Travel insurance for Argentina
Expert tips on choosing a great travel insurance for Argentina
Whether you’re exploring the bookstores of Buenos Aires or hiking in Patagonia, our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, has some tips for helping you decide on a great policy for visiting Argentina.
Adrian Taylor
Chief Executive – General Insurance
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As soon as you make a booking or pay any deposits, you should sort your travel insurance policy to ensure you’re covered for cancellations before you depart for South America. But, before you choose a policy, it’s important to compare a range of travel insurance quotes to find the most suitable for your trip and your budget.
Lower your premium by increasing your excess
Another way to save money on your travel insurance policy is to increase your excess, which will lower your premium. Think of the excess as your “skin in the game”. It’s the agreed amount you pay out-of-pocket when you make a claim that’s accepted by the insurer. Word to the wise – pick an excess you can afford if you need to claim.
Consider optional add-ons
Argentina is popular for adventure activities, including hiking in the Andes or white-water rafting at Iguazu Falls. Not all providers will automatically include cover for these activities, so check out their optional extras to power-up your protection. Plus, many people use Argentina as a spot to board a cruise to Antarctica, so cruise cover is essential if you’re sailing to the South Pole. If you’re getting off the ship in Antarctica, you’ll need a policy that covers there as well.
Do I need travel insurance for Argentina?
Yes, foreign travellers need to purchase travel insurance to enter Argentina.1 The president, Javier Milei, announced this change in May 2025, as part of wider cost-saving measures targeting foreigners. Travellers are required to have health insurance in their policy at a minimum to cover medical emergencies and any related costs.
While many basic policies will cover medical expenses and allow you into the country, securing a comprehensive travel insurance plan could be a much better idea. You never know what might happen – from theft to trip cancellation – so having a policy with more extensive coverage will ensure you’re protected if things go wrong.
How much is travel insurance to Argentina?
For a single person aged 30 years travelling to Argentina for two weeks, a comprehensive travel insurance policy could cost about AUD$125 to AUD$370*.
This quote varies if it were two 45-year-old travellers on a one-week trip; their estimated cost is AUD$250 to AUD$526**.
Evidently, the price of travel insurance policies depends on certain factors, including:
- Age
- Destination
- Trip duration
- Level of cover
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- If you choose to add any optional extras to your policy.
What’s the cheapest travel insurance for Argentina?
Cheap travel insurance for Argentina would be a basic, medical-only policy. This type of policy isn’t offered by all providers, but those that do will usually cover medical care, emergency medical evacuation or repatriation and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Overseas medical treatment can be costly, and without medical insurance, you could be out of pocket for thousands of dollars. That’s why no matter what policy you choose, having medical coverage included is essential.
It’s important to remember that the cheapest travel insurance may include all the features and protections you would like. A comprehensive travel insurance will offer more coverage, so it could be worth the extra dollars.
Inclusions and exclusions
Your travel insurance cover will include and exclude certain things, so you’ll need to shop around to find a great policy. The best way to do this is to compare a range of travel insurance quotes, as these will tell you what you’ll get and for what price. However, a quote won’t tell you everything – reading the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) will help you understand exactly what is and isn’t included.
What is included in my travel insurance policy for Argentina?
While travel insurance policies vary from provider to provider, and by what level of cover you choose, there are some common inclusions. These are:
- Medical costs: Medical care while overseas can be very expensive, so ensuring you have cover for unexpected medical costs is essential. While policies usually include this as a minimum, including basic policies, it’s always a good idea to check what the limits and exclusions are.
- Cancellations: You may need to cancel your trip before it’s even begun, or be forced to cancel flights, hotels or tours due to unforeseen circumstances once you’re overseas. Cancellation cover will allow you to claim for these pre-paid and non-refundable expenses.
- Travel delays: If your flight or plans get delayed, your policy will help cover you for any unexpected costs. This could include emergency accommodation, new transport plans and even meals.
- Theft: Theft in Argentina is common, particularly in major cities and especially in the capital city of Buenos Aires. Pickpockets target tourists, so having lost luggage cover for your personal belongings could be an important inclusion.
- Emergency assistance: Accidents and incidents can occur at any time of day, and you’ll want to be able to reach your insurance provider as soon as possible. Fortunately, a common inclusion across travel insurance policies is 24/7 emergency assistance.
Optional extras
Cruise cover
Cruise cover is not usually a standard inclusion on travel insurance policies, meaning maritime incidents are not covered – such as medical emergencies or cabin confinement. If you’re planning a cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, or around South America, it’s a good idea to invest in a cruise cover add-on.
Snow cover
In winter, many snow activities are available in Argentina – with July and August being the peak times. So if you’re planning a trip during these months and want to visit the snow, say in Patagonia or the Andes, having cover for activities such as snowboarding, sledding, snowmobiling and more is essential.
Adventure cover
For adventure activities outside of the snow, you’ll need an adventure cover add-on. This extra cover will usually include activities such as hiking to certain heights, quad biking, hot air ballooning and more. These inclusions will still vary depending on your provider, so check your PDS to confirm that your planned activities will be covered.
What is excluded from my travel insurance policy for Argentina?
What your travel insurance company will not cover will also differ between policies and providers, but just as with inclusions, there are some common exclusions across the board. These include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions: If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, these will not automatically be included within the medical cover. Instead, many insurers require you to disclose these conditions prior to purchasing a policy, where they will then confirm whether they will cover the condition or not.
- Change of mind: Despite cancellations and delays usually being included in your policy, those that occur due to you changing your mind will not. Instead, these need to occur due to the provider cancelling or delaying the trip, or because of unforeseen circumstances.
- Illegal or reckless behaviour: If you’re breaking the law or behaving in a reckless manner, accidents will not be covered – whether you or someone else is injured. For example, if you’re drunk and decide to drive a scooter, you won’t be covered for medical care if you crash and hurt yourself.
- Disregarding government warnings: If the Argentine government or Smartraveller has advised against travel to Argentina, you won’t be covered for any claims that occur within that period. As of April 2026, Smartraveller says Australians should “exercise normal safety precautions” when visiting Argentina.
Common mistakes travellers make when visiting Argentina
Travellers online have shared common mistakes they made while on their Argentine adventure, and it’s worth knowing what they are so you can try to avoid making them yourself. These include:
- Not confirming taxi prices: Travellers say you should never get into a taxi without a meter or without a set price beforehand. If you don’t, you’ll find that a lot of taxi drivers try to overcharge you. You can hail a ride with Uber, Cabify and DiDi but these apps are mostly restricted to major cities such as Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba.
- Relying on credit cards: Not everywhere accepts foreign cards, so you may find yourself unable to pay for goods and services in some places. Plus, the connection doesn’t always work at the terminal that completes the transaction, which leaves you unable to pay as well. Instead, it’s recommended that you carry cash, including small denominations.
- Not carrying identification: Many travellers say that, particularly in Buenos Aires, you’ll need to show identification to the merchant when paying with a credit card, or they won’t let you pay. This is particularly common in supermarkets.
- Neglecting to tip: While it’s only customary, many travellers say they felt bad when they didn’t know that a 10% tip is the polite thing to do. It’s also important to factor these tips into your budget when planning the trip.
- Failing to secure valuables: Pickpocketing is common in Argentina, so carrying your phone in hand or leaving valuables on tables in restaurants isn’t a good idea. Always make sure to secure your valuables while walking around the street to avoid falling victim to theft.
Frequently asked questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for Argentina?
Yes, travel insurance for Argentina is mandatory as of 2025, although it’s only required to have a policy that covers healthcare. Regardless, it’s a good idea to level-up to a more comprehensive policy for your peace of mind. Having this type of policy will mean you’re covered for much more, including cancellations and lost luggage.
Do I need vaccinations for Argentina?
While vaccinations are not an official requirement to visit Argentina, they are still a good idea. It’s recommended that you get the yellow fever vaccination, especially if you are visiting the Corrientes and Misiones provinces.
Other vaccinations to consider are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles and typhoid.
What is the best travel insurance when going to Argentina?
The “best” travel insurance policy for Argentina doesn’t really exist as what is the “best” differs from person to person and their travel plans. To find a great policy for you, you should compare a range of travel insurance policies online.
Do you need a visa when visiting Argentina?
No, as a tourist, you don’t need to have a visa for Argentina – if you’re staying for less than 90 days. However, you will need to show evidence that you’re going to leave the country in that timeframe, either with a return or onward ticket and a valid passport.2
When you enter Argentina, you may also be asked by officials for proof of your accommodation and evidence that you have enough money (or a credit card) to cover your trip.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
Ready to compare travel insurance quotes online for your trip to Argentina?
Before you buy travel insurance, it’s important to compare a range of quotes online so that you can find the most suitable policy for you and your trip. By comparing, you can find a policy that not only suits your budget.
1 Reuters. Argentina tightens entry requirements for foreigners. Last updated May 2025. Accessed March 2026.
2 Smartraveller. Argentina. Last updated March 2026. Accessed March 2026.
*Prices from our website on 17/04/2026 for comprehensive cover with a $200 excess for one person aged 30 travelling to Argentina 1 July – 15 July 2026. Minimum cover for trip cancellation $10,000, minimum cover for luggage $5,000 and no pre-existing medical conditions. Prices are indicative only.
** Prices from our website on 17/04/2026 for comprehensive cover with a $200 excess for two people aged 45 travelling to Argentina 1 July – 8 July 2026. Minimum cover for trip cancellation $10,000, minimum cover for luggage $5,000 and no pre-existing medical conditions. Prices are indicative only.