Residency and retirement

How to Move to Argentina From the US: A Step-by-Step Plan

By Nico F. · Updated October 14, 2026

General information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules, exchange rates and prices change and every case has its own details. Before you pay, sign or apply for residency, check the current rules with an Argentine notary (escribano), lawyer or accountant.

Quick answer Yes, Americans can move to Argentina. US citizens enter as tourists without a visa for up to three months, extendable once, but living there needs a residency category: pensionado or rentista for retirees (five minimum wages a month: ARS 1,956,000 for October 2026, ARS 1,994,000 from November 1), the 180-day digital nomad permit, or a family-based category. The application is filed online while the applicant is in Argentina (a consular route from abroad exists), with apostilled criminal-record certificates. The Migraciones residency pages state no decision time; ask Migraciones for the current wait. The worked example below, for one FBI report only, totals about USD 188 at ARS 1,535 per dollar (October 9, 2026); each further foreign document adds an apostille and a translation.

Terms used on this page: Migraciones (the national migration authority), RADEX (its online application system), apostille (the Hague Convention certificate that authenticates a foreign document), traductor público nacional (a sworn translator in Argentina), DNI (the national ID card), CUIT (the tax ID number), CUIL (the labor ID number), SSA (the US Social Security Administration), APHIS (the USDA animal-health service), and FATCA and FBAR (US reporting of foreign assets and accounts).

Can Americans move to Argentina, and is it easy?

Yes, through a residency category. There is no retirement visa, and owning property is not a category.

Route What it is Where it is explained
Tourist Up to three months, one extension of a similar period; not a residency This page
Pensionado or rentista Temporary residence for a regular pension or stable asset income of at least five minimum wages a month; rentista income must be stable for at least two years. Whether US Social Security counts as a pension is not confirmed Pensionado and rentista residency and retire in Argentina
Digital nomad Transitory permit of up to 180 days for remote work for clients abroad, extendable once Argentina digital nomad visa
Family ties Article 23 of Law 25.871 includes family reunification for relatives of Argentines and of some residents Ask Migraciones
Buying property Not a residency category Does buying property give residency?

The application is online and Migraciones says it needs no intermediary, but it takes documents from two countries and a sworn translation. An emergency decree of May 2025 rewrote the rules. DNU 366/2025 remains published. The Cámara Nacional Electoral declared it null on June 30, 2026 in one citizenship case; the government's appeal is before the Supreme Court, which had not ruled as of October 7, 2026 (Infobae). Ask Migraciones or a migration lawyer whether the residency rules are affected.

What is the plan, step by step?

Stage What happens Time or cost
1. Before you go Check the passport; ask Migraciones or a migration lawyer whether the FBI report alone is accepted, then order it with its State Department apostille; start pet paperwork; plan the shipment FBI: 2 to 6 weeks plus 1 to 3 weeks of mail each way (Federal Apostille, a commercial service). State Department apostille: the Office of Authentications publishes five weeks for mail and seven business days at its Washington, DC counter; commercial services report waits of 10 to 12 weeks when backlogged
2. Arrival and the 90-day stay Enter as a tourist; translate and legalize the documents Three months, extendable once for a similar period; request it in the last 10 days of the stay; fee ARS 20,000 (about USD 13) per the transitory-residence row of the fee table
3. Residency application File in RADEX while in Argentina; pay; attend the appointment Fee ARS 100,000 (about USD 65); appointment email within 24 hours of loading the application
4. DNI Book the first-ID appointment once the residence is granted ARS 20,000 (about USD 13); about 15 minutes at the office; delivery reported up to about 90 days
5. After residency Tax ID, health cover, license, renewals, tax reporting See below

The FBI report and the State Department apostille take weeks (see the table); whether Migraciones accepts a certificate ordered before travel, and for how long, is a question for Migraciones or a migration lawyer. Pesos are converted at ARS 1,535 per US dollar (Banco Nación sell rate on October 9, 2026, El Cronista); at the buying rate of ARS 1,485 the dollar figures are about 3.4% higher.

What are the entry rules for a US citizen?

Visa and length. US passport holders need no visa for tourism (Argentine consulate in Atlanta, page updated February 11, 2026), and the Argentine Embassy in Washington says there is no reciprocity fee for US tourists (page from 2019). Migraciones sets the stay at up to three months, extendable for a similar period.

Extending. The request is made in person at the Migraciones headquarters or any delegation, within the 10 days before expiry, per the Migraciones FAQ. The fee table lists ARS 20,000 for extending transitory residence for non-MERCOSUR nationals, which Argentina Visa Law applies to tourist extensions. An expired stay cannot be extended; the person must request an exit authorization (ARS 40,000, about USD 26).

Passport. The UK and Canadian pages say the passport must be valid for the length of the stay. The Argentine consulate in Atlanta lists "a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry" in its tourist-visa document list without saying whether it applies to visa-exempt US citizens. Airlines may apply stricter rules.

Health-insurance declaration. DNU 366/2025 wrote into article 34 of Law 25.871 that foreigners seeking admission must swear a statement of the purpose of entry and declare that they have health insurance. The updated law text (read October 14, 2026) makes the sworn statement enforceable only once its implementation is regulated (article 123 bis). The Argentine Embassy in Sweden (page undated) says it is not being requested, and Argentina Visa Law (September 2026) says enforcement waits for implementing rules. Confirm with the airline or an Argentine consulate before travel. The law text names no amount of cover.

Cash and tourist days. Cash of USD 10,000 or more must be declared on entry (ARCA). Tourist, transitory and residencia precaria days do not count toward permanent residence, and a tourist cannot generally do paid local work without authorization (Law 25.871, article 52). Decreto 681/2026 (Boletín Oficial, July 30, 2026, in force July 31) adds entry refusal and residence cancellation for people who sent hate messages against Argentines, incited violence against Argentines because of nationality, or insulted national symbols (the decree excludes ideological dissent and political, academic or citizen criticism). Whether an application can start after the tourist stay has expired is a question for Migraciones; the extension window is the last 10 days of the stay.

Which documents does a US applicant need, and what do they cost?

The pensionado, rentista and permanent-residence pages share one list: a valid passport; the Argentine criminal record (requested inside RADEX); a criminal-record certificate from each country lived in for more than one year in the last three years; proof of address; and proof of income. For a US resident, the natural federal-level certificate is the FBI Identity History Summary, but Migraciones lists only "certificate from each country"; Migraciones or a migration lawyer can confirm whether the FBI report alone is accepted before the document is ordered. Thresholds are on the pensionado and rentista page.

Step Cost Notes
FBI Identity History Summary USD 18 per request 28 CFR 16.33; check the FBI page for the current fee, since the FBI's June 2026 fee notice covers agency fingerprint checks and not the personal copy
State Department apostille, per document USD 20 22 CFR 22.1. The FBI report is a federal document, so a state secretary of state does not apostille it (Texas Secretary of State)
Sworn translation into Spanish Indicative minimum ARS 76,900 (about USD 50.10) per foja (500 words or part of them), English personal documents Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, from September 1, 2026; an indicative minimum, so a translator's quote can be higher
Colegio de Traductores legalization ARS 33,000 simple (about USD 21.50); ARS 38,000 urgent Same college and date; the fee table does not say whether it is per document

Argentina (in force since February 18, 1988) and the US are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a US apostille is enough. The order (apostille in the US, translation in Argentina, then legalization by the college) follows from Migraciones' pages, and Migraciones can confirm the order. The Migraciones pages state no validity period for foreign criminal-record certificates; ask Migraciones before ordering.

How does the residency application work after arrival?

The application is made through RADEX, and the applicant must be physically in Argentina: register, complete the form, pay, upload the documents. The FAQ says the appointment for the nearest delegation is emailed within 24 hours of loading the application; it does not promise that the appointment itself falls in that window. A route from abroad also exists, through an attorney-in-fact and a consular visa (see the pensionado page).

The fee table (Decree 584/2024) carries no date, so confirm amounts in RADEX before paying. The application costs ARS 100,000 for non-MERCOSUR nationals (about USD 65.15). A preferential appointment costs ARS 50,000 (about USD 32.57) for all nationalities and, per the FAQ, does not mean an immediate decision.

While a request is pending, the authority may grant a residencia precaria, valid up to 90 days and renewable (Law 25.871, article 20, as replaced by DNU 366/2025). The holder can work and study; extensions do not guarantee approval. Renewal can be requested from 15 days before expiry, costs ARS 10,000 (about USD 6.51) for non-MERCOSUR nationals, and the certificate is downloadable within 10 business days.

How do the DNI, tax ID and health cover work?

DNI. RENAPER, the national civil registry, issues the card. The first ID follows the grant of residence: book a Registro Civil or RENAPER center through the Mi Argentina app. The visit takes about 15 minutes and costs ARS 20,000 (about USD 13; RENAPER's page carries no date). RENAPER's page gives no delivery time; reports run up to about 90 days.

Tax ID. According to Baenegocios (December 24, 2025), ARCA General Resolution 5803/2025 replaced the CDI with the CUIT from March 2, 2026, with a provisional CUIT of up to two years for foreigners without a DNI who live in Argentina and a representative with an Argentine address for non-residents. ARCA's older CDI page still describes the CDI, so ask the bank or notary which ID they accept (steps in CUIT for foreigners). Banks usually want a DNI plus CUIL or CUIT and proof of address (The Rio Times, September 2026). Money transfers are in the blue dollar and money guide.

Health cover. Resolution 1066/2026, in force from August 12, 2026, requires foreigners without permanent residence to show insurance or pay in advance for non-emergency care at national hospitals; emergencies are not charged in advance. More is in how to retire in Argentina.

How do you ship belongings to Argentina?

The ARCA page for foreigners who come to live in the country sets the rule by residence category.

Category Rule
Permanent residence Personal and household effects, new or used, enter free of duties with no limit on value if their quantity, nature or variety does not suggest commercial use; tools of the person's profession or trade are admitted
Temporary residence Effects enter temporarily under a guarantee regime, guaranteeing 50% of the taxes on the value of the goods

For a permanent resident the goods must arrive from three months before to six months after entry (from the grant date if the residence comes after arrival), and are released only after the person arrives. Under AFIP General Resolution 3109/2011 (as published in 2011) the benefit can be claimed once every seven years, and the goods cannot be sold, transferred for payment or pledged for two years without authorization. ARCA files the move through procedures 10221 (permanent residents) and 10220 (temporary). The 2011 rule asks for the passport or DNI, the Migraciones certificate, the transport document and a packing list; a customs broker or ARCA can confirm the current checklist.

An ocean shipment generally takes about 8 to 10 weeks once the goods are on the water (Schumacher Cargo, a commercial mover).

What does it take to bring a dog or cat?

SENASA (Argentina's animal-health authority) sets the Argentine side, and USDA APHIS the US side. A dog or cat needs an authorized veterinarian's health certificate dated within 10 days before the international veterinary certificate (CVI) is issued, a rabies vaccine that is valid on the day of entry (a first vaccination at least 21 days before entry) and deworming within 15 days before the CVI is issued; the CVI is valid 60 days from issue (SENASA; APHIS). The USDA endorsement costs USD 101 per certificate with no lab tests and USD 160 for one pet with one or two lab tests, plus the veterinarian's fee (APHIS, page modified June 18, 2026). A pet that travels with its owner needs no prior permit, and airlines add their own cage, size and breed rules.

Can you drive on a US license?

The US State Department's country page (updated July 16, 2026) says an Argentine or international license is needed to drive. Published visitor periods differ (a 2023 government event page gives a maximum of one year for licenses from countries party to the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna conventions), so the licensing office or a rental company can confirm what applies to a US state license; a resident needs an Argentine license (Translayte, a commercial service, June 24, 2026). Details and the City's exchange list are in daily life in Argentina.

What US taxes and reporting apply after the move?

A US cross-border tax professional is the person to ask; nothing here is tax advice.

Item What the IRS says
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, 2026 USD 132,900 (Revenue Procedure 2025-32), for earned income only, not pensions, Social Security or investment income. Tests: a foreign tax home plus bona fide residence for a full tax year or 330 full days abroad
Form 8938 (FATCA), taxpayers living abroad Living abroad means a US citizen whose tax home is in a foreign country and who has been present abroad at least 330 days in a consecutive 12-month period. Then: unmarried or filing separately, more than USD 200,000 on the last day of the year or USD 300,000 at any time; married filing jointly, USD 400,000 and USD 600,000. Taxpayers who do not meet the test use the lower US thresholds (USD 50,000 and USD 75,000 unmarried; USD 100,000 and USD 150,000 joint); a US tax professional can say which applies. Penalty for failure to file: USD 10,000 (IRS page, September 19, 2026)
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) Required if foreign accounts total more than USD 10,000 at any time in the year; due April 15, automatic extension to October 15

In Argentina a foreigner is a tax resident with permanent residence or after 12 months with temporary migration authorizations (Income Tax Law, article 116 b), and residents are taxed on worldwide income. Argentina does not appear in IRS Publication 901, so no income tax treaty with the US is in force. The SSA pays US citizens outside the US except in restricted countries and has no totalization agreement with Argentina; Medicare usually does not cover care outside the US.

What does the move cost in official fees? A worked example

This is arithmetic from the figures above. Assumptions: one retiree; one FBI report; one page of 500 words or fewer translated at the indicative minimum and legalized once at the simple fee; the non-MERCOSUR residence fee; the first DNI; ARS 1,535 per dollar.

Item Pesos About USD
Sworn translation, one foja ARS 76,900 50.10
Legalization, simple ARS 33,000 21.50
Residence application ARS 100,000 65.15
First DNI ARS 20,000 13.03
Subtotal in pesos ARS 229,900 149.78
FBI Identity History Summary 18.00
State Department apostille 20.00
Total 187.78

Each line is rounded to the cent and the rounded lines add to 149.78; the exact subtotal, ARS 229,900 divided by 1,535, is 149.77. The total excludes fingerprinting and mail, the translator's actual fee, proof-of-income and proof-of-address documents, the Argentine criminal-record fee inside RADEX, the tourist extension, the preferential appointment, precaria renewals, flights, shipping, insurance, pet costs and any lawyer. Housing is in apartments for rent in Buenos Aires, costs in cost of living in Argentina and the wider picture in the Argentina expat guide.

See also: how to retire in Argentina, Argentina digital nomad visa.

Sources

Argentina updates

Rule changes, prices and new guides for buying property and living in Argentina. No fixed schedule.