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📅 Post Date: December 20, 2025 | 🔄 Updated: December 21, 2025
Mercosur Temporary Residence in Argentina
The MERCOSUR Temporary Residence in Argentina is a legal immigration pathway that allows eligible nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated countries to live, work, study, and travel freely in Argentina, regulated in article 23, paragraph l) of Law No. 25,871, regulated by Decree No. 616/2010 and Provision 1,637/2022
It grants temporary legal residence for 2 years, with:
• Multiple entries and exits
• Authorization to work legally as an employee or self-employed individual
• Access to healthcare, education, and banking
• An Argentine National Identity Document (DNI) and Tax Identification Code (CUIL)
• The residency is extendable under the same conditions or may transition to permanent residency. Unlike other temporary residence categories, MERCOSUR applicants are eligible to apply for permanent residency after two (2) years, rather than three. After completing two years of temporary residence, applicants may also become eligible to apply for Argentine citizenship, simultaneously with a permanent residency application.
• The same rules apply to family dependents who applied as dependents of a MERCOSUR applicant. Spouses and children may be non-MERCOSUR nationals; however, they are treated under the MERCOSUR framework and may apply for permanent residency after two years, concurrently with the main applicant, due to their dependency on a MERCOSUR national.
• Our service provides end-to-end legal support, ensuring your application is prepared correctly, efficiently, and in full compliance with Argentine immigration law.
Who Can Apply?
You may apply for temporary residency based on nationality if you are a native citizen of the following countries:
• MERCOSUR Member States:
• Uruguay
• Paraguay
• Brazil (Native Brazilian citizens may apply directly for permanent residency in Argentina due to a bilateral agreement between Brazil and Argentina that allows nationals of both countries to apply for permanent residence in each other’s territory. However, they may also choose to remain as temporary residents, depending on their personal circumstances and preferences.)
• Associated States:
• Bolivia
• Chile
• Peru
• Ecuador
• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Guyana
• Suriname
You may also apply if you are a native of a non-MERCOSUR country who has been naturalized for at least five (5) years in one of the following countries:
• Brazil
• Paraguay
• Uruguay
• Bolivia
• Chile
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Peru
What Documents Do I Need?
General Requirements
1) Valid Passport or Mercosur National ID
2) Foreign Police Clearance: For all countries where you lived for more than one year during the past three years (if over 16). All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated in Argentina, including foreign criminal record certificates from any country where the applicant has resided for more than one (1) year during the last three (3) years. In some cases, a criminal record certificate from the country of origin may also be requested. This requirement is assessed on a case-by-case basis, as immigration officers handling standard residency applications may not always request this document.
3) Argentine Criminal Record Certificate: For applicants over 16 years, issued by the National Registry of Recidivism via the RADEX system. If you prefer to process your temporary residency in a priority processing mode, for faster processing, you can choose a priority appointment for an extra fee. In this case, your Argentine Criminal Record Certificate must be obtained separately at RNR Registro Nacional de Reincidencia (antecedentes penales) and submitted during your appointment, not obtained at Migraciones in case of standard processing mode. The difference in government fees between standard and priority processing for MERCOSUR temporary residency is relatively small. As of December 17, 2025, the fees are as follows:
Standard Migration Department Government fee (non-urgent): ARS 118,800
Priority Migration Department Government fee (urgent): ARS 168,800
With an exchange rate of approximately ARS 1,500 per USD, the difference between standard and priority processing is roughly USD 30 to 40.
Please note that additional fees apply for processing the Argentine Criminal Record Certificate through the National Registry of Recidivism (RNR): Express service (1 hour): ARS 8,500 (approximately USD 5–6) and Standard service (5 business days): ARS 1,000 (approximately USD 1). Please note that exchange rates and government fees are subject to change and may be updated from time to time. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend contacting us directly.
a) Proof of Address in Argentina.
b) Proof of Regular Income.
Minors (Under 18 Years Old)
• Legalized Birth Certificate.
• Authorization by a parent (present with a valid ID at the appointment), or if both parents are not in Argentina, a designated guardian with legal residence, proof of guardianship, and legal documentation.
• Documents must be legalized or apostilled. If original documents are not in Spanish, must be translated by a certified public translator and legalized by the relevant translator association.
You must be physically present in Argentina to submit your application. However, if you wish to enter Argentina as a resident rather than as a tourist, you may apply for an Entry Authorization (Permiso de Ingreso) issued by the National Directorate of Migration in Buenos Aires. This authorization allows you to enter the country with resident status and subsequently attend an appointment at Migraciones to provide fingerprints and complete the change from entry authorization to Mercosur temporary residency status.
