Border Crossing Chile to Argentina at Chile Chico

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Chile to Argentina at Chile Chico: Border Crossing

Border name: Rio Jeinimeni

Closest major cities: Chile Chico, Chile and Los Antiguos, Argentina
Cost for visas: $160 reciprocity fee for US citizen (pay in advance!)
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 30 minutes
Notes

Reciprocity Fees: Argentina recently changed their rules for collecting reciprocity fees for US, Canadian and Australian citizens. Fees were previously only collected if you entered via a major airport. Now fees must be paid online and in advance for all border crossings, including land borders. Go to this website, pay your fee and print the receipt. Take this with to the border. The current fees are: $160 for the United States (valid for 10 years), $100 for Australians (valid for 1 year) and $75 for Canadians (valid for one entry) or $150 (valid for multiple entries).

Border crossings further south: If coming from the southern part Carretera Austral note that there is another crossing, east of the town of Cochrane, called Paso Roballos. We heard multiple times that this road was in very poor condition and decided to take the easier road to the north. There is also a rumor that there will soon be a border crossing for vehicles just northeast of Villa O’Higgins. At this time the road on the Argentinian side, including one very important bridge over the Rio Mayer, has not been completed.

The Steps

1. Drive to the Chilean immigration and customs building 3.5 miles outside of the town of Chile Chico.
2. Go to the immigration counter and hand over your passports with your tourist card that you received upon entry. The official will keep your tourist card and stamp your passport.
3. Go to the aduana counter and hand over your vehicle permit and vehicle title. The official will enter a few things in the computer, return your title and keep your permit.
4. Drive two miles to the Argentinian border post.
5. Go to the immigration counter (on the far left side of the building). Hand over your passport and receipts for reciprocity fees. (Reciprocity fees only apply to US, Canadian and Australian citizens).
6. The official will give you a tourist card to complete. He will enter info into the computer and will check the code on your reciprocity fee receipt. You can NOT pay the fee at the border.
7. Go to the signed aduana counter. Hand over your vehicle title and the driver’s passport. The official will enter info in the computer and print a vehicle permit. Sign two copies. You get one, they keep the other.
8. Someone may inspect your car for food and other items.