Brazilian citizens visiting Argentina as tourists do not need a passport: a physical Brazilian identity card (RG) issued less than 10 years ago, with a photo that still identifies the holder, is accepted.
This guide covers the Brazilians travel to Argentina documents question in full: which IDs are accepted, the 10-year rule, the new national identity card (CIN), what border officers refuse, the rules for minors and the Chile add-on. It is written for Brazilian residents, dual nationals and expats in Brazil planning a trip. The rules were checked on 8 October 2026 against Argentina’s Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Brazil’s Federal Police, Brazil’s National Council of Justice and Mercosur.
Which documents do Brazilians need to enter Argentina?
A Brazilian tourist can enter Argentina with a valid passport or a valid Brazilian identity card, according to Argentina’s Dirección Nacional de Migraciones. The tourist stay is up to three months, extendable for a similar period, and paid work is not allowed.
The legal basis is the Mercosur Agreement on Travel and Return Documents, signed on 21 December 2015, which lists the accepted documents for each country. Brazil’s Federal Police adds one practical condition on its side: the ID card must have been issued less than 10 years ago.
Brazilians travel to Argentina documents: what is accepted and refused
The physical RG in good condition and a valid passport are the two documents that cover a tourist trip; professional cards and the driving licence are refused. The table sums up the Federal Police guidance and Annex I of the Mercosur agreement.
| Document | Accepted for tourism in Argentina? | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian passport | Yes | Valid |
| State identity card (RG), older model | Yes | Physical, issued less than 10 years ago, recognisable photo |
| National identity card (CIN) | Added to the agreement in 2026 | Physical; see the CIN section |
| Digital RG or CIN on a phone | No | Carry the printed card |
| Driving licence (CNH), physical or digital | No | Valid for driving only |
| Professional cards (OAB, CRM and others) | No | Refused by the Federal Police |
| Birth or marriage certificate | No | Refused by the Federal Police |
| Police report of a lost ID | No | Does not replace the document |
The Federal Police states that the CNH, professional council cards and certificates are refused for entry into Mercosur countries, whatever the purpose of the trip. Photocopies and photos of an ID are not accepted either.
The 10-year rule for the RG
The RG works as a travel document when it was issued less than 10 years ago and the photo still fully identifies the holder, according to the Federal Police FAQ. The issue date (data de expedição) is printed on the back of the card.
If the card turns 10 before your return date, get a new one or travel on a passport. A torn, illegible card, or one with a childhood photo, can also be refused at airline check-in even when it is within the 10 years.
The new national identity card (CIN)
The CIN was added to Mercosur’s list of travel documents by Common Market Council Decision No. 10/26, approved in Asunción on Monday 29 June 2026. The new Annex I lists for Brazil the Civil Identity Registry, the state identity card with national validity, the CIN, the foreigner’s identity card and the passport.
The amending agreement enters into force 30 days after signature, according to the text published in the Mercosur legal database. Argentina’s Migraciones page does not list Brazilian card models, so travellers holding only the CIN may want to carry their passport as well.
The older RG remains valid. Brazil’s Decree No. 10.977/2022 keeps old-model cards valid for ten years from 1 March 2022, with no expiry for holders who were 60 or older on that date. For travel, the Federal Police 10-years-from-issue limit still applies.
When a passport is required
A passport is mandatory for any trip that is not tourism: work, study, residence or medical treatment, according to Brazil’s Federal Police. Anyone moving to Buenos Aires or starting a university course in Argentina should get a passport before leaving Brazil.
A passport is also the safer choice when:
- the RG is more than 10 years old or the photo is badly outdated;
- the trip continues from Argentina to a country outside the agreement;
- the RG was lost shortly before departure and you only have a police report.
Migraciones asks for a passport that is valid (vigente) on entry; its tourist page sets no extra minimum validity for Brazilian citizens. Airlines may apply their own checks, so a passport close to expiry is worth renewing before a long trip. Brazilians do not need a visa for a tourist stay in Argentina.
Once in Buenos Aires, the next questions are payments and getting around. See how to pay with Pix in Argentina, the guide to the SUBE transport card and the Buenos Aires bus routes and timetables hub.
Travelling with minors
A Brazilian child living in Brazil can leave the country without a court order in the three cases set out in Article 1 of CNJ Resolution No. 131/2011: with both parents, with one parent and the other’s written consent, or without parents with consent from both.
| Travel situation | Document required when leaving Brazil |
|---|---|
| With both parents | No authorisation, only the child’s travel document |
| With one parent | Consent from the other parent, notarised signature |
| Alone or with another adult | Consent from both parents, notarised signatures |
| With a foreign resident abroad who is not a parent | Prior court authorisation |
The consent form is handed in as two originals, and the Federal Police keeps one. Signatures can be notarised by authenticity or by similarity, and consent can also be given by public deed. If the form sets no validity period, it is valid for two years under Article 10 of the resolution.
The child also needs their own travel document: an RG issued less than 10 years ago with a current photo, or a valid passport. For young children, whose faces change quickly, a passport usually avoids problems at the photo check.
Adding Chile to the trip
Chile follows the same logic: it is a party to the Mercosur travel documents agreement as an associated state, and Brazil’s Federal Police lists it among the destinations where an RG issued less than 10 years ago replaces the passport for tourism. The tourist stay in Chile is up to 90 days, extendable once.
Travellers combining Buenos Aires and Santiago can use the same ID at both borders, including the overland crossing over the Andes. For the Chilean leg, see the guide to Santiago Red bus routes.
Checklist before you fly
Check these points before leaving home; they cover nearly every case of denied boarding.
- Physical document. A printed RG or CIN, or a passport; the phone app does not count.
- RG issue date. Less than 10 years old on your return date, with a recognisable photo.
- Condition. No tears, stains or lamination that hides data.
- Purpose of travel. Tourism with the RG; work, study or residence only with a passport.
- Minors. Consent form in two originals with notarised signatures when a parent is not travelling.
- Power and plugs. Pack an adapter after checking the plug type used in Argentina.
Frequently asked questions
Do Brazilians need a passport to fly to Argentina?
No, for tourism a physical RG issued less than 10 years ago is accepted on flights and at land borders. The airline checks the document at check-in and can deny boarding if the card is older than 10 years, damaged or only available in digital form. Carry the printed card in good condition.
Can I enter Argentina with an RG older than 10 years?
It is not recommended. Brazil’s Federal Police only waives the passport when the identity card was issued less than 10 years ago and the photo still identifies the holder. With an older card, the risk of denied boarding is high, so get a new card or travel on a valid passport.
Is the Brazilian driving licence accepted as ID?
No. The Federal Police says the CNH, physical or digital, is refused for entry into Mercosur countries, whatever the reason for the trip. The licence lets you drive in Argentina, but immigration control requires an RG, a CIN or a passport. The same applies to professional cards and birth certificates.
Is the digital ID on my phone accepted at the border?
No. Immigration control requires the physical document, and digital versions of the RG, CIN or CNH in government apps do not replace it. Carry the printed card or your passport, and keep a photo of the document only as a backup in case of loss.
How long can a Brazilian stay in Argentina as a tourist?
Up to three months, extendable for a similar period, according to Argentina’s Dirección Nacional de Migraciones. Paid work is not allowed during a tourist stay. To live, study or work in Argentina you need to apply for residence, and in that case a passport is mandatory.
What does a Brazilian child travelling with one parent need?
The child needs their own travel document and written consent from the other parent with a notarised signature, in two originals, under CNJ Resolution No. 131/2011. A child travelling alone or with another adult needs consent from both parents. If no validity period is stated, the consent lasts two years.
Does the same ID work for Argentina and Chile?
Yes, for tourism the same RG issued less than 10 years ago works in both countries, because both take part in the Mercosur travel documents agreement. If the itinerary includes a country outside the agreement, bring a passport.
Cover photo: Juan Pablo Mascanfroni / Unsplash
