Visa Requirements for South America

Always make sure you passport is valid up to 6 months from the time of your visit with a few extra blank pages for stamps.

Argentina: Visa is not required for tourist visits up to 90 days: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Rep, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong (S.A.R.), Honduras, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Santa Lucia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, UK, Uruguay and U.S.A.

No visa required up to 30 days are:  Granada, Hong Kong (with BN passport), Jamaica, Malaysia and Venezuela.

You will still need to pay an entry fee.  US$160 and Australians pays US$100. Embassy of Argentina

Bolivia: Visas not required for the following:  Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liehtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela

US citizens need a visa.  The cost is $135 whether it is at the airport or the consulate. The airport will only take 5 minutes.  Or you can mail your passport to the Bolivian embassy in D.C  Embassy of Bolivia

Brazil:  Visa not required for the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Morocco, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Malta, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, UK, Vatican and Venezuela.

US citizens need a visa to enter.  Tourist visas are issued within 24 hours if submitted in person by the applicant. Visas valid for multiple entries within 5 years from date of first entry for a stay up to 90 days (renewable for the same length of stay by the Federal Police in Brazil) requires 1 application form 1 passport size photo proof of onward/return transportation and yellow fever vaccination if arriving from infected area. There is a processing fee of $45 for tourist visas (money order only). There is a $10 service fee for applications sent by mail or by anyone other than applicant. Provide SASE for return of passport by mail. Embassy of Brazil

Chile:  Visa not required for visits of 30-90 days, however an entry fee of $45 usd will be charged at the airport for the following: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Embassy of Chile

Colombia:  They will want proof of departure.  Visa not required up to 180 days, depending on your nationality for the following: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bhutan, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Granada, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.Embassy of Colombia

Ecuador and Galapagos Islands: Visa not required for visits up to 90 days. You will need proof of departure. The following will need a visa to enter: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia.

Falkland Islands:  If you arriving on a cruise ship you do not need a visa to enter or to participate in shore excursions.  If you are arriving by air or plan to stay before or after cruise departure then you may need a visa.

Visas are not required by visitors from Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tawain, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City. Government of Falkland Islands

French Guiana:  Guiana is a part of France and the entry requirements are the same.  A Schengen visa is not valid for most French territories. A separate visa is required. Visas are not required by visitors from the following countries for visit up to 90 days: Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela. Embassy of France

Guyana: Visa is not required from the following: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Montserrat, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St Christopher and Nevis (St Kitts), St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America. Embassy of Guyana

Paraguay: Visa not required for the following: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, El Salvador, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatamala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, U.K., Uruguay and Venezuela.

US citizens do need a visa to enter and it costs about $100 usd. The prices differ depending on the consulate or embassy. Exit tax US$20 paid at the airport.  AIDs test required for resident visas. Embassy of Paraguay

Peru: Visa not required up to 90 days for the following: Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Salomon Islands, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St Christopher & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdon, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

If your country isn’t listed above you will need a visa to enter. Obtain it from the Peruvian consulate preferably in person.  Nationals from Bangladesh, scuba, china, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Sri Lanka require authorization from the immigration office in Lima in order to obtain a tourist visa.

Suriname: Visa not required for the following: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Dominica, Gambia, Guyana, Grenada, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands Antilles, Phillippines, Singapore, South Korea, ST. Kitts & Nevis, ST. Vincent and the Grenadines, St.Christopher, St.Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago.

Nationals from Bolivia, Canada, Chile, France, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela can purchase a tourist card for US$25 at an embassy or at the airport. All other nationalities will need to apply in advance for a visa at the nearest consulate.

Uruguay: Visas are not required for visits of up to 90 days from the following: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad Tobago, Turkey, United States, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Venezuela: No visa required for stays of up to 90 days from the following: Andorra, Antigua and Barbados, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Ciprus, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia , Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Letonia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Marino, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey , United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.

Visas in General:

Visa is a document issued by a country’s government allowing the holder to enter. Regulations often change.  You can get a Visa before you leave home, or some countries allow you to purchase a visa in a neighboring country through their embassy.  Some even allow you to purchase it at the airport right before you take off/arrive.  Some visas are valid from when they are issued, but some visas let you enter in your arrival dates if it is within a month. Depending on your location and if you are buying in person the cost can depend on the mood of the worker issuing it and your negation skills. Do your research and come prepared.

Rates:  differ depending on your nationality.  The price can fluctuate depending on where you buy the Visa from, online may be less expensive than a consulate, embassy or at the airport, so look around for the best price. Depending on the country you are entering, you may even be able to negotiate prices.  Some will let you pay in another currency than their own, but you may be charged extra fees. If you go over the expiration date you can be charged a hefty fine.  For more than 60 days overstay travelers risk deportation or imprisonment.

Requirements: Most customs require seeing your passport and it must be valid for up to 6 months before entering/departing their country.  They usually like to see at least 2 unused pages in your passport. Pay special attention to international flight routing. Some countries require visas for transiting through their airports, even if you are just passing through en route to another country.

Time of Issuance: Some Visas are issued within minutes, and others can take 1-6 business days or longer depending on your situation.  Some entry points require up to 6 copies of your passport.  If you are in a populated city they may not charge extra, but if you are going remote it is a good idea to make copies before you leave home.

Extensions: Depending on the Visa you may be able to apply for an extension if you need one. Or if you are in a rush you may be able to pay extra for an expedited Visa.

Visa Types: There are different kinds of Visas.  Some are for a single entry and others are for multiple entries, if you want to leave the country and come back within a time frame. They have Tourist/Visitor Visas, Student Visas, Artist/Entertainer Visas, Religious Worker Visas, Transit Visas, Immigrant Visas and more.

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