:. So, I guess if you were going to Latin America, it would save a lot of hassle on return if you got a yellow fever vaccination prior to the trip. The vaccine lasts for 10 years....

 

[DrA]

I travel to South America regularly (just got back in fact). It's partially to do with having to show your YF vaccination certificate, and partly to do with AQIS. Generally, you'll get an N written on your Quarantine declaration card which from what I can tell picks you out for a narcotics search. Pretty painless, just a few more questions and a bit more of a thorough bag search.

Trust me, better than being picked for a narcotics search in South America. Getting strip searched in Ecuador ain't much fun

 

[Voyages]

...we had visited Venezuela. We were curious to see if our immigration or AQIS process would be more involved.

The only "extra" question we were both asked was "while in Venezuela did you visit any farms?". As the answer was no we were sent straight through without delays, we figured it must relate to Foot and Mouth disease or something similar.

Cheers
Dave.

Thanks for sharing your experience Dave.

... so not sure what would happend if you confirmed visiting Brazil, but only went to Rio, for example which is outside the yellow fever area.

When I returned from a trip that included Buenos Aires in 2006 (only part of of Sth America I visited), I was questioned and said it was only Buenos Aires, but still they asked if I had a yellow fever certificate...

I'll only be in Rio de Janeiro, Santiago and Buenos Aires, so I hope it won't be too much of a hassle. DFAT travel advice even suggests that passengers might not be allowed to board the aircraft (out of Latin America) if they fail to show the vaccination certificate.

Last week, I arrived back after spending 2 weeks in Argentina, I was waved through without any request for a yellow fever vaccination; the passenger to my side had been to Brazil, and did not have a yellow fever vaccination card, and was asked to wait for a quarantine inspector:shock:. So, I guess if you were going to Latin America, it would save a lot of hassle on return if you got a yellow fever vaccination prior to the trip. The vaccine lasts for 10 years....

I'll definitely get the yellow fever vaccination before I leave. And I've read that we've to pay 100USD airport fees/tax when leaving EZE - how pricy!

I travel to South America regularly (just got back in fact)

Your ability to deal with jetlag must be incredible.

I travel to South America regularly (just got back in fact). It's partially to do with having to show your YF vaccination certificate, and partly to do with AQIS. Generally, you'll get an N written on your Quarantine declaration card which from what I can tell picks you out for a narcotics search. Pretty painless, just a few more questions and a bit more of a thorough bag search.

Trust me, better than being picked for a narcotics search in South America. Getting strip searched in Ecuador ain't much fun

I was searched for narcotics at Brisbane international airport once (arriving in from LAX). I was terrified because of its seriousness. *sigh*

 

[Voyages]

I went to the Travel Doctor today and was advised that there's no need for the Yellow Fever vaccination for the cities I am travelling to. But for 'legal' reasons, they suggested I get it anyway...in fact it's a total of 3 shots in 1 hit *ouch*

 

[wile_e]

And I've read that we've to pay 100USD airport fees/tax when leaving EZE - how pricy!

I'm not sure if that's right... When I left EZE bound for SYD, we didn't have to pay any airport fees (or at least if we did they were already included in the price of the ticket). However, arriving into EZE is a different matter as there is now a visa reciprocity fee (US$100 for Aussies).

From my anecdotal evidence, arriving into Argentina via any other means (besides EZE) did not attract the fee.

 

[Voyages]

I'm not sure if that's right... When I left EZE bound for SYD, we didn't have to pay any airport fees (or at least if we did they were already included in the price of the ticket). However, arriving into EZE is a different matter as there is now a visa reciprocity fee (US$100 for Aussies).

From my anecdotal evidence, arriving into Argentina via any other means (besides EZE) did not attract the fee.

Yes you're right...

"From 28 December 2009, Australian tourists will be charged a “reciprocity fee” of USD100 on arrival at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires... Payments are made prior to clearing immigration controls and can be made by cash (Argentine pesos or US dollars), credit card or travellers’ cheques."

I wonder why they don't include such fees in our fares.

 

[auriga]

Yes you're right...

"From 28 December 2009, Australian tourists will be charged a “reciprocity fee” of USD100 on arrival at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires... Payments are made prior to clearing immigration controls and can be made by cash (Argentine pesos or US dollars), credit card or travellers’ cheques."

I wonder why they don't include such fees in our fares.

This fee is based on the passport you are carrying, so obviously a bit hard to be included in the airfare.

 

[Voyages]

This fee is based on the passport you are carrying, so obviously a bit hard to be included in the airfare.

So I arrived in Buenos Aires earlier... the lady @ the reciprocity fee counter said I didn't have to pay the 100USD fee because I was only there for 1 day (so technically a transit, she said)....

But the immigration officer (and her friend) didn't agree. They were not impressed and sent me back to the fee counter :-|