Obtaining Argentinian Citizenship through Marriage
Argentine law specifies that Argentine citizenship is granted exclusively to individuals born within the country’s borders. Those born outside Argentina have two avenues to acquire Argentine citizenship: through the “option for Argentine citizenship” or the naturalization process. In other words, if you’re born in Argentina, you become automatically an Argentine citizen. But if you’re born elsewhere, like a foreigner, you have two options to become an Argentine citizen.
№1: Option for Argentine Citizenship born Abroad
The “option for Argentine citizenship” is a legal pathway that allows individuals born abroad, specifically children of Argentine native citizens, to obtain Argentine citizenship. briefly, If you’re a child of Argentine parents, you can choose to become a citizen.
№2: Naturalization
Naturalization is the process through which the spouses of Argentine citizens and foreign individuals who have lived continuously in Argentina for a period of 2 years can acquire Argentine citizenship. Simply saying, If you’re married to an Argentine citizen or have lived in Argentina for two years continuously, you can also apply for citizenship.
One important thing to note is that getting Argentine citizenship doesn’t mean you have to give up your current citizenship.
To get this Argentine Citizenship via Naturalization, you have to go through a legal procedure in Argentina. If you’re outside of Argentina or in Buenos Aires, you need to visit the National Chamber of Appeals in Civil and Commercial Federal to kick off the process.
Here is the address in Buenos Aires: Talcahuano 550 (Ground Floor, Office 2083) any business day from 7:30 to 13:30.
Once you’re all set, you’ll receive a “citizenship letter,” and you can use that to get your Argentine Permanent Residency ID card and Argentine Passport.
Requirements:
– You must be 18 years or older.
– You should marry to an Argentine citizen or have lived continuously in Argentina for 2 years.
Required Documents:
– Marriage certificate or proof of residing in Argentina for 2 years, as certified by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM). If you got married outside Argentina, make sure to authorize your marriage in Argentina before proceeding, as per these guidelines.
– Photocopy of your ID and/or passport.
– Criminal record check.
– Residence certificate (certificado de domicilio).
– Proof of financial resources, which can include an employment contract, employment certificate, or salary receipt.
– If you have Argentine children, include photocopies of their birth certificates and DNM certificates.
Two Pathways of Becoming an Argentine Citizen and Birth Certificate Registration
You can choose to become an Argentine citizen in two ways: either inside Argentina at the Civil Registry, or outside Argentina at the nearest Argentine Embassy or Consulate. But, no matter where you do it, you’ll need to make sure your birth certificate is registered with the Argentine Embassy or Consulate that covers your place of birth beforehand.
Steps for Argentine Citizenship Application in Argentina
If you intend to go through the process for Argentine citizenship in Argentina, make sure to register your birth certificate before initiating the citizenship application within the country.
Argentine Citizenship Application from Abroad: Procedure and Considerations
– If you choose to pursue Argentine citizenship while living abroad in the US, you’ll need to go through the process at the Argentine Embassy in that Specific country. In this scenario, please consider the following:
– If you were born in the US (for example) and currently live there, you can handle your birth certificate registration and Argentine citizenship all in one go at the Embassy during a single appointment.
– But, if you’re living in the US and were born somewhere else, you’ve got to do things a bit differently. Before you set up an appointment for Argentine citizenship at the Embassy in the US, you first need to get your birth certificate registered at the Argentine Embassy or Consulate for the place where you were born. If you can’t make the trip back to your birthplace, you can get help from the Argentine Embassy in the US by sending an email.
Argentine Residency Processing at the Embassy
Once you’ve finished the Argentine citizenship process at the Embassy, you’ll receive an Argentine DNI, and it will be mailed to the Embassy for you to pick up.
Age Requirements for Biometric Passport for Argentine Citizenship Applicants
For applicants under 14 years old, they can also request a new Argentine biometric Passport or an Emergency Passport.
If the applicant is 14 years old or older, they can apply for an Argentine passport only after receiving their first Argentine DNI.
Applicants below 18 years of age must opt for Argentine citizenship together with both parents. Applicants aged 18 and above can independently carry out the procedure without requiring parental consent.
Required Documentation for Argentine Citizenship Application in the Consulate in your home country
For those Who born abroad and still Reside there with Argentine Parents:
You’ll need the Applicants’s birth certificate issued by local authorities in your home country. Make sure it’s signed and stamped by an official from the relevant Local Government authority. Also, the official’s signature should be legalized with an apostille by a notary public. The birth certificate should contain information about the child born outside Argentina and their parents. Additionally, the birth certificate should include the child’s date of birth (e.g., “Alejandro Fernandez was born on June 10, 2002”), which you’ll need to request from your home country authorities using the necessary procedure.
For Children in Another Country, Not your country of current Residence:
You must provide a certificate of registration of the birth certificate granted by the Argentine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of birth.
Argentine Parent’s Birth Certificate:
You need the Argentine birth certificate of either the father or mother. If both parents are Argentine, just one certificate is sufficient.
For Applicants Under 18 Years:
If the Applicant is below 18, you should provide the DNI (national identity document) of both parents, but only if both parents are Argentine. If one parent is Argentine and the other is not, you need the DNI of one Argentine parent and the passport of the non-Argentine parent.
In Case of a Deceased Parent:
If one parent has passed away, you’ll need to provide documentary evidence of their death. If the death occurred in Argentina, submit a certified death certificate. If the death took place in your home country, you should provide your home country authorities’ equivalent document, along with a Spanish translation. For deaths in a third country, submit the equivalent document from the relevant authorities, legalized as needed, at the Argentine Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of death.
For Applicants Under 4 Years:
If the Applicant is under 4 years old, you’ll need to provide one color photo, sized 4 cm x 4 cm, with the child’s face visible, against a white background, and without glasses or a hat.