Residency in Argentina
Obtain residency in Argentina and enjoy a high quality of life and a low cost of living in the only country in the world with a libertarian president.
Residency in Argentina
The Advantages of Residency in Argentina
Residency in Argentina is a highly advantageous option in Latin America:
- Permanent residency: Brazilians can apply for permanent residency without needing to go through years of temporary residency.
- Quality of Life: Argentina has a high HDI. While Brazil ranks 87th globally, Argentina holds the 47th position.
- Safety: Argentina's homicide rate per capita is 4.3. This is less than half that of Brazil's safest states, such as SC and SP.
- Simplified process: Simply present an apostilled birth certificate and criminal background check.
- Citizenship in 0-2 years: Citizenship application is possible after 2 years of residency, or immediately after having an Argentine child or spouse.
How Permanent Residency Works in Argentina
Some advantages and interesting facts about permanent residency in Argentina.
- Qualification: Brazilian citizens and parents of Argentine citizens can apply for permanent residency immediately and skip temporary residency entirely. Alternatively, temporary residents can apply for permanent residency after 3 years of temporary residency. This period is reduced to 2 years for citizens of Mercosur countries.
- Truly permanent: Permanent residency is truly permanent and does not need to be renewed. Only the identity document (DNI) needs to be renewed.
- Minimum stay: To maintain permanent residency, you simply must not be absent from the country for more than 2 years. One visit every two years is sufficient to maintain residency.
- Timeline: It takes 6 to 12 months to be issued. Until it is issued, you hold a "Residencia Precaria," which must be extended every 90 days.
- Immediate Tax Residency: Permanent residents are automatically considered tax residents.
- Presence until issuance: If you only apply for residency and then leave the country, Argentine authorities may deny the extension of your "residencia precaria." Therefore, ideally, only apply for permanent residency if you truly wish to wait in Argentina until it is issued.
The Temporary Residency Option for Non-Brazilians
- Options: Rentista visas (proof of income) and investor visas (local investment) are the two most popular routes. Birth tourism is also very popular currently.
- Minimum stay: Requires a minimum stay of 6 months per year. It is possible to obtain residency and then leave, but if you stay for less than 6 months, you cannot renew it, convert it to permanent residency, or apply for citizenship.
- Tax Residency in 1 year: Temporary residents only become tax residents after 1 year of stay.
- Direct path to citizenship: Citizenship application is possible after 2 years of temporary residency; obtaining permanent residency is not necessary unless explicitly desired.
Citizenship in Argentina and Birth Tourism
- Duration: The process takes about 1 year and is handled through the courts. You must be in Argentina for your hearing with the judge.
- Qualification: Judges will evaluate what they call "arraigos" – ties to the land. Among other things, judges will assess your entries and exits from the country. Therefore, forget the idea of obtaining permanent residency, staying in the country for 2 weeks, and getting citizenship after 2 years. This is only possible if you have an Argentine child or spouse.
- Application without 2 years of residency: Other options for ties include giving birth in Argentina (thereby becoming the parent of an Argentine) and marrying an Argentine to demonstrate ties to the land. Birth tourism is a possibility here. In this case, knowing how to speak Spanish is not required.
- Subjectivity: It is important to understand that citizenship applications are evaluated by a judge, so there is always a degree of subjectivity. Ideally, you should establish as many ties to the country as possible.
- Presence until issuance: Before citizenship, you must apply for residency. If you only apply for residency and then leave the country, Argentine authorities may deny the extension of your temporary residency. Therefore, ideally, only apply for permanent residency if you truly intend to wait in Argentina until it is issued.
If you are interested in birth tourism in Argentina, please contact us.
More Resources on Argentina at Settee
- Article: Gun Laws in Argentina - How to Obtain Legal Possession
- Article: Safety in Latin America: The Best Destinations and Tips
- Article: Life in Argentina: How to Survive in a World of Hyperinflation
- Article: The 5 Best Countries to Learn Spanish – and Where NOT to Go
- Article: The 13 Easiest Countries to Obtain Citizenship by Naturalization
- Article: Buenos Aires, Argentina: The Best City in Latin America?
- Podcast: How to Thrive in Argentina's Hyperinflation - with BowTiedMara
Explore Our Offers in Argentina
The options below are for Brazilians applying for permanent residency. For other nationalities, please contact us for a quote.
Basic Package for Brazilians
US$899
- Includes Permanent Residency and National ID Card (DNI)
- 6-12 month processing time for permanent residency. You can live in Argentina from the date of your application.
- Requires 1 visit to Buenos Aires
- Includes our 52-page Escape Route: Argentina guide.
- $50 USD discount available for dependents and annual members of the Settee Community
Complete Package for Brazilians
$1599
- Includes Permanent Residency and National ID (DNI)
- Additionally, it includes a Tax ID, Monotributista registration (Argentine self-employed status), and an Argentine bank account.
- 6-12 month processing time for permanent residency issuance. You can live in Argentina from the date of your application.
- Requires 1 visit to Buenos Aires
- Includes our 52-page Escape Route: Argentina guide.
- $200 USD discount available for annual members of the Settee Community. Dependents are included in the Basic Package price.
Is Argentine Residency right for me?
We recommend Argentine Residency for:
- Those seeking fast-track citizenship: You can apply for Argentine citizenship after just 2 years of residency.
- Those interested in staying close to Brazil: Argentina is a strategic option for Brazilians who want to live abroad without being too far from home.
- Those seeking a large expat community: The country has welcoming policies for foreigners and a large expat community, making the transition easier.
- European quality of life in Latin America: Argentina is a safe country with developed infrastructure and European-style architecture and urban planning.
We Do Not Recommend Argentine Residency For:
- Clients who do not intend to stay in Argentina after the process: The residency application requires you to remain in the country, and leaving Argentina during the process may lead to a denial of your residency renewal. If you are looking for flexibility, we recommend Paraguay, which has very low physical presence requirements.
- Clients who want permanent residency without becoming tax residents: Permanent residency in Argentina implies immediate tax resident status, which may not be ideal for those looking to avoid tax obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- In the Basic Package: Permanent Residency and DNI for one person
- In the Full Package: Permanent Residency, DNI, Tax ID, Monotributista registration, and a bank account for one person.
- Remote support with guidance on the required documentation
- A professional to pick you up in Buenos Aires and accompany you in person to the immigration office for your temporary residency and ID card processing.
- 3-business-day window to complete the in-person process (though 1 day is usually sufficient)
- Any costs related to travel to Argentina.
- Any costs related to accommodation in Argentina.
- Residency and ID cards for dependents: There is an additional cost of $649 for the Basic Package or $1299 for the Full Package per dependent (the latter is only for adults who wish to have their own bank account and tax registration).
- Tax and accounting support in Argentina: We can refer you to local accountants for any needs you may have.
Yes, you are required to travel to Argentina to submit your application in person.
Fortunately, the process takes only 3 business days, and it can often be completed in just one day.
We require at least 2 weeks' notice between your request and your travel date to Buenos Aires so we can prepare your documents and schedule your immigration appointment.
You will then travel to Buenos Aires, where the application process will be completed within 1-3 days.
Once the application is submitted, permanent residency is typically issued within 6-12 months. In the meantime, you will hold a temporary residency permit (residencia precária), which allows you to live in the country.
Yes and no. Once you have permanent residency, you only need to visit the country once every 2 years to keep it active, and renew your DNI (Argentine ID) so that it does not expire.
However, if you apply for residency, leave the country, and do not return, Argentine authorities may deny the extension of your temporary residency and the issuance of your permanent residency.
Therefore, we recommend applying for permanent residency only if you truly intend to wait in Argentina until it is issued.
There are some advantages to obtaining Argentine residency even if you continue to live in Brazil.
- You begin counting time toward citizenship by naturalization in Argentina.
- Allows you to open accounts at Argentine banks and credit unions.
- Makes it easier to invest, study, and do business in Argentina.
- Allows you to obtain an Argentine driver's license to drive in other countries.
- If you decide to move to Argentina at some point, you will already have all the documents in hand; you just need to go.
It depends. If you obtain Argentine residency but still live in Brazil year-round, you will obviously still be a tax resident in Brazil and must pay taxes there.
However, if you:
- Obtain Argentine residency
- Complete your definitive departure from Brazil or your country of origin
- Become a perpetual traveler or emigrate to a tax haven
Yes, it is entirely possible to live tax-free without needing to live in Argentina.
Legal residency is a residence permit—whether permanent or temporary. It gives you the right to live in the country, stay as long as you like, come and go, apply for a driver's license, work, and seek employment. With a residence permit, you begin counting time toward naturalization and obtaining Argentine citizenship.
To keep your legal residency active, you cannot be absent from the country for more than 2 consecutive years.
Tax residency, on the other hand, is the obligation to pay taxes in the country. It also grants you the right to use Argentina's double taxation avoidance agreements and request a tax residency certificate. You obtain it by:
- Immediately, as a permanent resident
- After 12 months of stay, as a temporary resident
No. Argentina has a double taxation avoidance agreement with Brazil. By using this agreement, there will be no double taxation between the countries.
Yes. The step-by-step process is as follows:
- Legal Residency. This service covers your application for legal residency.
- Citizenship. After 2 years of legal residency, you can apply for Argentine citizenship.
- Passport. After the citizenship application process, which takes approximately one year, you can apply for an Argentine passport.
We can issue an invoice for the service. Please send us your preferred billing address.