Entry formalities
Current passport with or without visa depending on your nationality. Consult with your nearest Embassy or Consulate. Visitors coming from countries not bordering Argentina are exempt from all taxes on travelling articles and new articles with a value not more than U$S 300 and 300 additional US dollars if they are purchased in the duty free shops within the national territory. No vaccination certificate is required for entry into the country, except for passengers coming from countries where cholera and yellow fever are endemic.
Population
The current population of Argentina is more than 37 million people of which almost half live in the Federal Capital and the Province of Buenos Aires. These figures give us a population density of 13 inhabitants per square kilometer. 95 % of Argentineans are white and principally descendants of Italians and Spaniards. With the massive European immigration the white and Indian half castes became slowly diluted until today these people only represent 4.5 % of the population. The pure indigenous population, the Mapuches, Collas, Tobas, Matacos and Chiriguanos, amount to 0.5 % of the population.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Republic of Argentina. In Buenos Aires forms of "lunfardo" are used as city slang.
Religion
There is complete religious freedom in Argentina although the official religion is Roman Catholic. There are also other religions such as Protestantism, Jewish, Moslem, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and others.
Currency
The official Argentine currency is the Peso. There are notes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos and coins of 1 peso and 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos.
Telephone
Public telephones work with cards, which are tokens purchased in kiosks and the offices of the telephone companies, or with legal tender coins. There are call boxes where you can pay in cash (open 24 hours a day). To call from abroad to Argentina you have to dial the country code which is 54 and then the area code of the place you want to call. For domestic calls you have to dial 0 before the area code. For international calls you have to dial 00, the country code and then the city code. Remember that there are reduced tariffs from 22.00 to 08.00 a.m.
Shopping
VAT return: At the airport you can recover the 21 % VAT paid if you have purchased local products for an amount greater than $ 70,00.- (per invoice) in the shops which are members of the scheme 'Global Refund'.
Methods of payment: Whilst the Dollar is generally accepted, foreign currency can be exchanged in banks and authorised bureaux. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, VISA, Diners and Master Card. There may be difficulties in changing traveller's cheques outside of Buenos Aires.
Working hours: Banks and Exchange Bureaux: Mondays to Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm. Business Offices: generally from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 7 pm. Shops and commerce: in the big cities from 9 am to 8 pm, although in the outskirts and the provinces they tend to close at midday. On Saturdays the hours are from 9 am to 1 pm hours. Cafés, cake shops and pizzerias are open all day except between 2 pm and 6 am. Restaurants: lunch starts around 12.30 pm and dinner around 8.30 pm. Many places offer fast menus at all times.
Tips: It is usual to leave 10 % in cafeterias and restaurants and to tip doormen, porters, ushers in cinemas and theatres.
