Your paperwork and preparations begin before you leave for your trip. First, check the expiration date on your passport. It should not expire within six months of your trip’s departure date. Second, make a photocopy of your passport. Keep the original in your packed luggage, and only carry a photocopy of it when you are outside your hotel room, or the lodge. The only time you might need your original passport would be while shopping and paying with a credit card, or changing money. Third, if you intend to bring your own firearms, U.S. Customs requires that you register your guns, and other expensive items such as: cameras, binoculars, notebook PC’s, etc. with them before leaving the country. This form is a one-time requirement, and it is valid for as long as you own your gun. The purpose of the form: it proves to U.S. Customs upon return that you bought the gun (or other high dollar items) in the USA, and not in South America. The truth is this: most people do not register items such as binoculars, cameras, and computers before they travel. Only on very rare occasions have we heard of customs officers questioning hunters about such items, however, it can happen. The U.S. Customs Form 4457 must be completed in person at an international airport, or U.S. customs office. You must physically take the guns (in a case!) to an international airport, or a local customs office. If you are going to do this on the day of departure, we suggest that you arrive two hours earlier than normal (which is four hours prior to departure), because sometimes one has to wait for an available inspector. We purchase your hunting license for you prior to your arrival, and there is no requirement for you to sign it. European Travelers –You should inform the airline prior to travel date that you will be carrying shotguns and declare them when checking in for your flight. An airline official will escort you to a Customs post for gun registration and then hand carry your guns to the plane. On return, you must retrieve your guns at the airline service desk in the baggage hall. An airline official will accompany you to the red channel, where your guns are registered with Customs as re-entering the country.

It used to be possible to bring birds back home. However, the new airline regulations are making it impossible to check birds as luggage. Sorry for the inconvenience.

The U.S. Customs Form 4457 must be completed in person at an international airport, or U.S. customs office. You must physically take the guns (in a case!) to an international airport, or a local customs office. If you are going to do this on the day of departure, we suggest that you arrive two hours earlier than normal (which is four hours prior to departure), because sometimes one has to wait for an available inspector.
Individuals who wish to enter into Argentina with one or more firearms AUTO OR SEMI AUTO SHOT GUNS, with the proposal to perform hunting activity, sporting shooting or other legitimate purpose, will have to submit application at the origin country argentine consulate, holding the equivalent legal possess authorization extended by the local authority, identification document or passport, requiring the applicable “temporary authorization and temporary possess permit” of corresponding material, during their stay in Argentina. Consular permits are no longer needed for people bringing over/under shotguns, side x sides and single shot guns. Barrels must be longer than 24”
European Travelers –You should inform the airline prior to travel date that you will be carrying shotguns and declare them when checking in for your flight. An airline official will escort you to a Customs post for gun registration and then hand carry your guns to the plane. On return, you must retrieve your guns at the airline service desk in the baggage hall. An airline official will accompany you to the red channel, where your guns are registered with Customs as re-entering the country. As soon as you get the Gun Permit from the consulate, all you have to do is send that permit via fax or email to us and we handle the rest of the paperwork for you. Upon arrival in Argentina you need to present your gun at the RENAR office, show the consulate gun permit (only if carrying auto or semi-auto shotguns) to them and pay a fee of U$D 100,00 per gun entry. Los Ombúes will have the necessary paper-work at the Renar Office upon your arrival. The waist time to register your gun upon entering the country could be 45 minutes TO TWO HOURS. Please note that you will be asked to show your gun papers on several occasions at the different airports so allow for extra time to check-in for flights. There is a new regulation at the Buenos Aires airport that requires passengers to check shotguns against the gun registration with the airport police (RENAR) AND AGAIN WHEN YOU GO THROUGH CUSTOMS. Please allow an extra time to go through this process. If you are travelling with guns you do need a Los Ombues representative to check your guns into the country, and if you are not travelling with guns, we also recommend using us to facilitate your transfers in the city. Please note you are allowed to bring small moving parts such as small springs, fire pins and hammers. You need to inform us if you plan on bringing whole trigger mechanisms, action bolt assembly system or carrier latches. You will need to declare these items just as you do a gun and pay the fee.