Practical
freight guide
Argentina allows qualifying imports and exports through authorised postal-service and courier providers, but the commercial purpose must be declared honestly. ARCA’s current general courier rules allow consignments for people or legal entities and state that they may have a commercial purpose, subject to the regime’s value and package limits. The separate “small shipments” concession is for non-commercial use.
Clever Couriers helps Australian businesses compare eligible courier and air-freight services to Argentina. We assess the real pieces, goods, value, urgency and final postcode while the Argentine importer or customs broker confirms the correct entry.
Identify the Argentine importer and CUIT
Obtain the receiver’s full legal name, address and CUIT where required for the import. The delivery contact at a hotel, event, warehouse or job site may not be authorised to act as importer. Commercial stock should be addressed to the entity that can make the declaration, pay the assessment and provide documents.
Ask whether a despachante de aduana is already appointed. For freight outside the courier regime or goods needing formal intervention, the importer and broker should resolve registration and approvals before collection.
Test the shipment against the current courier regime
ARCA states that the general PSP/courier regime is available for qualifying import consignments with an FOB value no greater than US$3,000 per shipment and packages no heavier than 50 kg each. Commercial purpose is permitted within the general framework. These thresholds do not override prohibited-goods, product-control or service limits.
The “Pequeño Envío” category has additional conditions: no more than three units of the same kind, up to 50 kg per package, a value within the specified limit and no commercial purpose. Do not use personal-shopping concessions for resale goods, production inputs or a customer order.
Use Argentina’s tariff classification
Argentina applies the Mercosur Common Nomenclature, or NCM. The local eight-digit code extends the international HS structure and influences duty, tax and regulatory intervention. Have the importer or broker confirm it rather than recycling an Australian export code or a neighbouring country’s tariff number.
Give enough information to classify the item: material, construction, function, model, part number, quantity and intended use. Avoid lines such as “equipment”, “samples” or “spares” without identifying the underlying product.
Prepare Spanish-ready paperwork
The commercial invoice should show seller, buyer, consignee and importer; invoice date and number; detailed goods; NCM where confirmed; quantity; unit and total values; currency; origin; Incoterm; and reason for export. A packing list should show how each line is distributed across cartons or pallets.
Use descriptions that the importer can translate into precise Spanish without changing meaning. Warranty replacements, repairs and samples still require an accurate value and explanation. Keep values and quantities aligned across the invoice, packing list and booking.
Budget for tax and duty without guessing
Argentina’s general IVA rate is commonly 21%, while customs duty, statistical charges, perceptions, internal taxes or exemptions can depend on the goods and importer. The taxable base may include more than the invoice value alone. A generic delivered price can therefore understate the landed cost.
Ask the importer’s broker to estimate the assessment from the NCM, customs value and intended regime. State clearly whether the recipient will pay border charges and how a customs query will be authorised.
Check controlled products before uplift
Food, cosmetics, medicines, medical devices and related goods can require ANMAT involvement. Plants, seeds, animal products, timber and wooden packaging can involve SENASA. Electrical, telecommunications, chemicals and regulated industrial goods may require other certificates or approvals.
Samples for testing can have their own ARCA categories and codes. “Sample” is not a universal exemption. Confirm whether the item will be consumed, tested, returned, sold or installed and obtain the required evidence before sending it.
Plan beyond Buenos Aires
Ezeiza is a key air gateway for the Buenos Aires region, but final delivery may continue to Córdoba, Rosario or another province. Quote the full Argentine postcode, province, locality, street, number, floor or unit and local telephone number. Do not price only to Buenos Aires when the customer is inland.
For pallets, confirm dock or forklift access and receiving appointments. Some industrial sites require driver identification, safety inductions or nominated delivery windows that must be declared before booking.
Argentina shipping checklist
- full destination address, province and postcode;
- consignee, importer, CUIT and broker details;
- piece count, packaging, dimensions and gross weights;
- specific goods, materials, function and confirmed NCM;
- value, currency, origin and commercial purpose;
- courier-regime eligibility or formal-entry plan;
- ANMAT, SENASA or other approvals;
- dangerous-goods information where relevant;
- payer for duty, tax and clearance; and
- delivery appointment and unloading access.
Quote the actual Argentine import
Clever Couriers can compare currently eligible services and support the booking and tracking. ARCA, the importer, its broker and relevant regulators determine classification, assessment, permission and release.
Carrier availability and border rules can change. Transit estimates do not guarantee clearance timing. FreightSafe is limited protection, not comprehensive transit insurance.