Health and Safety always starts with being prepared so all of our programs include 24/7 local emergency support on location. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is also required, and intensive pre-departure training is offered to help participants prepare for the challenge of living in a new location. There are many types of situations that may arise while participating in any program abroad anywhere, regardless of covid-19. Our team has over 12 years of experience providing prompt and genuine support for each of our participants as needed. Our entire team is located on-site in Palermo, Buenos Aires where we can help in finding the right medical care, navigating the city safely, or with any other concerns that you might have.
You can always find our General recommendations for Health and Safety here.
Is it possible to study/intern in 2021/2022 in Argentina with Mente Argentina?
Absolutely! Borders are now confirmed to be fully open starting on November 1, 2021!
Our entire on-site team in Argentina is dedicated to organizing safe and life-changing opportunities for anyone wishing to participate in our programs. We are in permanent contact with colleagues overseas discussing program viability and updates. We appreciate the enthusiasm that all our participants have for future programs and mirror it with our own.
We are working hand in hand with partners including universities, housing providers, visa processors, host employers, and excursion providers to adhere to Argentina COVID-19 regulations. The varying nature of the regulations necessitates a higher-level of responsibility from our team but also from our participants as well.
What happens if a participant withdraws before the program starts?
You can either get a full refund of your program fees, and-or update any of your program details for a later date depending on the option you chose before paying your program. If you have any doubts or questions about the available options please make sure to reach to your program advisor or to info@menteargentina.com immediately for further information.
What happens if a participant decides to leave the program once it has started?
Participants choosing to leave the program early for personal or other reasons (other than a Covid-19 positive test) are not entitled to any refund. Completion of academic credit will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Participants dismissed for disciplinary reasons receive no refund of any kind and forfeit all academic credit.
There are no refunds for meals, accommodation, cultural activities/excursions, by participants for any other reasons other than those listed above once the program has started.
What other options do I have if my program is cancelled before my arrival?
If your program is cancelled prior to the starting date, you can work with your Mente Argentina advisor to determine the best option for you. You have the possibility to:
- Update any of your program details for a future date
- Request a full refund of your program fees.
- Participate in our virtual programs.
Is self-isolation or testing required by the Argentine Government? If so, how will you support students during a self-isolation period, or how will you ensure that they are tested?
The borders are open to tourists from November 1, 2021. You can always read the latest updates here.
It’s now confirmed that the Government will NOT required self-isolation period after this date.
We will be assisting you through every step of the process, and if you need to take a PCR test in Argentina it will be provided free of charge for all our participants (it’s a rapid test).
How will you operate your housing during COVID-19?
Mente Argentina provides a variety of housing options for students around the world including Student Residences, Shared Apartments, Homestays and Private Apartments.
We guarantee that every participant that prefers to stay in a private apartment will be able to do so although it is not required by local laws.
All host families receive additional training regarding COVID protocols for Mente Argentina Participants. If someone in the homestays tests positive for COVID-19 then the appropriate officials will be contacted and the correct quarantine steps put in place. If the person is very ill then, of course, they will go straight to the hospital. If they are well enough to stay at home they will be quarantined as well as other family members as required by the authorities. If needed we have access to additional private and single accommodation so students can quarantine in private rooms if needed.
Are you requiring or recommending that students purchase Cancel-For-Any-Reason (CFAR) or Interrupt-For-Any-Reason (IFAR) insurance? Is it included in your program cost?
It’s not included in the program fee because many participants prefer to bring their own valid international medical and travel insurance. Travelers coming to Argentina must have health insurance that will cover COVID-19 treatment. Regarding health insurance, we recommend the following options:
- Check with your medical insurance at home as many insurance companies will cover students while they are abroad. You will just need to pay upfront in Argentina, and then send the documents to your insurance for reimbursement.
- Check with your credit card company. Many credit cards will provide travel and medical insurance for educational programs abroad and we can provide any required documentation.
- There are great first class coverage plans here in Argentina that we can assist you in obtaining once you get here on your first day in Buenos Aires. The cost would be approximately USD 50/130 per month. Here are four examples to check out: Medicus - Swiss Medical - Omint – Osde
How would student housing and dining would be managed if a student tests positive for COVID-19 and has to self-isolate?
Participants testing positive for COVID would be subject to immediate quarantine in their accommodation or in separate accommodation if required.
Meals/groceries would be arranged to be delivered in a safe and secure manner by our Resident Director and local on-site support staff.
What COVID-specific protocols have you put in place for academic spaces and what happens to my academic program if on-location delivery is suspended?
We work closely with our exclusive academic partners in Buenos Aires, Argentina who are following all local guidelines so that students can safely attend classes.
These guidelines include practices such as caps on class size to allow for social distancing, the spacing of desks to comply with current requirements, cleaning of classrooms regularly and high traffic areas, access to hand sanitizer at entrances, implementing one-way systems where practical, and enforcing mask-wearing where obligatory. In our own facilities, we will follow the same guidelines as required locally. These may change as local circumstances dictate.
If face-to-face classes need to be suspended for any reason we will be able to continue with a virtual delivery model allowing participants to finish the academic portion of the program (thereby not losing progress towards each program completion).
What social distancing protocols do you have and will you be providing PPD or sanitizing supplies?
Much of our physical distancing protocols are being developed according to the local guidelines and with our institutional and employer partners. This takes into account how many students are allowed in a classroom, how many individuals constitute a maximum for social events/outings, how many participants can be in accommodations, how many individuals are allowed at a specific host company, etc. As of today, October 14, 2021 most if not all of these restrictions has been lifted.
Participants should come prepared with enough masks to safely get through the first few weeks of their program although we will provide an N95 mask as well included in the program welcome kit. During the on-site orientation day (first day in the program) the participants will become familiar with their surroundings and will be glad to organize and assist with additional PPE / sanitizing supplies as needed.
How are you addressing the “proof of negative test” as it relates to entering into the host country or return to the home country?
We are constantly monitoring the entry regulations for Argentina, which are fluid and still updated often. In all cases, we would defer to local regulations. These are legal requirements, not imposed by Mente Argentina.
Argentina is currently requiring proof of vacination as well as a negative test result as an entry requirement for although the U.S. and other countries only recently posted the request itself, so we have been monitoring and will communicate all requirements to our participants with enough time in advance.
Since many Countries are now requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry to the U.S and other countries, is Mente Argentina helping participants to find a suitable test location prior to their flight back to their home countries?
Yes, absolutely. We will continue to assist any and all our participants to get their test done before leaving Argentina if required. There are an endless amount of possibilities to be tested (free of charge or for a small fee depending on the specific test) all around the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our on-site staff will help everyone every step of the way until it’s done.
Will Mente Argentina require participants to get a vaccine?
No, all Vaccine requirements, if any at all, will be required by the local authorities which as of now is NOT required although recommended if possible to get it in your country as soon as it becomes available. We will continue to monitor the information from Argentina and advice participants as entry protocol changes.
As vaccinations continue around the world, evidence collected by a variety of health organizations indicates that fully vaccinated people are less likely to be infected without showing symptoms and therefore potentially less likely to transmit COVID-19 to others.
In an effort to keep our participants, staff, and host communities safe, Mente Argentina will continue strongly recommending vaccinations for our future participants.
We will continue to monitor the information Argentina advises participants as entry protocols change. Recent news suggests that some countries may be opening to vaccinated individuals to travel as tourists, removing the need for quarantine on arrival and-or further tests, and requiring proof of vaccination for entry instead although this is not yet required neither confirmed at the moment.
When do you think I’ll be able to come?
You can start planning your program right away! Borders are now confirmed to be fully open starting on November 1, 2021.
Check our post about current travel restrictions in Argentina for updates.
No official word yet, but based on rumors our expectation (and hope) is that the Argentine borders will be open to international travel (beyond bordering countries) some time in the second half of 2021. We will keep this post updated as we receive any new information.
The Argentine government has opened domestic tourism a bit during the summer months to see how things go. If this goes well, they will probably start slowly opening international tourism, as they have with those coming from bordering countries.
