Buying from abroad: Argentina customs allowance, courier and post
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Arriving by air or sea, you can bring in new goods worth USD 500 duty-free (plus another USD 500 at the arrival duty-free shop); anything above that is charged 50 %. Online purchases arrive by courier or post: up to USD 3000 per shipment; shipments of up to USD 400 (no more than 5 a year per person) are exempt from import duty and the statistics fee, but VAT (IVA) is still due. To receive a parcel you need an Argentine CUIT/CUIL and a clave fiscal, so a tourist without them will find it easier to bring the item in a suitcase. This is information, not tax advice: the rules change, so check arca.gob.ar before you buy.
How much can I bring in my luggage without paying duty?
- How you arrive — Allowance for new goods — Additional
- By air or sea — USD 500 per person — USD 500 for purchases at the arrival duty-free shop
- By land or river — USD 300 per person — No arrival duty-free allowance, except Puerto Iguazú (USD 500)
- Children under 16 — 50 % of the adult allowance — —
- A family (spouses, partners, children under 16) can pool their allowances and use them together.
- Excess: 50 % is charged on the amount above the allowance. ARCA example: an item worth USD 600 − USD 500 allowance = USD 100 over, so USD 50 to pay.
- Personal effects do not count toward the allowance: clothing, toiletries and other clearly personal items, including one laptop or tablet (without an external power source) and one mobile phone (RG AFIP 4315/2018). The allowance applies to your other purchases.
- If you bring more, declare it: under the Customs Code (art. 978 of law 22.415), undeclared goods that may be carried in luggage are fined from half to twice the customs value (not less than the taxes due); goods that may not be carried in luggage (for example, a batch for resale) are fined 1 to 3 times the value (art. 977), and prohibited goods are also confiscated.
How do parcels from abroad (courier) work?
Since 2025 ARCA has simplified courier shipments (Resolución General 5631/2025, which clarified RG 5608/2024):
- up to USD 3000 per shipment (FOB);
- up to 50 kg per box (package). Under the "Pequeños envíos" (small shipments) scheme (Decreto 1065/2024):
- up to USD 400 FOB: no import duty or statistics fee; IVA and internal taxes (if any) are paid;
- up to 3 identical items per shipment;
- no more than 5 such shipments per calendar year per person;
- for personal use, not for resale. Regular courier shipments (without this relief) have no annual limit on number or items, according to ARCA. What you need: an Argentine CUIT/CUIL and a clave fiscal; ARCA states level 2 or higher to view your shipments and the quota used. You can see the quota used and the status of your parcels in the "Envíos Postales Internacionales" service on the ARCA website.
What if the parcel comes by regular post (Correo Argentino)?
- "Puerta a Puerta" scheme: up to USD 3000 FOB, up to 20 kg and up to 3 identical items, for personal use only.
- The post office gives customs your CUIT/CUIL; taxes and the postal fee are paid online, after which the parcel is delivered or handed over at the branch.
- According to ARCA's clarification, "registering receipt" of a shipment on the ARCA site is required only for Correo Argentino shipments, not for courier ones.
What if I don't have a CUIL?
- Tourist: it is simpler to bring the purchase in your suitcase, within the allowance.
- Newly moved: get a CUIL and a clave fiscal, then order.
- Don't ask strangers to "receive it on their CUIT" for money: the parcel counts against their annual limit, and you risk losing the item.
How do I pay for purchases from abroad and compare prices?
- Some foreign stores let you pay the taxes and fees when you place the order (ARCA describes this option for the Puerta a Puerta scheme) — compare the final total with the price in Argentina.
- The dollar rate used for the calculation changes: the current reference is on the "Rates" page.
- Sometimes buying secondhand in Argentina is cheaper: look at "Market" and Mercado Libre.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I bring into Argentina duty-free?
By air or sea, new goods worth USD 500 per person plus USD 500 at the arrival duty-free shop; by land, less. 50 % is charged on the excess.
Do I pay taxes on a parcel of up to USD 400?
Not import duty or the statistics fee, but you do pay IVA and internal taxes.
How many parcels can I receive per year?
Under the USD 400 relief ("pequeños envíos"), 5 shipments a year per person. Regular courier shipments (up to USD 3000 each) have no annual limit on number.
Can I receive a parcel without a CUIL?
For courier and postal shipments, the recipient's CUIT/CUIL is passed to customs and it is hard to clear them without it; a tourist is better off carrying the item in luggage.
Can the allowance be combined with my family?
Yes, spouses, partners and children under 16 can use it together.