Visa and Travel Information

 

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION - PLEASE READ 

ANTARCTICA

Visa

 Not Required for AU/NZ/US/CA/EU/UK/SA passport holders

Avian Influenza – Update as of June 2024:

Since early 2024, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus has been detected on the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. This is a naturally occurring virus that can impact birds and marine mammals. The Avian Influenza arrival was anticipated by both IAATO and tour operator members, with increased biosecurity in place from 2022 to mitigate risk. Please be aware that any landing site suspected of being affected may require temporary closure. However, the extensive length and variety of Antarctic landing sites allow ships to flexibly avoid areas that may be potentially affected by Avian Influenza. With the help of enhanced biosecurity measures, pre-landing site inspections by your expedition team, and increased flexibility in selecting landing sites, we can safeguard the environment and preserve the wonders of Antarctica for future generations, all while ensuring a unique Antarctic experience for our travellers.             
Please refer to the IAATO website for the latest details or reach out to your booking agent or one of our Destination Specialists for more information. 

COVID19             
Some Polar Expedition Operators have mandatory requirements for COVID -19 Vaccinations. Please ask you agent to advise how this effects your booking if you are unsure. 

 

ARCTIC

Visas - Please check with your booking agent.

COVID19    
Some Polar Expedition Operators have mandatory requirements for COVID -19 Vaccinations. Please ask you agent to advise how this effects your booking if you are unsure.

Svalbard: New Regulations from January 2025 
On the archipelago of Svalbard there are new regulations coming into place to protect the delicate eco systems and wildlife in the region. Tourism in Svalbard has grown enormously over the past decade, and regulations are needed.

•    There will be a limitation of 200 passengers on board ships that can cruise in nature reserves and national parks.
•    Previously it was required to keep a distance of 300 meters from polar bears around the archipelago. From 2025 it will also be required to keep a distance of 500 meters from polar bears around the archipelago between 1 March and 30 June.  
•    From 2025 there will be a speed limit of 5 knots within 500 meters from land outside bird cliffs in the period April 1 to August 31.
•    From 2025 motor traffic at sea must keep a minimum of 150 meters distance from haul out sites for walruses and the speed limit for motor traffic is 5 knots at a distance of 300 meters from haul out sites for walruses.  

Please see the below links from Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) for additional information
Guidelines: https://aeco.no/guidelines/ 
Polar Bear Viewing Guidelines: https://aeco.no/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/polar-bear-new-profile.pdf 

If you have additional questions or concerns please reach out to your booking agent. 

 

ARGENTINA

 Not Required for AU/NZ/US/CA/EU/UK/SA passport holders

Yellow Fever Vaccination              
Misiones and Corrientes Provinces Only. Please check requirements before travelling. 

National Park Fees 
Please note we include the fees in tours where possible, however some national park fees may need to be paid locally. Los Glaciares National Park in El Chalten has recently introduced a new entrance fee (Oct 2024) of ARS $300,000 Aprox. 30 USD (1 day) and ARS $450,000 - Approx. $45 USD (2 days). Please note that you will be required to pay this locally if you have booked prior to the entrance fee being introduced.

 

AUSTRALIA

Important note for passengers travelling to Australia (including Macquarie Island, which may be included on your sub Antarctic expedition cruise)

Unless you are an Australian citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the Department of Home Affairs website.

BOLIVIA

Visa

 Required if travelling on United States passport

ALL foreigners visiting Bolivia are required (this is a mandatory requirement) to register for the Bolivia enter registration form (SIGEMIG). This is a traveller location form where foreigners can register their accommodation details. This can be done prior to arrival in Bolivia. If you want to complete it before arrival you can find the online registration form here. Make sure to print out a copy of your registration and bring it with you.

Or send this link: https://sistemas.migracion.gob.bo/sigemig/#/seguridad/login

 

Yellow Fever Vaccination    

Currently,  all travellers coming from or have been in the last 30 days in the following countries must to present the international certificate of vaccination issued at least 10 days prior to their visit to Colombia:

• Angola
• Democratic Rep. of Congo
• Uganda

You will also be required to present a Yellow Fever Certificate if you are going to enter any Bolivian Municipality that has been categorized as an endemic zone of Yellow Fever infection. For people that cannot have the Yellow Fever vaccine for medical reasons must carry the corresponding exemption certificate.

The list of Endemic Municipalities for Yellow Fever is presented in this link: LISTA ZONAS ENDEMICAS EN BOLIVIA.pdf 

You may be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate when returning to your home country and possibly when travelling between countries. Please check requirements before travelling.

BRAZIL

Visa - if travelling after 10 April 2025 **

 Not Required for New Zealand, Canada, UK EU or South Africa Passports             
 Required if travelling on Australian, United States, Japanese and Canadian Passports

Australian, United States, Canadian and Japanese Passport Holders will be required to obtain a Brazilian tourist visa prior to travel from 10 April 2025. The visa will have a maximum stay of 90 days and can be extended for up to 180 days within a 12-month period.              
Please see the following website: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-sydney/visas-vistos for the latest information from the Australian Consulate about the visa. You can apply for your visa through VFS Global: https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/              
 

Yellow Fever Vaccination              
You may be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate when returning to your home country and possibly when travelling between countries. Please check requirements before travelling

 

CHILE

Visa 

 Not Required for New Zealand, Canada, UK EU or South Africa Passports             
 Required if travelling on an Australian Passport

IMPORTANT!

Australian Passport Holders are required to obtain a Visa when travelling to Chile.

Transit visa

Australian passport holders can remain in the Transit Lounge of the International Airport in Santiago for up to 8 hours (plane side) without entering Chile and therefore not requiring a Visa. This means you cannot go through Immigration to collect and re-check your luggage or boarding passfor the next flight.

If this is the case, then you will need to apply for a 72-hours Transit Visa. To apply for this Visa please go to the following webpage https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl/Solicitudes/visa.aspx, click on “English” language (top right hand corner) and choose the Consulate where you will submit the application:

• If you reside in NSW, Queensland or Northern Territory – SYDNEY
• If you reside in A.C.T. – CANBERRA
• If you reside in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia or Western Australia – MELBOURNE

The Visa is called “Transit Permit for up to 72 hours” and is currently taking approximately 10 to 15 working days to process. Please attach to the online application the following documents:

• Copy of your valid Australian passport with which you are travelling. It must be valid for at least 6 months as from the date of arrival in Chile.
• One current passport-size photograph on a white background. It must be a head and shoulders shot.
• Full Itinerary with intended airline flights in and out of Chile and proof of accommodation in Chile (if applicable).
• One latest bank statement to show your economic solvency. You can erase your account number.

Once you have submitted your online application the system in Chile will verify your documentation and will divert the application to the corresponding Chilean Consulate.

If all the documentation is in order the Consulate will issue the electronic Visa online (E-Vistur) which is free of charge and valid for a single entry of up to 72 hours as from the date you arrive in Chile.

Once the Visa has been issued, you must enter Chile within 90 days.

Tourist Visa

As from the 9^th of May 2020, Australian passport holders require a Visa to enter Chile as tourists. To apply for this Visa you must go to the following webpage  https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl/Solicitudes/visa.aspx

click on “English” language (top right-hand corner) and choose the Consulate where you will submit your application:

• If you reside en NSW, Queensland or Northern Territory – SYDNEY
• If you reside in A.C.T. – CANBERRA
• If you reside in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia or Western Australia – MELBOURNE

The Visa is currently taking approximately  10  to 15 business days to process. Please attach to the online application the following documents:

• Copy of your valid passport with which you are travelling. It must be valid for at least 6 months as from the date of arrival in Chile.
• One current passport-size photograph on a white background. It must be a head and shoulders shot.
• Full Itinerary with intended airline flights in and out of Chile and proof of accommodation in Chile (if applicable).
• Your bank statement from the last month as proof of your financial situation. Please erase your account number.
• If staying with family or friends a letter of invitation. It must be signed in the presence of a Chilean Notary Public and include their full name, home address, telephone number and email.

Once you have submitted your online application the system in Chile will verify your documentation and will divert the application to the corresponding Consulate General.

If all the documentation is in order the Consulate will issue the electronic Visa online (E-Vistur) which is valid for up to 90 days as from the date you arrive in Chile.

The Tourist Visa currently costs A$188.- which is paid via electronic bank transfer just before issuing it. Please note: Our prices vary month by month depending on the rate of exchange (US$/A$).

The Transit Visa (for a stay of up to 72 hours) is issued free of charge.

ONCE THE VISA HAS BEEN ISSUED YOU MUST ENTER CHILE WITHIN 90 DAYS.

 

Travelers must keep PDI Entrance Form To Chile

We kindly remind you  about the importance of keeping the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones) entrance form upon arrival in Chile. This document is crucial for accessing tax exemptions, such as avoiding the 19% VAT on purchases and services, including hotels.

If travelers do not have this form, they will be required to pay the VAT, which could cause unnecessary inconvenience and additional costs.

 

 

 

Travelling to Easter Island 

All visitors to Easter Island may stay for a maximum of 30 days. You must fill in an Immigration Form (FUI according to its initials in Spanish). This can be done only 24 hours prior your departure to Easter Island.      
You may fill out the digital Single-Entry form (FUI) and show the confirmation email to the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI) at the airport. The entry form may be filled under the following link: https://ingresorapanui.interior.gob.cl/#

The following documents MUST be presented at time of check-in at Santiago Airport for your flight to Easter Island. Failure to present all 3 documents may result in entry being denied.

• Passport      
• Return ticket from Easter Island      
• Printed copy of your hotel confirmation provided by Viva Expeditions

 

COLOMBIA

Visa

 Not Required

Arrivals form

You are required to complete an immigration registration form online, to be complete 72 hours - 1 hour prior to arrival. https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en

*Please note we have been advised this is not always checked, however it may be.

Yellow Fever Vaccination    

Currently,  all travellers coming from or have been in the last 30 days in the following countries must to present the international certificate of vaccination issued at least 10 days prior to their visit to Colombia:

• Angola
• Democratic Rep. of Congo
• Uganda

         
You may be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate when returning to your home country and possibly when travelling between countries. Please check requirements before travelling.

 

COSTA RICA

Visa

 Not Required Not Required for AU/NZ/US/CA/EU/UK/SA passport holders

Yellow Fever Vaccination              
Required for travelers ≥9 months old arriving from countries with risk for Yellow Fevor virus transmission.  Included in this requirement are travelers arriving from Tanzania and Zambia, and designated areas of: Colombia (the entire country, except the cities of Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellín, and the archipelago department, San Andrés and Providencia); Ecuador (the provinces of Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbíos, and Zamora-Chinchipe, and excluding the rest of the country); Paraguay (the entire country, except the city of Asunción); Peru (the entire country, except the cities of Cusco and Lima, the regions of Cajamarca, Lambayeque, Piura, and Tumbes, and the highland tourist areas of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail); Trinidad & Tobago (the entire country, except the urban areas of Port of Spain; travelers with itineraries limited to the island of Tobago, and travelers with airport transits or layovers are also exempt from this requirement). Travelers arriving from Argentina and Panama are exempt from this requirement.

 No vaccination is required for those over the age of 60 years who can provide a letter from their doctor stating they are exempt from the yellow fever vaccination because of their age. For anyone else arriving from the countries stated above, failure to supply a vaccination certificate or a doctor’s letter of exemption could mean admission into Costa Rica will be denied.

 

ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Visa

 Not Required

Yellow Fever Vaccination              

Effective May 12, 2025, all citizens or residents of Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, or Brazil, as well as travelers of any nationality who have spent more than 10 days in any of these countries, must present a valid International Certificate of Yellow Fever Vaccination upon entering Ecuador. The vaccine must have been administered at least 10 days prior to arrival.

Travelers over 60 are exempt from presenting a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Travelers with a medical condition are exempt from presenting a yellow fever vaccination certificate, as long as they provide a signed medical note from a doctor stating that they cannot receive the vaccine. Children over 3 years’ old must present their official Vaccination Certificate.

Please note that a single dose of the yellow fever vaccine provides lifetime immunity, so certificates issued in previous years remain valid and do not need to be updated.
This is a preventive measure to help control and reduce the spread of yellow fever in Ecuador.

 Please check requirements before travelling

 

Galapagos Biosecurity online sworn declaration

From 1 December 2024, all travellers to the Galapagos Islands must complete an online form. The form will ask for flight info and details about if you have recently been in contact with animals, eg farm visits.

• This needs to be completed by individuals 18 years and older.

• It can be completed up to 48 hours before the trip. 

https://declaracion.abgalapagos.gob.ec/declaracion

Once the form is completed, a confirmation email will be sent and must be shown to airport authorities.

 

 

PERU

Visa

 Not Required

Yellow Fever Vaccination              
You may be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate when returning to your home country and possibly when travelling between countries. Please check requirements before travelling.

 

NEW ZEALAND

Important note for passengers travelling via New Zealand:

Some visitors and transit passengers can travel to New Zealand without a visa if they get an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they travel.

To see who does not need an NZeTA please go to the following link: Who does not need an NZeTA.  To find out full details on the NZeTA including how to apply please go to the New Zealand Government Immigration site.

 New Zealand Traveller Declaration

• A  declaration needs to be completed for each traveller arriving into New Zealand, including babies and children.
• It is free.
• Takes about 10 minutes.
• You can do it on the NZTD app or online form, using your phone or computer.
• You can complete it up to 24 hours before starting your trip to New Zealand.
• Someone you trust can help you complete it or do it on your behalf (with your permission).
• Your digital declaration is linked to your passport and is checked when you arrive (at eGate or by border officer). There is no QR code issued and you don't need to print anything out.
• There is a paper declaration form available, for travellers who cannot complete it online.
• Please complete this here: New Zealand Traveller Declaration website

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Important note for passengers travelling via the United States of America
International travellers who are seeking to travel to or via the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), even if you are only transiting, are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will be required to pay an administrative fee. All eligible travellers who wish to travel to or via the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorisation and then pay the fee.

Please visit the following website for more information:  https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

 

CUBA

The USA has reclassified Cuba as a 'State Sponsor of Terrorism'. This impacts passengers' ability to enter or transit the USA on an ESTA Visa Waiver after travelling to Cuba. Customers who have travelled to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 are no longer eligible for an ESTA Visa Waiver and will need to apply for a visa to enter or transit the USA - the current expected wait for a visa appointment with the US Embassy is 6 months. 

An e-visa is required to enter Cuba for all nationalities.

 

BELIZE

There is a departure tax. This includes a conservation tax of US$20.00. Fees are as follows:      
Departing from the Belize Int'l Airport: $55.50 USD per person +$0.75 USD per person (Domestic Security Screening).      
Departing via Land (either Guatemala or Mexico Border) or by Sea: $20.00 USD per person.      
Departure fees are payable in cash (USD currency) and must be paid by all travellers including children. Please note these taxes are subject to change.   

 

HONDURAS

Pre Arrival Form: Please note: Honduras has a check-in requirement for tourists entering the country by land.      
All visitors must fill out a check-in form online at least one week prior their arrival. This requirement has no extra cost. Pre-check-in can be done at https://prechequeo.inm.gob.hn/ 

 

MEXICO 

Additional Taxes: The State of Quintana Roo recently established a new tax for tourists (including destinations such as Cancun, Riviera Maya, Holbox and Tulum). Tax (MXN 224, approx. USD 11pp). Passengers can make the payment through the VISITAX website (www.visitax.gob.mx) which has a simple online form and allows you to pay online. A VISITAX pass will be sent out by e-mail with a barcode. Security staff at Cancun International Airport will ensure and verify that you have paid the tax.

Tourist Card: Please note there are a number of official looking websites including ones for Cancun airport and  https://www.mexicotouristcard.com/ that note you are required to fill in an immigration form prior to arrival. We have confirmed with our local partners that this is not correct and is infact a scam to collect data. Please do not fill these in in advance of travel. You will receive immigration cards on your flight or at the airport or border you are entering the country from. 

FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) or Multiple Migratory Form: Please note that there is a FMM form that can be completed online electronically before arrival into Mexico or at the border/airport on arrival. If you wish to complete this before you arrive go to the official government website to do so. https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html - You will receive a QR code and need to scan this on arrival and get your passport stamped. 

GUATEMALA

Entrance/Exit Forms: From July 2023 clients are required to complete an electronic entrance form when arriving/departing from Guatemala City International Airport. This can be done online within 3 days of arrival into the country by following this link: https://farm2.sat.gob.gt/declaDelViajeroGt-web/pages/public/declaracionJuradaDelViajero.html and within 3 days of departure. Once completed you will be given a QR code and this can be printed or saved on your phone. The airport also has computers set up to be able to complete the form on arrival. You will no longer be able to use paper forms.

SURINAME

Entrance Fee: For each entry to Suriname there is an entrance fee of $25USD or $25EUR and a USD$8/EUR8  service fee.      
The Entry fee for entry to Suriname in connection with tourism or family visits can be paid as follows:                 
a) Online via VFS Global https://suriname.vfsevisa.com/suriname (on working days 24 hours prior to the departure date).                 
b) in an emergency:                 
• upon arrival at the International Airport in Suriname                 
• upon arrival at the airport in Zorg en Hoop in Paramaribo                 
• at the Dependence of the Consulate of Suriname in St. Laurent, French Guiana                 
• at Canawaima Management NV in the Nickerie district

 

Disclaimer: While we will assist in every possible way to provide you with accommodation and flight details necessary to obtain any necessary visas, we are not a consular service and it is the sole responsibility of the traveller to obtain the necessary visas before departure. Travelling without a visa may result in the cancellation of part or the whole of your tour without refund. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.