This section contains advice and information for Irish citizens who encounter difficulties in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. 

General

If you need emergency assistance from the Embassy, then contact us immediately. Our telephone number is: + 54 11 5787 0801. If you telephone out of hours, in case of emergency you may contact the Duty Officer on 15 5064 2745 (if phoning from outside Argentina phone 0054 911 5064 2745. 

Alternatively, you may contact the Duty Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin at +353 (0)1 408 2000. 

If necessary, contact the police also. 

Loss/Theft of Passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, you should firstly report the loss or theft to the nearest police station, as soon as possible after the event.  The police will issue you with a "Certificado de denuncia" confirming that you have made the report.  You will be required to present this when applying for a replacement travel document.

Secondly, contact the Embassy or nearest Honorary Consulate. A police report is accepted by some airlines in lieu of a passport, but always check with your airline before going to the airport. If your airline will not accept the police statement, the Embassy or the Honorary Consulate can issue you with an Emergency Passport. There is a fee of AR$400 for this service (€100). 

Arrest

If you are arrested, you may ask the Argentine authorities to inform the Embassy of your arrest.

The Embassy can:

• Visit you or arrange for you to be visited by an Embassy official
• If necessary, provide you with a list of local English-speaking lawyers
• Advise you about the prison system and about your entitlement to visits, mail and other facilities
• Bring details of any medical condition you may have to the attention of prison officials
• Pursue with the prison authorities on your behalf any complaints about ill-treatment or discrimination
• Pass messages to and from your family

However, the Embassy cannot:

• Secure better treatment for Irish citizens than local or other nationals receive
• Give or pay for legal advice
• Interfere with or influence the proper operation and application of the local judicial system
• Provide any financial assistance while you are in prison
• Pay bail bonds or fines