Chile reciprocity fee [removed from 16/12/19]

[RooFlyer]

Some friends of mine are flying to SCL, parents in business, 2 adult children in economy.

The parents will obviously get to the reciprocity booths well in advance of the kids. They have asked, if they take their children's passports, will they be able to pay the RF for their children, and therefore gain some time getting everyone through immigration etc. Or do you have to physically present with your own passport to pay the fee?

(Am aware of the recent changes in RF location ...)

 

[V Singh]

Removal of US$117 reciprocity fee for Aus Passport holders effective 16-Dec-19 and introducing eVISA requirement from 20-May-2020 for Aus travellers to Chile is inspiriting. Let us see how Australia compliments

 

[Pussels]

If they invent an ESTA-style thing for aussies, I pray it does not have the same bloomin 3 mth limit!

If it is just a 3 month limit, why not, after 3 months take a leisurely drive up the Elqui valley, cross over at Aqua Negra and eat a nice steak and red wine in San Juan before making the return trip! The reciprocity fee was not collected on land border crossings, will be interesting to see how Evisa is handled if doing the same. The other advantage is that you would be able to avoid IVA tax on hotel stays if you are in the country on a new visa for < 60 days!!

 

[juddles]

If it is just a 3 month limit, why not, after 3 months take a leisurely drive up the Elqui valley, cross over at Aqua Negra and eat a nice steak and red wine in San Juan before making the return trip! The reciprocity fee was not collected on land border crossings, will be interesting to see how Evisa is handled if doing the same. The other advantage is that you would be able to avoid IVA tax on hotel stays if you are in the country on a new visa for < 60 days!!

Pussels, how long does is take to do that crossing? Have been up the valley a few times, but never to the border. And are the roads on the Argentine side any good?

 

[Pussels]

Pussels, how long does is take to do that crossing? Have been up the valley a few times, but never to the border. And are the roads on the Argentine side any good?

Ok, about two years ago I drove all the way up the Equi valley to just a few km short of the border. From what I recall it was sealed most of the way except for the last few km up the switchbacks. There was also a lot of roadworks going on at that time, sealing the road. However, the road in the last part was unsealed but nearly as good as the road up to Tololo or La Silla if you are familiar with those. Time from La Serena to border is about 3 hours or so depending upon aduana delays. Distance about only 200km but a lot of climbing.

Now as it just so happens, I will be able to report on the actual road conditions, including on the Argentine side to San Juan in a few weeks because after Xmas I’m flying to La Serena. From there, we are commencing our 8-10000km road trip from La Serena to Punta Arenas, driving down on the Chilean side of the Andes ( including ferries where required, eg Puerto Yungay to Puerto Natales etc) and then returning to La Serena on Route 40 on the Argentine side which will take us up to San Juan after which we drop down back into La Serena via the Elqui valley. Journey time is budgeted as 8-10 weeks. So will give you an update soon!!

 

[JohnM]

Now as it just so happens, I will be able to report on the actual road conditions, including on the Argentine side to San Juan in a few weeks because after Xmas I’m flying to La Serena. From there, we are commencing our 8-10000km road trip from La Serena to Punta Arenas, driving down on the Chilean side of the Andes ( including ferries where required, eg Puerto Yungay to Puerto Natales etc) and then returning to La Serena on Route 40 on the Argentine side which will take us up to San Juan after which we drop down back into La Serena via the Elqui valley. Journey time is budgeted as 8-10 weeks. So will give you an update soon!!

Sensational! TR please!

I've done a lot of that, but in fragments. If you can, make sure to do do the section of Ruta 40 N of San Juan through Salta - but make sure you have a heavy-duty 4WD and tough tyres! I came to grief there last Easter with two tyre-destroying punctures.

If you are into wine, San Juan tries hard to emulate Australian Shiraz, while the Salta region is nirvana for high-altitude Malbec and is the home of Torrontes. Delicioso!

 

[juddles]

Sensational! TR please!

I've done a lot of that, but in fragments. If you can, make sure to do do the section of Ruta 40 N of San Juan through Salta - but make sure you have a heavy-duty 4WD and tough tyres! I came to grief there last Easter with two tyre-destroying punctures.

If you are into wine, San Juan tries hard to emulate Australian Shiraz, while the Salta region is nirvana for high-altitude Malbec and is the home of Torrontes. Delicioso!

Why a country with such excellent malbecs would try to emulate anything is beyond me If I want the best malbecs I will seek an argentine offering. Likewise, if seeking syrah, will obviously grab an aussie tipple. If I want everything in one place I would head to the Yarra Valley that tries to do everything.... Just like restaurants, the best ones are those that offer few choices. And those that have all the offerrings are poor...

 

[JohnM]

I think San Juan just can't compete on Malbec with Mendoza and Salta. They live in the shadow of those places, so they are trying to establish a niche with Shiraz in Argentina.

 

[CPMaverick]

I arrived to SCL this morning, 16 Dec, and the fee is still required. The staff didn't seem to know anything about it going away.

I felt foolish as I had informed a few others in the J cabin that they did not have to pay the fee, but was wrong. One person told me at baggage claim that they were told it isn't required for stays less than 72 hours now, but I don't know any details

 

[JohnM]

Hmmm - fake news?

 

[Pussels]

Sensational! TR please!

I've done a lot of that, but in fragments. If you can, make sure to do do the section of Ruta 40 N of San Juan through Salta - but make sure you have a heavy-duty 4WD and tough tyres! I came to grief there last Easter with two tyre-destroying punctures.

If you are into wine, San Juan tries hard to emulate Australian Shiraz, while the Salta region is nirvana for high-altitude Malbec and is the home of Torrontes. Delicioso!

No worries, thanks for that tip. We will certainly look into doing that on our last leg! Any chance you will be in Guanaqueros about 20 Jan? That is our planned 1st night stop after departing La Serena on our grand journey. BTW, our vehicle will be a Toyota Hilux 4x4 with 17” wheels!

 

[V Singh]

I arrived to SCL this morning, 16 Dec, and the fee is still required. The staff didn't seem to know anything about it going away.

I felt foolish as I had informed a few others in the J cabin that they did not have to pay the fee, but was wrong. One person told me at baggage claim that they were told it isn't required for stays less than 72 hours now, but I don't know any details

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[V Singh]

CPMaverick stated that he had to pay the reciprocity fee @ SCL.

The Chile Govt link: RECIPROCITY FEE - Chile Abroad
States that the reciprocity fee is waived for Aus PPT holders.
Perhaps there is a bottle-neck in official communications to the ground crew @ SCL. Would like to receive AFF members comments..

 

[JohnM]

No worries, thanks for that tip. We will certainly look into doing that on our last leg! Any chance you will be in Guanaqueros about 20 Jan? That is our planned 1st night stop after departing La Serena on our grand journey. BTW, our vehicle will be a Toyota Hilux 4x4 with 17” wheels!

I'm not the right person to ask about Guanaqueros. I was merely visiting my mate @juddles there earlier this year after he'd finished restoring the home from a period of his childhood when his father worked in the region. And now that the restoration's done, he's pretty much finished travelling to Chile.

I have done a lot of travelling in S America over the years, but never lived there.

 

[Pussels]

I'm not the right person to ask about Guanaqueros. I was merely visiting my mate @juddles there earlier this year after he'd finished restoring the home from a period of his childhood when his father worked in the region. And now that the restoration's done, he's pretty much finished travelling to Chile.

I have done a lot of travelling in S America over the years, but never lived there.

JohnM, interesting!!

 

[JohnM]

JohnM, interesting!!

Correct. @juddles and I were puzzled back in about March/April that you may have thought I was his old man! I think @juddles was going to PM you to sort out the mystery.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

CPMaverick stated that he had to pay the reciprocity fee @ SCL.

The Chile Govt link: RECIPROCITY FEE - Chile Abroad
States that the reciprocity fee is waived for Aus PPT holders.
Perhaps there is a bottle-neck in official communications to the ground crew @ SCL. Would like to receive AFF members comments..

I will report back after arriving on the 24th.

 

[p--and--t]

Suggest anyone travelling that way carry a printed copy of the official government website with them as a negotiation point.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Suggest anyone travelling that way carry a printed copy of the official government website with them as a negotiation point.

Good idea, but not sure it will work against bureaucracy.
I have a valid payment slip in my passport so I can enter anyway but report back if they looked at it and if the payment booth was still operating.

 

[RooFlyer]

I have friends (family of 4) flying into SCL in a day or so. Gleefully told them over the weekend they'd be saving a heap, then an urgent text this morning eating my previous words, maybe.

 

[juddles]

CPMaverick stated that he had to pay the reciprocity fee @ SCL.

The Chile Govt link: RECIPROCITY FEE - Chile Abroad
States that the reciprocity fee is waived for Aus PPT holders.
Perhaps there is a bottle-neck in official communications to the ground crew @ SCL. Would like to receive AFF members comments..

Unfortunate, but not exactly hard to understand, given that for the past month or two the country has been wracked by the worst social upheaval in decades. It will possibly takes many months for all aspects of administration and general daily life to return to normal.