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Moving to Argentina: How to Get Residency and Citizenship 2025 (CBI Argentina Explained)
Move to Argentina Legally & Get Argentine Passport
Moving to Argentina? Argentina’s immigration law was recently updated on May 29, 2025, and this page reflects those changes under Decree 366/2025. If you’re considering moving to Argentina for residency or long-term settlement, it’s important to understand the current pathways to Argentine citizenship and one of the most powerful Argentine passport.
Immigrating to Argentina: Two Legal Routes to Argentine Passport in 2025
The requirements for obtaining the Carta de Ciudadanía (citizenship certificate) have become stricter, as they always should have been. From now on, Argentine citizenship will only be granted in one of the following cases:
By residing continuously in Argentina for at least two years under a legal residency (permanent residency, temporary residency, or transitory residency; or
By making a significant investment in Argentina, such as a minimum of USD 500,000, in which case the physical presence NO required, you do not need to reside in the country for two years.
In both cases, you must prove you have sufficient means of support and a clean criminal record, both in Argentina and internationally.
Before diving into the current residency options available in Argentina, let’s first answer a couple of key questions that many people often ask, such as whether it’s still possible to obtain Argentine citizenship by marriage in 2025, and whether Argentina citizenship by birth for parents is still a valid pathway under the updated immigration laws.
Is Immediate Argentine Citizenship by Marriage Still Possible in 2025?
Marrying an Argentine citizen no longer grants you immediate citizenship. Recent updates under Decree 366/2025 (effective May 29, 2025) require 2 continuous years of legal residency in Argentina—regardless of marital status—to be eligible to apply for citizenship. To become eligible for Argentine citizenship through marriage, you must reside in the country for at least two continuous years under temporary residency by marriage. After fulfilling the two-year residence requirement, as the spouse of a native Argentine citizen, you can apply for Argentine citizenship.
Is Immediate Argentina Citizenship by Birth for Parents Still Possible in 2025?
As of 2025, Argentina citizenship by birth for parents is no longer immediate. Under Decree 366/2025, giving birth in Argentina does not automatically grant parents citizenship. To become eligible, parents must first obtain permanent residency, as the first mandatory step is to acquire a permanent DNI in Argentina and reside legally in the country for two continuous years before applying for citizenship.
As a parent of an Argentine citizen child, after residing in Argentina for two years, you become eligible to apply for Argentine citizenship.
1. Argentina Citizenship by Investment 2025
The administration of Javier Milei has launched the CBI Argentina (Argentine Citizenship by Investment) program. The beauty of this program is that you are not required to reside in Argentina physically. This is the perfect option for those who do not wish to live in Argentina but are willing to invest USD 500,000 into the country and obtain one of the strongest passports in the world. You can apply for citizenship regardless of the duration of your stay.
According to the new law, foreigners who can prove to the National Directorate of Migration that they have made a significant investment in Argentina, regardless of how long they have lived in the country, are now eligible to apply for Argentine citizenship through this investment pathway. Read more…
2. Argentina Citizenship by 2 Years of Legal Residence
If you live in Argentina for two consecutive years legally under any other program, then you can apply for Argentine citizenship as well.
Our certified immigration professionals provide step-by-step guidance to ensure a smooth and legal move. We assist with visas, residency, and citizenship applications tailored to your specific needs.
Now, let’s break down the second option—how to stay in Argentina for two years. There are different programs to legalize your stay:
How to Get Residency in Argentina
1. Rentista Residency Program (Best for Passive Income Earners)
The Rentista Residency is for individuals earning more than 1500 USD per month from dividends or property rentals (not salaried income).
Funds must be transferred monthly from an overseas account to your Argentine bank. These funds are intended to support you and your family during your stay in Argentina.
Requires document legalization & translation before submission, and works toward Argentine citizenship after two years of residency.
For the Rentista program, you must have an income from outside Argentina. This income must come from dividends as a business owner or property rental as an owner, and it must be a monthly income.
In other words, the income must be a benefit you receive from assets incorporated into the applicant’s patrimony. For example, financial instruments, real estate, shares in companies, or other items are available at the discretion of the GENERAL DIRECTION OF IMMIGRATION.
Please note, that this can’t be your salary. Likewise, personal funds deposited in bank accounts abroad may be accepted, provided that the legal origin of such funds is clearly demonstrated — for example, proceeds from a recent property sale (with proof of sale), income from an actively operating business, or rental income from real estate. We kindly invite you to book a consultation to discuss the details further.
If you’re eligible for this program, the first step is the legalization and translation of your documents.
With a power of attorney, we will then submit your documents to the Central Office of the Government Migration Department in Buenos Aires to obtain the entry permit letter.
With this letter, you will be able to request the visa stamp at the Argentine consulate in your home country.
After your physical arrival in Argentina, we will accompany you through each step of your residency process.
Our team will ensure your case is securely approved.
2. Pensionado Residency Program (Best for Retirees)
If you’re a retiree seeking to immigrate to Argentina, this program is tailored for you. The Pensionado program is available for retirees receiving government pensions. Requires proof of pension, an Argentine criminal record certificate, and an apostilled non-criminal record from your home country. It grants DNI & citizenship eligibility after two years.
For the Pensionado residency application, you need to prepare the following documents:
1. Passport
2. Argentine Criminal Record Certificate
3. Proof of Address in Argentina
4.Proof of Income (showing you receive a government pension)
The proof of income must be apostilled or legalized. Additionally, you must provide a non-criminal record certificate or an FBI certificate from your home country.
Here’s the process:
First, we submit your initial application and secure an appointment.
At the appointment, we submit your original documents to Migraciones (the immigration office).
Officers will take your fingerprints and photograph and issue a precaria (temporary residency permit).
With the precaria, you can legally stay in the country while your application is being processed. Once approved, you can print your DNI (Argentine National Identity Document).
3. Spanish Language Courses Residency 1,2 3 years (Best for Singles)
Foreigners can be admitted to enter and stay in Argentina if enrolled in a Spanish language course pathway under Transitorial Residency.
With our assistance, you can enroll in Spanish language courses for one, two, or three years.
The only drawback of this program is that you will not be able to include your family members in your application.
Therefore, this option is best suited for single individuals planning to move to Argentina alone.
4. Argentina Residency Through Study in 2025
For those who wish to relocate with their family, a Student Permit is a much better option, as it allows family reunification under Argentine immigration law.
To be eligible to study, you must have at least B1 or B2 level Spanish language skills. Some universities offer Spanish language preparation classes as part of the academic program for the first five months before beginning the degree program, but not all universities provide this. Additionally, some universities accept foreign students into English-taught programs.
We kindly invite you to book a consultation to discuss the details further.
Argentinian Residency & Citizenship Processing Steps
Step 1: Entering Argentina with Entry Permit Permission from Argentina
Tourist visas are no longer an option. You must inform the consulate from the very beginning that you intend to move to Argentina under a specific program. If immigration officers at the border suspect that you are not entering as a tourist but rather relocating to Argentina, they can send you back on the same flight and impose a five–year ban.
Temporary Residence Visa – For work, study, retirement, or family reunification. We can assist you with an Entry Permit Invitation letter from the Government to process your entry visa at the Argentine consulate in your home country.
Step 2: Registering for Temporary Residency
After entering the country, you will be given time to prepare the required documents in Argentina, such as an Argentine non-criminal record certificate, proof of address, and other necessary paperwork. Once prepared, you can apply for the same residency category you declared at the Argentine consulate in your home country.
Step 3: Transitioning to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
After two consecutive years of legal stay in Argentina, you can begin the citizenship application process.
However, if you are not interested in citizenship, you are free to travel in and out of the country as often as you like. Once your total time under temporary residency reaches three years, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Why Choose Us for Your Argentina Immigration?
Experienced Immigration Experts professionally ensure a hassle-free process.
Constant Support – Assistance via WhatsApp, Telegram, Email, and Zoom.
Document Handling – We manage translations, legalizations, and submissions.
Avoid Costly Mistakes – We ensure compliance with Argentine immigration laws.
Book Your Consultation Now
An online face-to-face Zoom consultation with a professional team is the starting point of the process. Because we need to understand which category you are eligible for. If you applied for a tourist visa, and after arriving in Argentina, you ask for residency, that won’t be something right thing to do. Therefore, we are asking our valuable customers to apply for the correct category from the beginning and enter the country with the proper category. In this case, we can help you get an entry permit letter from the government so that you can process your eligible category visa at the consulate. If you don’t need a visa to enter Argentina, then you need to bring the necessary documents apostilled to avoid back-and-forth traveling.
The person who doesn’t want to pay for consultation will make mistakes in choosing the right immigration pathway. That’s why we don’t work with people without consultation to avoid wasting your and our time. The consultation fee of $200 USD is considered a starting point. Upon payment, we will open a client file for you and recognize you as an ongoing client of our company.
Conclusion
After preparing all your documents, you will sign a contract and make your first payment. Then, we will evaluate your documents in detail and send them for translation. The translation fee is separate, as it is handled by another organization. It’s important to note that translations must be done in Argentina only, unless verified by a consulate. Any translations made in your home country are neither valid nor acceptable without a consul’s attestation. Only translations stamped by an authorized translation organization in Argentina are recognized.
If you are considering applying through the CBI Argentina program, our legal team will evaluate your investment eligibility and guide you through the entire citizenship process.
With all your documents ready, we will proceed with the immigration pathway initially agreed upon during the consultation.
We look forward to speaking with you in the Zoom video meeting.