Argentina citizenship is the quickest naturalization in the world, and also comes with brilliant benefits for you and your children. We’ll look at how to get Argentina citizenship by marriage, descent, birth, and naturalization. We’ll also cover how to get an excellent Argentina passport.
How To Get Argentine Citizenship And Nationality
Argentina Citizenship By Birth Or Birthright
There are three categories of Argentine citizens. While the rights of a citizen and passport holder are the same, this status can impact how you pass Argentine nationality to your children. It will also impact the application process. We’ll explore all this in detail below.
The three categories of Argentine national are:
- Born. Anyone born in Argentina falls into this category. They are automatically Argentine nationals.
The next two categories are for those born outside of Argentina.
- Option. This category is for those children who are born overseas to an Argentine-born parent and who have taken up the option of nationality.
- Naturalized. This category is for anyone who has completed the naturalization process to become an Argentine citizen.
Born On Las Islas Malvinas (also known as the Falkland Islands)
If you are born in Las Islas Malvinas (known as the Falkland Islands in the UK), you can claim Argentina nationality. The Government of Argentina and the UK dispute the ownership of this territory. For this reason, if you are born there, you could also claim British nationality.
Argentina Citizenship By Descent Or Option
Argentine nationality law also applies Jus Sanguinis (the right of blood) in many cases. These are only used by people born outside of Argentina.
Your right to nationality by descent will depend on the way your parent got their Argentine nationality.
Children of Argentine-born parents
If one of your parents was born in Argentina, you have the right to Argentine nationality by option.
Your application can be made either at:
- An Argentine embassy or consulate.
- The civil registry office (Registro Civil) in Argentina.
Children of Argentine citizens by option
If your parents are citizens by option (your grandparent was born in Argentina), you are very likely to qualify.
- Your application must be made to a judge in the Argentine Federal court, and a lawyer must represent you. Our Argentine partner has a 100% success record with these applications. Applications can take up to eight months to process.
Children of Argentine citizens by naturalization
If your parents are citizens by naturalization, then you may be eligible. However, these applications have mixed results, and not all are successful. If you fall into this category, it is best to speak to a qualified immigration lawyer to assess your case. Other pathways may be easier to follow.
- Again, your application must be made to a judge in the Argentine Federal court, and a lawyer must represent you.
For all three categories, there is no age limit on applying. Adults and children alike are eligible. For minors, their parents will need to apply.
Argentina Citizenship Through Marriage
If your spouse is a citizen, you can apply for Argentine nationality in Argentina. The standard two-year waiting period is waived. This rule includes same-sex marriages, which the law has recognized since 2010.
Argentina Citizenship As A Parent Of A Child Born In Argentina
If your child is born in Argentina, then you can apply for Argentine nationality in Argentina. As with marriage to an Argentine, the normal two-year waiting period is waived.
Argentina Citizenship By Naturalization
After just two years, you can apply to become a full citizen of Argentina. This is the fastest standard naturalization qualifying period in the world.
You can apply to become an Argentina citizen if you:
- Are over 18 years old.
- Have legally lived in Argentina for two years.
There are no language requirements, exams, or tests. This makes Argentina one of the fastest and easiest places in the world to get citizenship.
There are many Argentina Visas and Residency Permits available to you. Live in Argentina for two years under any of these visas and permits, and you are eligible to apply. Check out the link to find one that suits you for your two-year qualification. Be aware that for some countries, getting a qualifying visa or permit may be difficult; the article has more details.
And, although the qualifying time is quick and easy, the application can take some time. The entire process could take up to eighteen months before your passport is issued. For this reason, your application must be 100% complete and correct to prevent unnecessary delays.
The Argentinian government can also deny your application for naturalization. However, a good lawyer will be able to assess your issues and help you ensure your application has the best chance of success.
Three issues that are viewed seriously by the Federal court when assessing applications are:
- Your income and assets are shown to come from crime.
- The Argentinian police or international organizations (like INTERPOL) are investigating you for a serious crime.
- You have been convicted of a serious crime. Crimes over 10 years old or that do not have an equivalent penalty in Argentina seldom stop the court from granting your application.
Argentina Citizenship By Investment
Argentina does not have a direct Citizenship by Investment program. But, it does have a Residency by Investment program which you can use as a pathway to an Argentina passport.
There is a gap between the published minimum investment and the reality of what the Immigration Agency will accept.
The legislation is for an investment of at least ARS1,500,000 (USD $20,000) into a local business. In reality, our Argentina Immigration partner has had a different experience. Any investment under USD $50,000 into a productive business is unlikely to succeed.
The immigration agency also looks for a higher level of application from citizens of countries on this list. Some factors that could help a successful application from these countries are:
- High-net-worth individuals (HNWI) (assets in excess of USD1,000,000) can be fast-tracked.
- Being a leader in your field and having a track record of success.
- Expanding a successful business into Argentina. Recent success for our local partner has included:
- An Indian laboratory that opened offices in Buenos Aires
- A Filipino software development company that hired Argentine professionals.
Your investment proposal or business plan will need to be signed off before the residency by investment permit is issued. Your tax residence status will decide your tax rate and where you pay income tax.
After two years of living in Argentina on this residence permit, you can apply for citizenship.
See our article for other Citizenship by Investment and Residency by Investment programs around the world.
How To Apply For Argentine Citizenship
You can apply for Argentine nationality and a passport from Argentina or another country.
There is a different process depending on your nationality pathway and qualification. Most migration regulation is handled by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones which is part of the Ministry of the Interior. But they don’t manage the applications.
Depending on your circumstances you’ll need to apply through:
- An Argentine embassy or consulate.
- The civil registry office (Registro Civil) in Argentina.
- The Federal Court in Argentina.
Some documents you may need include:
- A completed application form
- Your original birth certificate
- Current identity documents (passport, DNI or residency card, etc.)
- Police criminal record certificates
- Documents specific to your application like:
While citizenship is easy to qualify for, it can be tricky to get. The application process is complex, and requirements can be specific to each case.
There are translation, certification, and residency requirements. Everything needs to be in order for your application to be approved.
If you want to know how you could become a citizen of Argentina, speak to our immigration law partners in Buenos Aires. They can also assist with your application to ensure you get your case approved the first time. Click here to book your consultation.
The Benefits of Argentina Citizenship
The Powerful Argentina Passport
Argentina’s passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 170 countries and territories. See Appendix 1 for all visa requirements for Argentina passport holders.
These opportunities include a visa waiver for the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the SCHENGEN member states. The waiver means you can travel to any member state without a visa.
From 2022 the EU will roll out the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) visa waiver for Europe. Argentina passport holders will be part of the ETIAS which has a €7 processing fee and an online application process.
This system will allow Argentine nationals to travel to the EU without a visa for up to 90 days. This visa waiver covers both tourism and business travel.
Undoubtedly this makes the Argentina passport one of the world’s best. Indeed, it was ranked the 19th most powerful passport in a 2020 survey.
Argentina Allows Dual Nationality
Argentina allows you to hold dual and multiple nationalities. You’ll need to check your current nationality allows this as well.
So, an Argentine passport will not mean you have to give up your current nationality or passports.
An interesting fact about Argentina’s nationality is you cannot renounce it. This rule is also an advantage in some cases. Many countries that don’t allow second citizenship allow it for Argentinian nationals. This is because they offer a waiver for exceptional circumstances, including where renouncing is impossible.
Your Passport Comes With MERCOSUR Membership
As an Argentinean citizen, you can live and work anywhere in the MERCOSUR region. This membership means the whole of South America is open to you. The MERCOSUR area includes:
- Brazil
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Venezuela (currently under suspension)
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Peru
- Surinam
Today you can travel throughout the region with just your Argentinian national identity card. And, there are plans to increase cooperation, making membership even more appealing.
Many Can Pass Argentina Nationality To Their Children
Argentina grants nationality using Jus Sanguinis (the right of blood) in many cases.
This rule means children of Argentina citizens may be eligible for Argentina nationality. And, only one parent needs to qualify to give their children eligibility.
We’ll look at this in detail in the Descent or Option section.
Argentine Citizenship And A Passport Can Be Yours
Argentine nationality has many advantages beyond living and working in this beautiful country. It can also be a gift you pass to your children and a powerful passport to opportunity.
With so many pathways and the world’s shortest naturalization period, it is an excellent option for many people.
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Appendix 1
Countries Argentine passport-holders can visit visa-free
- Albania
- Andorra
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Bonaire
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands
- Bulgaria
- Cayman Islands
- Chile
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- Nicaragua
- Niue
- North Macedonia
- Northern Cyprus
- Norway
- Norway Svalbard
- Palestine
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Réunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Saba
- Saint Barthélemy
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Sint Eustatius
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
Countries Argentine passport-holders can get a visa on arrival
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Countries Argentine passport holders can get an eVisa
- Angola
- Ascension
- Ascension Island
- Azerbaijan
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- India
- Lesotho
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Samoa
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- South Sudan
- Vietnam
Visa or Permit required for Argentine nationals
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Australia
- Bhutan
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Brunei
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Clipperton Island
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Guam
- Guinea
- Iraq
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway Jan Mayen
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of the Congo
- Saint Helena
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tristan da Cunha
- Turkmenistan
- US Virgin Islands
- United States of America (USA)
- Yemen
