Staying Long Term

By default, people from many countries (including European Union and USA) are automatically granted a free 90 day Tourist Visa upon arrival in Argentina. The official government list of nationalities is here – make sure to look under the first column “Pasaporte Ordinario (Turista)”. Any countries listed as “No Requiere Visa” don’t need to apply for a visa before arrival. Countries listed as “Requiere Visa” will need to apply at an Argentina embassy abroad and get a visa stamp in your passport in order to enter.

If you want to stay longer, a tourist visa can be easily extended (see “Tourist Visa 90 Day Extension” section below), so that you can easily stay up to a total of 180 days continuously in Argentina. Some people do a “Visa Run” where they go to other countries such as Uruguay or Brazil for a quick visit, but doing this repeatedly can cause problems and you may be questioned and/or denied re-retry at some point. Another option is to simply overstay your visa, and pay a fine when you leave, without causing re-entry issues (see “Overstaying Tourist Visa” section below).

For citizens of countries that don’t automatically get an entry visa on arrival in Uruguay, the easiest option for a Visa Run is via Brazil – no need to get a Brazilian visa first. Fly to Iguazu Falls airport (Airport code: IGR), take a bus or taxi from Puerto de Iguazu (the Argentinian side), to the Brazilian side of Iguazu. You will go through Argentine immigration to exit the country, but you can just drive through and skip the Brazilian immigration – no need to stop, visit the falls from the Brazilian side, return to the Argentinian side, and again skip by with no need to stop at Brazil immigration to exit, enter Argentina, and go through immigration to get a new entry. It’s an especially great option for people who have a multiple entry visa for Argentina and need to do a visa run.

As of late 2022, immigration officials at the airports are often no longer stamping your passport with the tourist visa and dates of entry/expiry. However, you can easily view your visa status and expiry date (and download an official pdf) here: https://www.migraciones.gov.ar/transitos/.

Digital Nomad Visa

Argentina launched a Digital Nomad Visa program in 2022 – official details here (in Spanish). The city of Buenos Aires has some marketing information in English here.

You can apply online and you’ll need to fill out the application, your CV/resume, a photo, and proof of income. If you’re approved, it’s valid for 180 days with an option to extend once. The fee is USD $80. However, it doesn’t seem worth it; using a Tourist Visa and extending up to 180 days or just overstaying for longer is cheaper and easier.

The city of Buenos Aires has a nice 60+ page guide with a lot of basic information about the city here. While this guide is targeting Digital Nomads, it’s great for all visitors.

Tourist Visa 90 Day Extension

If you’re staying for a total of less than six months in Argentina, you can easily get a 90-day visa extension – but only once per calendar year. This extension must be obtained within the last 10 days before your initial 90-day visa expires. To obtain the extension:

  • Go to the Migraciones office at Av. Antártida Argentina 1355. They open at 8:00 am and it’s best to arrive a few minutes before 8:00 am as the lines get longer and longer the later you start the process. Bring your passport and 4,000 pesos in cash (credit cards are not accepted).
  • You’ll see a line for the “Consultas” – don’t get in this line!
  • Look for the sign “Citas Turnos” – either go through this gate or if there is a line, get in this line. Tell them “quiero extender mi visa de turista” and if they ask, show them your entry stamp (or the pdf from https://www.migraciones.gov.ar/transitos/ if you didn’t get the entry stamp) in your passport
  • At the entrance to the building, there will be a Migraciones employee – tell them “quiero extender mi visa de turista” and they’ll let you in and they will tell you to go to the “BOX” sign
  • If there is a line in front of the red LED “BOX” sign, then wait in line until you get to see someone in one of the windows directly behind the “BOX” sign. Tell them “quiero extender mi visa de turista”. They will ask for your passport, look up your information in their computer, and then give you a ticket with a queue number.
  • Directly across, you will see the sign “Prorrogas Turistas” on the wall. Sit in front of this section and wait for your number to be called. After they call your number, they’ll ask for your passport, email address, phone number, and address. They take your picture, fingerprint both hands, and may ask some questions like what you do for work and if you are married. After a few minutes, they’ll give you a paper invoice and tell you to go pay at the cashier’s counter. Go into the adjoining room and look for a “caja” sign, which is at the opposite corner on the right side of the large room.
  • At the cashier’s counter, you hand the person behind the cashier’s window the paper and cash, and they give you a receipt. You take the receipt back to the person at the “Prorrogas Turistas” desk who told you to pay for the visa and will tell you to take a seat in the waiting area.
  • Wait for your name to be called and receive your passport and a paper. There is no stamp in your passport for the visa extension.
  • Follow the steps in the process – you will be told where to go and what to do next through various stations and queues. There are employees at every step in the process guiding you, and you’ll have to tell each of them “quiero extender mi visa de turista” so that they send you to the correct place for the next step in the process
  • The fee is 4,000 pesos (cash only) and bring your passport!
  • Expect this process to take 1-4 hours, depending on how early you get there. It’s best to arrive at 8:00 am before the lines for each step become longer.

Overstaying on a Tourist Visa

Apparently, in Argentina, it is legal to overstay for an unlimited period of time and you simply pay a 12,500 peso fee at the airport upon exit. This is a legal process in Argentina and does not cause any issues for returning to Argentina.

Per this thread (you’ll have to join the private FB group before you can view it): “As has been written a number of times, it is not illegal to overstay in Argentina, and hence there is nothing to be marked in your passport.

This information is based on the opinion of at least two different Argentine immigration lawyers, the Argentine Constitution […], and numerous persons long term experiences in Argentina.

But as has also been written a number of times, if you are not comfortable with the information that has been provided, seek your own legal advice from a reputable immigration lawyer on the matter.” This lawyer also advises the same.

Overstay fines can optionally be paid before your departure date at the main Migraciones office (Av. Antártida Argentina 1355) or at their offices at the city AEP Airport (office is in International Arrivals – look for the blue “Migraciones” sign next to the Hertz and Avis car rentals) and the EZE International Airport, and then you have 10 days to leave the country.

The latest fee is listed on this page – look for the row “Habilitación de documentación al solo efecto de hacer abandono del país de extranjero residente irregular” with the price of “12,5 UMSM”; UMSM is 1,000 pesos, so the current fee is 12,500 pesos. The last update to the fees was made in 2021.

Residency Visa

Obtaining a residency visa is a straightforward process and relatively easy. While you can do it on your own, it’s easier to use a lawyer to help you through the process. For more information, search for previous posts on this Facebook group – there are numerous threads, along with recommended lawyers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BuenosAiresExpatHub (you’ll have to join it first). There are three main methods:

  • Civil Union / Common Law: if you have a partner who is an Argentinian citizen, then you can just get a certificado de conviviencia (civil union/common law) and then apply for permanent residency with Migraciones. No need to get married.
  • Enroll in a university (public universities are free in Argentina). You do have to attend classes and pass them. You can study any subject, including Spanish or Tango. Note that the curriculum is conducted in Spanish.
    • Tango: the three universities in Buenos Aires that have a Tango program are Centro del Tango de Buenos Aires (CETBA), Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), and Universidad Nacional de las Artes (UNA). CETBA is focused on teaching Tango only, is the most popular in our community and is sometimes referred to as “the University of Tango”.
    • Spanish: Wanderlust has a program which doesn’t require full-time attendance: two hours per week for at least 48 weeks per year. They are quite foreigner friendly and will even refer you to immigration lawyers.
  • Show proof of regular income from your home country – from a rental property or pension. It has to be at least USD $2,000 per month. This is often called the “Rentista” visa.

Join this WhatsApp group for residency and migration discussions:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/IilSqp4PyAvLBM5tiJI7Yp

Citizenship

Argentina is one of the easiest countries to obtain citizenship. It requires two years of having lived in Argentina (which can include overstaying your tourist visa). Also, if your baby is born in Argentina, the baby and parents automatically get citizenship. Contact a lawyer to help you through the process. For more information, search for previous posts on this Facebook group – there are numerous threads: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BuenosAiresExpatHub (you’ll have to join it first).

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