Argentina, the land of Gauchos and the Tango, has long been a destination for European emigrants. During the 19th century, hundreds of thousands of Italians, Germans, Irish, and British moved to the country to seek their fortunes. Although the country has had a rocky road for decades, it's still a highly attractive destination for expats.
Types of Visas
Temporary Visas
US and Canadian citizens, as well as most citizens of the European Union, do not require a visa to visit Argentina for up to 90 days. You will need a valid passport and proof of onward or return travel.
Long-Term Visas
Argentina’s long-term visas are similar to Mexico’s in that they apply to several situations and are renewable one year at a time. Here are the most popular:
Pensionado: This is available to retirees who receive a stable guaranteed income from a pension, such as Social Security. You need around $2,000 a month to qualify.
Investor: This requires an investment of between $10,000 and $20,000 in an Argentine business or other economic activity.
Digital nomad: Argentina recently jumped on the digital nomad bandwagon and now offers long-term visas to remote workers or freelancers. There is no fixed income requirement, but you need to prove a regular cash flow and enough income to live in Argentina without working there. The visa is for six months, and can be extended once, for a total of 1 year.
Permanent Residency
Anyone who has held temporary residency in the country for two consecutive years can apply for permanent residency, as long as the conditions of your initial visa approval are still in place.
Citizenship
Argentina has one of the world's shortest pathways to citizenship by naturalization. Anyone who has held temporary residency in the country for two consecutive years can apply for citizenship—so people who have lived there that long have the choice between permanent residency and citizenship immediately.
Unlike most countries, naturalization is managed by the court system, not by the immigration authorities. It requires submitting a petition to a federal court, including the documentation listed below. The process culminates with an interview with a federal judge conducted in Spanish.
Argentina allows dual citizenship.
Requirements and Documentation
For Long-Term Visas:
Valid Passport: Must have at least six months of validity.
Proof of Income or Employment: Depending on the visa type, you will need to show proof of income (e.g., pension, employment contract, investment).
Criminal Background Check: A clean criminal record from your home country or any country where you have lived for the past five years.
Medical Certificate: A certificate proving that you are in good health.
Proof of Health Insurance: Required for most visa types.
Additional Documents: Specific to the type of visa (e.g., proof of enrolment for students, investment details for investors).
For Citizenship:
Proof of Legal Residency: Provide documentation of your legal residency in Argentina for at least two years (e.g., temporary or permanent residency card).
Passport: A copy of your valid passport.
Birth Certificate: An apostilled and translated birth certificate.
Proof of Income: Documents showing how you support yourself financially, such as pay stubs, bank statements, or tax returns.
Criminal Record: A police clearance certificate from Argentina and your country of origin. These documents must be recent, apostilled, and translated into Spanish.
Proof of Integration: Any documents that show your integration into Argentine society, such as employment records, property ownership, or family ties.
Affidavit of Good Conduct: A sworn statement (affidavit) declaring your good conduct during your stay in Argentina.
Processing Time
Applications for most long-term visas take between two and four months. Applications for permanent residency take four to six months, while naturalization can take between one and two years, depending on the court’s schedule.
Cost
Fees for Argentine long-term visas range from $200 to $300, depending on the type of visa and the amount of documentation involved. The same is true of the digital nomad visa. Annual renewals cost the same amount.
Investor visa applications cost more, ranging from $500 to $600. Applying for permanent residency costs between $300.00 and $600. The cost of document translation and apostille ranges from $50.00 to $150.00 per document. If you hire an immigration attorney, you can expect to pay between $500 and $2,500.
Contacts
Embassy of Argentina in the U.S.
1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Tel. +1 (202) 238-6400
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