Argentina residence permit: grounds, requirements and procedure in 2026

Argentina residence permit: the short version

In short: temporary residence is granted for 1-3 years on one of the statutory grounds, and the application is filed online in the RaDEX system while in Argentina. For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan the most popular option is rentista residence, with income from 5 minimum wages, about $1,255 a month.

• Where to apply. Only in Argentina, through the RaDEX system and then in person.
• Term. From 1 to 3 years, renewable.
• Income for rentistas and pensioners. From 5 minimum wages a month, 1,919,000 pesos in September 2026.
• Permanent residence. After 3 years of temporary residence for nationals of non-Mercosur countries.
• Citizenship. After 2 years of living in the country or through the investment programme.

A residence permit is the first step for anyone relocating to Argentina. It is not needed by those obtaining citizenship through the investment programme without residence, but it is needed by families who want to live in the country, naturalise through the courts or establish tax residence. More on citizenship in our article how to obtain Argentine citizenship.

Types of residence in Argentina

In short: Law 25.871 divides foreigners into three groups: transitory residents for up to a year, temporary residents for up to three years and permanent residents with no time limit.

Transitory residence covers tourists, participants in short projects and digital nomads: it does not come with a DNI card. Temporary residence is the main type of residence permit: it is granted for up to three years on the grounds listed in Article 23 of the law, is renewable and comes with a foreigner's DNI. Permanent residence under Article 22 has no time limit and is obtained after several years of temporary residence or on special grounds.

Nationals of Mercosur and associated countries obtain residence under a simplified agreement on the basis of nationality alone. Citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan are not among them, so they need one of the Article 23 grounds.

Grounds for a residence permit

In short: for nationals of non-Mercosur countries the main grounds are income from capital, a pension, employment, investment, study and family ties to a citizen or resident.

The table shows that the ground is chosen according to the family's source of income. Someone living on income from savings, rent or dividends applies as a rentista. Someone receiving a pension applies as a pensioner. A person hired by an Argentine company applies on the basis of employment, and the employer must be registered with the registry of employers of foreigners. A student applies on the basis of study, an entrepreneur as an investor.

Digital nomads are a separate category. Since 2022 Argentina has granted them transitory residence for 180 days, renewable for another 180 days. It allows them to live in the country and work remotely for foreign clients, but does not come with a DNI and does not count towards the period required for permanent residence.

Rentista and pensioner residence

In short: you must prove a monthly income of at least 5 minimum wages. In September 2026 that is 1,919,000 pesos, about $1,255. The money must arrive in Argentina through a bank.

The threshold is set by migration service Provisions 1732/2023 and 3446/2023 and is linked to the minimum wage, which the government raises several times a year. Under Resolution 4/2026 the minimum wage in September 2026 is 383,800 pesos and will rise to 437,000 pesos by April 2027. This means the threshold for rentistas and pensioners will reach 2,185,000 pesos, about $1,430, by April 2027. The threshold must be met for each family member.

A rentista proves that the income comes from assets: deposits, securities, property or stakes in companies. Salary and income from one's own work do not qualify for this ground. The money must arrive in Argentina through banks licensed by the Central Bank, so the account is opened first and regular transfers are then shown. A pensioner presents a certificate from the pension authority stating the amount and term of payments, along with recent payment slips.

Rentista and pensioner residence is granted for one year, renewable. Time spent on these permits counts towards permanent residence and naturalisation.

Residence through employment and for investors

In short: employment-based residence requires a contract with an Argentine company listed in the registry of employers of foreigners. Investor residence is granted for a business project, with funds transferred through a bank.

The employer registers with RENURE, the registry of employers of foreigners, signs a contract with the employee and files the documents together with them. The employee receives residence for the term of the contract, up to three years, and pays taxes and contributions as a resident. This ground suits specialists hired by Argentine companies, including in IT.

Investor residence is granted for a project in production, trade or services that benefits the country. A formal minimum threshold appears in the old Decree 616/2010 and has not been updated, so the migration service assesses the actual project: the business plan, the source of funds and the transfer through an Argentine bank. For entrepreneurs who set up a company, this ground is often more convenient than rentista residence. More in our article business in Argentina.

Family reunification

In short: parents, spouses and children of Argentine citizens obtain residence on the basis of family ties. Since May 2025 this is temporary residence for up to three years rather than immediate permanent residence.

Before Decree 366/2025, parents, spouses and children of Argentine citizens received permanent residence straight away. The decree moved family reunification to Article 23: it is now temporary residence for up to three years, renewable, with multiple entries. Family members of a temporary or permanent resident receive residence for the term granted to the resident.

For families who give birth in Argentina, this is the main ground after the birth: the parents of an Argentine child apply for residence as the child's parents. More in our article giving birth in Argentina and citizenship.

How to apply

In short: the application is filed online in the RaDEX system while in Argentina, followed by an appointment at the migration service. A provisional permit is issued while the application is under review.

You cannot apply from abroad: the system checks that you entered the country legally. So citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus enter visa-free for 90 days and file their documents within that period. Kazakh citizens enter for 30 days, so it is important for them to apply straight away.

After filing and paying the fees, the applicant receives a provisional residence permit. It allows them to live in the country legally, work, and leave and return while the migration service reviews the documents. An appointment is then scheduled at which the originals are checked and biometrics taken. Once approved, the foreigner's DNI card is produced by RENAPER. Children under 18 who apply together with their parents do not pay the fee.

Documents

In short: a passport, criminal record certificates, proof of address in Argentina and documents supporting the ground. Foreign certificates must carry an apostille and a sworn translation.

• Passport. Valid, with an entry stamp.
• Argentine criminal record certificate. Requested automatically through RaDEX.
• Criminal record certificates from other countries. From every country where the applicant lived for more than a year in the last 3 years.
• Address. A certificate of residence or a utility bill.
• Documents supporting the ground. Income statements, a pension certificate, an employment contract, an investment project.
• Marriage and birth certificates. For family members, with apostille and translation.

Translations are done by Argentine sworn translators, and their signatures are certified by their professional association. Criminal record certificates are valid for a limited time, so they are ordered shortly before the trip. For Russian citizens, the apostille on the certificate is affixed by the Interior Ministry, and the certificate itself can be ordered through the Gosuslugi portal or a consulate.

Timelines and costs

In short: the provisional permit is issued immediately after filing, the residence decision usually takes several months, and the DNI card follows a few weeks later. The main costs are the migration fee, apostilles, translations and professional support.

Review times depend on the migration service's workload and on how complete the documents are: if the service requests additional papers, the clock stops. Until a decision is made, the provisional permit confirms legal stay and allows you to leave and return. The migration service charges an additional fee for an expedited appointment.

The migration fee for nationals of non-Mercosur countries is higher than for nationals of the bloc. On top of it come fees for the criminal record certificate and the DNI card. Apostilles and translations of certificates and marriage and birth records usually cost more than the fees themselves, especially for a family with children. If the permit is renewed late, the fee rises by 50%. If the family chooses citizenship by investment, the cost for your family composition is shown in the Argentina programme cost calculation.

For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan

In short: residence requirements are the same for all nationals of non-Mercosur countries. What differs is the visa-free period, how criminal record certificates are obtained and each country's rules on second citizenship.

Citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus enter visa-free for 90 days and Kazakh citizens for 30 days, so the latter need to file their documents immediately after arrival. Russian citizens order criminal record certificates through Gosuslugi or a consulate and have them apostilled by the Interior Ministry. Ukrainian citizens obtain the certificate through the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's service, and citizens of Belarus and Kazakhstan through their government portals or consulates.

A residence permit does not affect citizenship of the country of origin, but on naturalisation in Argentina the rules differ: Kazakhstan prohibits dual citizenship, and Belarus requires notification. More in our articles for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

What Decree 366/2025 changed

In short: the decree moved family reunification to temporary residence, introduced proof of means for permanent residence, allowed hospitals to charge non-residents and tightened refusals of entry and residence for people with criminal records.

For residence applicants, the main change is the requirement to prove means of subsistence when moving to permanent residence. The decree also widened the grounds for refusing entry and residence: criminal records, false statements about the purpose of travel and breaches of migration rules. Since 11 August 2026 national hospitals have been billing foreigners without permanent residence, so temporary residents need health insurance or a private plan. More in our article Decree 366/2025 and the courts.

What a residence permit gives you

In short: the right to live and work in Argentina, a DNI card, a bank account, a CUIT tax number, multiple entries and time counted towards permanent residence and citizenship.

With a DNI card a foreigner can use banks, sign leases, register a company and obtain a CUIT tax number, which since March 2026 has been required for a bank account. Children attend state schools free of charge. Time on temporary residence counts towards the 3 years for permanent residence and the 2 years of residence for naturalisation. More in our articles opening a bank account in Argentina and taxes in Argentina.

A residence permit has tax consequences: a temporary resident becomes an Argentine tax resident after 12 months of living in the country, and a permanent resident from the date permanent residence is granted. A tax resident pays tax on worldwide income.

From temporary to permanent residence and citizenship

In short: after 3 years of temporary residence, a national of a non-Mercosur country applies for permanent residence. They must have spent more than half of the period in the country and not have been away for 6 consecutive months.

The application for permanent residence is filed within 60 days before the temporary permit expires or within 30 days after. The migration service checks that the applicant has lived in Argentina for more than 50% of the permit's term and has not been abroad for 6 months or more in a row, and that they have proved their means of subsistence. More in our article Argentina permanent residence.

Citizenship can also be obtained before permanent residence: naturalisation requires 2 years of residence. Under Decree 366/2025, 2 years of lawful residence without departures and permanent residence are required, but following the appeals chamber ruling the courts apply the previous law, and the dispute is before the Supreme Court. Citizenship without residence is offered by the investment programme. More in our article how much Argentine citizenship costs. How we handle an application from due diligence to passport is described on the Argentina programme support page.

Where people go wrong

In short: they apply late and overstay the visa-free period, show a salary instead of income from capital, do not route money through an Argentine bank and lose track of the renewal deadline.

1. They apply in the last days of the visa-free period. Overstaying leads to a fine.
2. They show a salary for rentista residence. Employment income does not qualify for this ground.
3. They keep money only abroad. The transfer must go through a bank licensed by the Central Bank.
4. They bring certificates without an apostille or with an old date. These are not accepted.
5. They miss the renewal deadline. After the permit expires there are 30 days, with a 50% surcharge on the fee.
6. They leave for long periods. Being away for 6 consecutive months stands in the way of permanent residence.