How to Move to Argentina: A Comprehensive Guide | Roadmap
Argentina is a vibrant and stunning country with many opportunities for those looking to start a new chapter in their lives and consider moving to Argentina. If you’re thinking about moving there, it’s important to know how to move to Argentina. Involves several steps, whether you’re aiming for residency or citizenship. Our guide will explain the process and the requirements that you need to meet in order to Relocation to Argentina.
Step#1: Obtaining a Visa in the Country of Origin
The first step in the process of moving to Argentina is to obtain a visa in the country of origin. If you are from the Visa Free Countries, such as the US, UK, or Europe countries, you can skip to the Step 2. There are different types of visas that you can apply for, depending on your purpose and duration of stay in Argentina. Some of the most common visas are:
Tourist visa allows you to visit Argentina for up to 90 days for tourism purposes. Must to have a valid passport, a return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds for your stay. Extendable for another 90 days at the immigration office in Argentina.
Temporary Residence allows you to stay in Argentina for more than 90 days for various reasons, such as work, study, family reunion, retirement, etc. You should apply for this visa at the Argentine consulate in your country of origin, and provide the necessary documents and fees. The requirements and processing time vary depending on the type and category of the visa. Check the details here. For example, for Rentista visa, you can contact us , and can help you to get Entry Permit from Migraciones headoffice in Buenos aires. With that document, you can go to the consulate in your country to get visa for your Rentista Residency.
Permanent Residence allows indefinite stay in Argentina with rights similar to citizens, except voting and public office eligibility. You will have Permanent residence available after two years in Argentina on a temporary visa, or through marriage to an Argentine citizen or having an Argentine child. You have to submit the application at the immigration office in Argentina, and provide the required documents and fees. Find more information here.
Step#2: Registering Temporary Residency in Argentina
The second step in the process of moving to Argentina is to register with the government in Argentina. In other words to apply for Argentine Residency. Involves obtaining a national identity document (DNI) and a tax identification number (CUIT or CUIL). These documents are essential for accessing various services and benefits in Argentina, such as health care, education, social security, banking, etc.
DNI: As a pivotal component of administrative processes, the DNI holds the distinction of being the primary identity document in Argentina. It contains your personal information, photo, and fingerprint. Apply for the DNI at the Migraciones in Argentina, and present your passport, visa, and proof of address. Choose between a physical card or a digital version that you can download on your smartphone. Check the status of your DNI application on the official website of the Argentine Ministry of Interior.
CUIT or CUIL: The CUIT or CUIL is a tax identification number that you need to pay taxes, open a bank account, start a business, etc. in Argentina. The CUIT is for individuals who perform economic activities, while the CUIL is for individuals who work as employees or receive social benefits. Apply for the CUIT at the tax agency office (AFIP) in Argentina and the CUIL you process at ANSES. Present your DNI and other documents depending on your situation. Consult the requirements and procedures on the official website of the AFIP.
Step#3: Becoming a Permanent Resident or Citizen of Argentina
The third and final step in the process of Settling in Argentina is to become a permanent resident or citizen of Argentina. This will grant you more rights and privileges, such as voting, holding public office, traveling without a visa to certain countries, etc. Apply for permanent residence or citizenship after meeting certain conditions, such as:
Permanent residence: Apply for Argentinian permanent residence after living in Argentina for 3 continuous years with a temporary residence. Or apply immediately through marriage or having an Argentine child. Submit the application at the immigration office in Argentina, and provide the required documents and fees. Find more information on the official website of the Argentine Government.The original source of Article 22 of Law 25,871, which pertains to immigration regulations in Argentina, can be found in the official legal documents published by the Argentine government. Specifically, Law 25,871 was enacted on December 17, 2003, and its provisions were officially published in the Boletín Oficial on January 21, 2004. For detailed access to the law and its articles, including Article 22, you can refer to the archived document available at the Argentine government’s legal information service: Ley 25.871
Argentinian Citizenship: Apply for citizenship after living in Argentina for two years with a Temporary Residence visa. Or having an Argentine child or parent, or married to Argentinian citizen. You need to submit the application at the federal court in Argentina, and pass a test on Argentine history, culture, and values. Learn more about the requirements and process here.
Eligibility Requirements for Argentinian Citizenship
To be eligible to apply for Argentinian citizenship, you need to reside in Argentina for two years before you can apply for citizenship. The citizenship process then takes an additional one and a half years, making the total time required approximately three and a half years.
Exception for Parents of Argentine-Born Children
If you have a child born in Argentina, you don’t need to stay those two years, you can immediately start the citizenship application process, as becoming the parent of an Argentinian citizen makes you eligible. In this case, the processing time is about one and a half years from the moment you apply.
Citizenship Process Breakdown
1. Document Submission (1-2 Months)
Once you submit your documents (for example, in August), the process begins. However, the court doesn’t review your case immediately. It goes through initial checks by the court’s secretariat, which may take a few months due to the high volume of applications before your documents actually reach to the courts table.
2. Court Review (3-4 Months)
When your case finally reaches the court, the Court will review your file to ensure all documentation is complete and accurate. If everything is in order, the court will request background checks from various government departments: for example to The Federal Police will conduct a criminal background check.
The Migration Department will verify your residency status.
The National Registration Department will collect your fingerprints and take your photo, and many others.
3. Background Checks and Fingerprint Submission (2-3 Months)
The background check process is bureaucratic and can take time. After that, you will need to visit these departments to provide your fingerprints and other necessary information. It will take also sometime. It depends, if everything good, then you can do it in one week. I will take 2-3 months for those who do things slowly.
4. Residency Requirement (Approximately 6 Months)
During the initial stages of the background check (about six months approximately), you are required to stay in Argentina, because court will ask Migration department about residency status. Once that information is confirmed, you are good to travel out Argentina. After that, you may leave the country while your application is processed, and we can assist you in managing the case remotely.
5. Background Check Completion (1 Year)
Once the background checks are complete, the information will be returned to the court for further processing, especially the results from Interpol. This phase can take several months up to one year, as the government work through their checks.
Summary
In summary, the full process from document submission to citizenship approval typically takes about one and a half years. However, the exact timeline may vary based on the workload of the court and government departments.