travelling to Chile ,Uruguay and Argentina using my RNE and passport

03/19/24   Goodday people
So i will love to inquire if i can travel to these neighboring south American countries from brazil, i have my 10 years RNE, but normally my passport requires a visa to this countries but i heard that since brazil is part of the Mercosur agreement i can travel to these countries with my RNE card and passport, and someone said i can only travel by bus not by flight ,please has anyone ever had the experience to share so i can have first hand information before travelling
   

    -@jeff ob

No, your ability to cross borders is controlled by your passport, not by your Brazilian residency.  People who are suggesting that you travel by bus are, in effect, suggesting that you cross borders illegally.  This may be possible at some border crossings, but you will face the risk of being turned away or worse if you lack the proper visa.

    Goodday people
So i will love to inquire if i can travel to these neighboring south American countries from brazil, i have my 10 years RNE, but normally my passport requires a visa to this countries but i heard that since brazil is part of the Mercosur agreement i can travel to these countries with my RNE card and passport, and someone said i can only travel by bus not by flight ,please has anyone ever had the experience to share so i can have first hand information before travelling
   

    -@jeff ob

When I crossed from Brazil to Argentina at Foz by road, it was my passport that held sway, not my CRNM...

I was curious about this, so looked into a bit more.  I found there was actually a question previously asked here:  https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1017460

I found a really good explanation here: https://www.malakoutilaw.com/passport-f … -residents

TLDR, it appears that a CRNM CAN BE USED as an international travel document in Mercosul countries, but an EU it ain't.  If your nationality requires a VISA for the country you're visiting within Mercosur, you're going to need the VISA (and your passport). If your nationality doesn't require a VISA, technically you could use the CRNM, but what's the point if you have your passport? 

I suppose as the article states:

I would definitely qualify that as a freedom of movement benefit. The more documents you can use to travel decreases your single-sovereign document dependence.

I guess if your passport is packed away somewhere it isn't handy or maybe you're using the electronic CRNM on your phone - it may be more convenient to try out the CRNM method.  When I travel to Mexico or Canada from the US, I use the passport card because it's more convenient - but always carry my passport book when on international travel, regardless of the destination country.

03/20/24 And to reiterate what @Peter Itamaraca, @mikehunter, and I have all said above, remember that it's a general principle of the law of most countries that, regardless of whatever agreements are in place at the national level, the decision of an Immigration Officer whether or not to admit any given traveler is final and unappealable.  Being admitted once is no guarantee of being admitted again.  So it's only prudent for the traveler to have all of his/her travel documents on their person at all times when crossing borders.

    Goodday people
So i will love to inquire if i can travel to these neighboring south American countries from brazil, i have my 10 years RNE, but normally my passport requires a visa to this countries but i heard that since brazil is part of the Mercosur agreement i can travel to these countries with my RNE card and passport, and someone said i can only travel by bus not by flight ,please has anyone ever had the experience to share so i can have first hand information before travelling
   

    -@jeff ob

Just to add a little more, you mention "but normally my passport requires a visa to this countries".  Remember the Mercosul agreement does not eliminate VISA requirements, so if a VISA is required, you absolutely need your passport.

You also mention "can only travel by bus not by flight".  I didn't see any mention in the Mercosul article restricting types of carriage.  I do know that in the US, the passport card is not good for international flights, no matter the destination. 

Bottom line in all this is, sure, give it a try when a VISA is not required, but have your passport ready in case you have issues, even if it is suppose to work.  You're not on the payroll of immigration staff to give them training.  Eventually, they'll figure it out.