Customs and immigration (ferry to/from Argentina) | Customs and Immigration

April 3rd, 2024 by miroandval

Arriving in Uruguay from Argentina.

After you exit the ferry, stop to your left near the big modern glass building which has scanners for luggage. Ignore any workers who direct you otherwise.

Pass the scanners and to the left, you should see a big Aduana / Customs sign and two green office chairs where you can wait.

You need Mercosur insurance to get Uruguayan TIP. Customs officers will use the information on the insurance to issue the TIP as it is easier for them as all information is already in Spanish.

Easy process, super friendly people. Got a 1 year TIP.

December 20th, 2023 by effectiveterritory55

No problem taking the ferry to BA with our 2.3 m tall vehicle. They parked us at the back of the ship on the Buquebus ferry. Only issue I had was turning in the TIP to the Aduana: when checking in I was directed to do it before immigration at office 106 in the main terminal hall. I went to the office but it was empty, as was 107 next to it. After waiting for as long as I could I went back to the buquebus staff who found me someone who I assume was with customs and he reviewed and took the document. I think everything worked out because I never saw any other aduana folks after going through immigration.

January 12th, 2023 by simberwart

Be sure about your vehicule hight. Colonia Express seems to be max 2.1m, they refused our Van of 2.25m with a refund. So we bought it directly in the terminal at the Buquebus (they do not have low hight limit) office at quite the same price, but you can pay with Argentina Pesos, so in the end it's cheaper !

January 6th, 2023 by temm_e

Still a bit complicated. The Colonia Express vessels (other terminal in BA, in Colonia UY is just one Terminal for both companies) are normaly smaller and not recommendable. We bought a ticket and we're informed 30minutes before departure that our Sprintervan only fit on the buquebus ferry (at UY side). At buquebus it's not safe, that your vehicle will fit. they have also different ferries. in the smaller vessels the max altitude seems to be around 3 Meters. Also the complete terminal (aduana at ARG side) is not really big rig friendly. Sometimes the terminal is supercrowded with long waiting lines, sometimes really calm. 1. buy Tickets (online or at the desk). 2. Show up around 2h before departure and park your car in the waiting line in front of the ferry. 3. Check-in at desk. 4. In UY cancel your TIP inside of the terminal. after passing the migration you cant go back to the aduana in the terminal bulding for canceling the tip (it's the oposite than on the BA Side) 5. Migration UY 6. Drivers go to the vehicle, passengers to the waiting hall. 7. Passenger and driver leave the ferry in the car at ARG side 8. Migration 9. Aduana ARG

September 16th, 2019 by b.chaski

Very easy crossing.
Bought our ticket directly at the counter one day before for 3400 UR$ (2 paxs and a van).

we arrived 1h30 before. You directly park the car at the "embarque".
Take all your necessary belongings (passport, car documents...and phone charger too as you can charge during the waiting time).
Leave the car and go to check-in inside and them to give you TIP to the Uruguay Aduana.
GO to the immigration (Uruguay and Argentina at the same time) and then wait until they call one person per car. After easy just follow instructions.
Argentinian TIP done on the other side.

August 20th, 2019 by adventureandpermaculture

Taking the ferry from Colonia to BA with a big rig = a piece of cake!
We bought our tickets at the seacat counter 3 hours before departing (it is cheaper this way). 2 people + 1 van = 3090 UR pesos (we paid with our Mastercard).
We got to the ferry terminal 2 hours before embarking, parked the car, went to the check-in, went to through Immigration . We got stamped from Uruguay and Argentina at the same time.
Then we waited until they called the conductors passengers, went to our car, gave our Uruguayan TIP to the customs guy on the parking lot, waited for all the cars to embark as the highest one is the last one to embark (our van is 3m high).
The whole process is so smooth!
It's a one hours ride from Colonia to BA.

January 18th, 2019 by abraasas.wordpress.com

Estacionados na Plaza Mayor de Colonia del Sacramento

December 5th, 2018 by wikideviagens

We passed easily with our ~2.50 m high campervan. Paid 3980 urugaian pesos for 2 persons and the car (seacat Colonia, payment only in cash). Was the last car to get on board as the space for cars larger than 1.96 m is at the end of the ship. Times: 10:15, 16:00 and 20:00.

August 14th, 2018 by p.janu

We can't take this ferry. There is a highlimit for big rigs till 3,10 meter. The price for 1 person, 1 way was now 1000 uruguay pesos.

June 15th, 2018 by danielunadin

Entering Uruguay: we only needed to make the TIP for our car, insurance we already had (valuable for all mercosur states). We went to the Aduana office in the white building right after leaving the ferry. They made us a TIP for one year after we asked them to do so. They didnt control the car itsself. We are not sure if this is the normal process as they watched the Uruguay football team playing their first game on Word Cup, they weren t that concentrated on work therefore :-)

April 4th, 2018 by Overland The Americas

Uruguay Immigration and Aduana office in ferry terminal. If you’re taking the ferry from Uruguya to Uruguay you will get stamped out of Uruguay and in to Argentina right here. Warning! You’ll also need to cancel your Uruguay TIP BEFORE you get your passport stamped. Right after you check in at the counter walk to the Aduanas office and hand over your TIP THEN proceed to enter the Immigration boarding room.

If you’re arriving to Uruguay you MUST show insurance to the Aduanas officer before leaving the port. As mentioned by others, there’s an office three blocks away where you can buy insurance but make sure that you arrive while the insurance office is open otherwise your vehicle may end up stuck at the ferry terminal.

January 11th, 2018 by chris

Entering at Colonia from Argentina you must stop at the large white building on left for your TIP as you exit ferry. There is no sign or official directing you in.

July 14th, 2017 by rafael.cschneider

Eladia Isabel is not at work. So autos big as 2.50m can't cross.

February 6th, 2017 by nhussmann

This place is in wrong location - it is located at -34.47435, -57.84398

February 6th, 2017 by nhussmann

Most of the ships are for normal cars up to 2.20 meters. If your truck is higher you have to book the Eladia Isabel from Buquebus (up to 3 meters)

February 6th, 2017 by nhussmann

When you leave Uruguay yo must give your vehicle importation permit to aduana uruguaya before you check in for the car ferry. Then check in and migration.

August 27th, 2014 by petersride.com

I recommend booking passage for the ferry from Colonia to Buenos Aires online to ensure a ticket http://www.buquebus.com

You will stamp out of Uruguay and into Argentina in the ferry terminal. Uruguay and Argentina immigrations stand right next to each other. You hand your passport to the first, it is canceled and handed to the next officer, who stamps you into Argentina, then hands your passport back. 1, 2, 3, it’s that easy and quick.

I believe I found the customs office and turned in my temporary importation permit before going through immigrations. The motorcycle importation process going into Argentina is managed in a small booth on the Argentina side.