Hello, I have read all the posts to this question (seems confusing) and
let me inform you of what I believe to be the most recent. I was to
Chile by bus this year, and Ecuador and Bolivia... then Brazil without
paying any passport Visa fees, ever. When any foreigner enters the
international airport of Chile (Santiago), they pay $100 airport usage
fee (arrival and departure, so traveling to Chile by air will cost an
extra $200); there is no Visa fee to enter Chile by land or boat and no
Visa fee for the airport. However since you are traveling onto
Argentina, you probably won't be charged; I am not sure, though; check
with the airline to avoid this! Chile does not charge American citizens
a $100 Visa fee-Brazil does; you have to apply 6 months in advance of
your arrival to Brazil and you must must purchase the airline tickets
early (which may be the most expensive price buying in advance to show
the travel dates) and send a copy along with the application to the
Embassy in Washington D.C.; but I heard it can be done at the border
for $100, but the country from which you enter can be very corrupt and
you may "lose money" when the national police from the Peruvian or
Bolivian side search you-I recommend you travel in a large group for
safety). In Ecuador there is also no fee for the Visa to Americans.
There is probably an airport departure tax in Ecuador and Colombia like
there is in Venezuela, about $30. Each Visa is granted upon entry to
Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Boliva, up to 90 days. Peru (Lima
international) has an airport departure tax at $30.25, but it goes up a
fraction of a dollar each year. Once in 2004, I tried to enter
Argentina by land through Bolivia and I was denied a Visa because I was
with a Peruvian friend (I already had 5 Peruvian Visas in my passport
and they made some comments like they were racist). This was an unusual
experience, which you may never suffer if you travel by air to
Argentina. Good luck.
ksternberg1m wrote:
> I will be travelling to Argentina on business, flying into Santiago
> only for the day before flying out that evening. Is there any way I can
> (legally) avoid paying the ridiculous $100 entry fee to Chile?
>
> Thank you.