Do I need a passport for Puerto Iguazú?

Mercosur citizens can use a national ID in good condition; everyone else needs a valid passport. No visa is required for Mercosur citizens entering as tourists.

Does a driving licence work at the border?

No. A driving licence is not an international travel document, however official the photo looks. The same applies to work IDs and professional body cards.

Does Argentina stamp your passport?

Not since 25 April 2022. The immigration record became digital, so your entry is registered without a stamp in the document.

Do children need authorisation?

Travelling with both parents, the child's own document is enough. With one parent or unaccompanied, a travel authorisation is required.

Do I need health insurance?

Not for a short crossing of a few hours: Argentina's requirement has an exemption for short visits. For longer stays it is mandatory.

Documents for Puerto Iguazú: what works, what does not, what changed

Do you need a passport to visit Puerto Iguazú, Argentina?

What counts, what does not, and why Argentina no longer stamps passports

Mercosur citizens cross with a national ID; everyone else needs a passport. The common mistake is turning up at the bridge with a driving licence, which does not count.

Foto: Horacio Cambeiro / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Direct answer: Citizens of Mercosur countries can enter Argentina with a national ID in good condition; everyone else needs a valid passport. A driving licence does not count as an international travel document: it is the most common mistake at the bridge. A minor travelling with both parents needs only their own document; with one parent or unaccompanied, a travel authorisation is required. And since 2022 Argentina records entry digitally, without stamping the passport.

What counts

A national ID in good condition, with a recognisable photo, for Mercosur citizens. A very old or damaged document can be refused
A valid passport, for everyone

What does not count: a driving licence, a work ID, a professional body card. None of these is an international travel document, however official the photo looks.

No visa, and no stamp any more

Under the Mercosur agreement, citizens of member countries need no visa to enter as tourists.

And since 25 April 2022 Argentina no longer stamps passports on entry: the immigration record became digital. Many travellers are surprised and assume the entry "was not recorded". It was. See do they stamp your passport in Argentina?

Travelling with children

With both parents: the child's own document is enough
With one parent, or unaccompanied: a travel authorisation is required

What about health insurance?

Since 2025 Argentina has required health insurance from foreign tourists, but short border crossings are exempt: anyone crossing from Foz for a few hours does not need to present it. For longer stays it is mandatory. The full rule, including what changed in August 2026 regarding hospital charges, is in is travel insurance required?

How the crossing works

By international bus: the vehicle stops at customs, everyone gets off with documents in hand, and the bus waits. On a normal day it takes about 10 minutes; in high season, considerably longer
By car: vehicle documents in order. A rental car needs the company's authorisation to leave the country, and not every company grants it — see can a rental car cross the border?
On foot or by bike: the bridge has a walkway and the control is at the same post

Before setting out, check the live bridge queue.

Sources: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (Argentina) · Mercosur document agreement · verified 11/09/2026

Do I need a passport for Puerto Iguazú?: Mercosur citizens can use a national ID in good condition; everyone else needs a valid passport. No visa is required for Mercosur citizens entering as tourists.
Does a driving licence work at the border?: No. A driving licence is not an international travel document, however official the photo looks. The same applies to work IDs and professional body cards.
Does Argentina stamp your passport?: Not since 25 April 2022. The immigration record became digital, so your entry is registered without a stamp in the document.
Do children need authorisation?: Travelling with both parents, the child's own document is enough. With one parent or unaccompanied, a travel authorisation is required.
Do I need health insurance?: Not for a short crossing of a few hours: Argentina's requirement has an exemption for short visits. For longer stays it is mandatory.

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