Paraguay to Argentina - Falcon to Clorinda
- Jon Berry
- May 1
- 5 min read
Updated: May 6
There are two road border crossings in Asuncion: Puerto Jose Falcon (open 24h) and Nanawa (open 7:00 - 19:00).
We opted to use the crossing at Jose Falcon and this blog is solely dedicated to this crossing point.
When crossing from Paraguay to Argentina, all the paperwork happens on the Argentinian side of the river (including checks for Paraguayan passports and vehicles) so the building that you encounter on the Paraguayan side of the river can be ignored as it is only being used as a resting area for lorry drivers and some street vendors.
We normally like planning our border crossings early in the morning to avoid any potential backlog built. However, in this occasion we crossed around midday and, against our expectations, the whole process didn't take long at all!
It looked a bit chaotic at first, and we thought it might take forever, but if you follow the steps in this blog, you should be in Argentina in 30-45 minutes with almost no fuss!
Note that his isn't a straight drive-through setup; you will have a sort of drive-through hut but only after you have cleared all your paperwork first. So you'll need to find a spot to leave your vehicle while handling the documents. Don't expect designated parking spots; it's perfectly okay to park on the roadside until you're sorted.
Paraguay to Argentina - Falcon to Clorinda:
1 - Passport control - Paraguay check out
There's a building on the right where both the Paraguayan and Argentinian passport offices are, plus some other Argentinian Immigration departments (more on this in points 4 and 5 below).
First up, we needed to check out of Paraguay, so we headed to the first window on the right to get our passports checked by the Paraguayan official.
2 - Passport control - Argentina check in
Next, we needed approval from Argentina.
We found the Argentinian passport control right next door to the Paraguayan office, so we went to the second window to have our passports checked and scanned (no stamps) by the Argentinian officer.
We got a printout confirming our entry into Argentina, which an agent later asked for at the drive-through hut.
3 - Vehicle TIP (Temporary Import Permit) - Paraguay check out
Behind the passport building, there were three small huts. We needed the third one for the Paraguayan Aduana.
We handed our copy of the Paraguayan TIP in but the Paraguayan officer wasn't too keen on stamping the paper, so we had to do some convincing. Eventually, we managed to be allowed to take a photo of the stamped TIP.
OUR TIP: Make sure you don't skip this step!
Always snap a photo of your stamped TIP on your phone since officers sometimes don't log it in the system and therefore you would still be logged in the country. It could save you from a fine for overstaying your TIP!
4 - Vehicle TIP - Argentina check in
Now it was time to get our vehicle approved for Argentina. We went back to our van and drove through the huts on the left (leaving the passport office on the right).
At the first hut, a friendly officer asked for the receipt we got earlier given by the Argentinian passport police to confirm our entry into Argentina.
We then drove to the second hut, where an officer directed us to the main building on the other side (third window this time). There, we needed to provide three documents:
Vehicle's registration
Vehicle's insurance document
Vehicle owner's passport
After recording us in the system, we received our new Argentinian TIP.
OUR TIP: Argentina allows a maximum of 90 days in the country, but this resets itself if you leave the country for at least one day.
This can be handy for a big country like Argentina where you would need longer than 3 months to explore all the different areas that this stunning country has to offer!
Of course, personal stays need consideration too; this tip is only about vehicle allowances.
5 - Dog registration - SENASA
The fourth and last office window is where the Senasa team is based.
This is the Animal Health Department, and they just wanted to see the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI) and the passport of the dog's registered owner.
OUR TIP: It's best to carry a paper copy, even though the electronic signature becomes invalid when printed, as it makes the process easier for the agent.
We were asked to send the document via WhatsApp since we didn't have a paper copy.
The process with the dog was super quick and smooth, taking no more than 5 minutes!
6 - Vehicle inspection
We had the most thorough vehicle inspection at this crossing.
The inspector got a bit suspicious from the hollow sound of the sliding door, so he asked a colleague to help with the inspection. They used screwdrivers to slightly separate the bodywork in the cabin from the metal structure to check for hidden items.
They didn't leave a single cupboard unopened, and to finally reassure them, we were asked to drive through the vehicle scanner.
Though it made the process a bit longer than expected (especially considering how smoothly we went through the previous steps), we got the green light from the scanner and were cleared to go in around 30min.
7 - Best place to stay overnight after the crossing
Once you have completed the Paraguay to Argentina - Falcon to Clorinda border crossing, if you need a place to stay for the night. we recommend The Laguna de Oca.
We like to get all our admin done after a border crossing, or as soon as possible.
This includes getting new SIM cards, withdrawing cash in the new currency, maybe doing some shopping, and then finding a spot to rest peacefully and safely, as the crossing process can be a bit exhausting.
This time, we headed straight to the city of Formosa.
It's about a 1.5-hour drive from the crossing on a pretty straight road.
In Formosa, we sorted both cash and SIM cards without any issues, so after driving through the chaotic city at rushed time and at 40C heat we were in need of a what we thought it was a well-deserved rest.
For this, we chose a lovely and quiet spot by the lagoon at Laguna de Oca, just outside the city on the southern side.
The parking spot is right by the police office, offering some safety and peace of mind.
Parked right next to the beach, our dog enjoyed running around on the sand; after hours in the van, he finally got to enjoy some freedom, all to himself!
