Paying and owning

How to Pay for Land in Argentina From Abroad

By Nico F. · Updated October 12, 2026 · Leer esta nota en español

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 A foreigner who does not live in Argentina can pay for land by wire transfer from abroad to the seller's account, or in cash at the signing of the deed, which the law allows for real estate sales. A debt agreed in dollars is paid in dollars. The notary (escribano) asks for a declaration of the source of funds, records how the payment was made, and reports cash transactions above certain thresholds. The buyer also needs a CUIT (an Argentine tax ID), which replaced the CDI in March 2026. Before paying a deposit, it is wise to have the title search done.

Can you pay for land in Argentina by wire transfer from abroad?

Yes. The usual route is to wire the dollars to the seller's account, and the bank credits the same amount received from abroad to the dollar account the seller holds (BCRA "Exterior y Cambios" consolidated text, point 2.8, as updated in September 2026; the BCRA is Argentina's Central Bank). It is wise to have the payment go to the seller, or to an account the notary confirms in writing, and not to third parties who are not identified in the deed. Keep the transfer receipts, and have the notary record the payment method in the deed.

If the price was agreed in dollars, the seller is only satisfied by receiving dollars: the Civil and Commercial Code says that, for a debt in foreign currency, the debtor is released by delivering the agreed currency (art. 765, as in force after DNU 70/2023, whose constitutional validity has not been resolved).

Can you pay in cash at the deed signing?

Yes, although it is not always advisable. Law 25.345 limits cash payments, but Decree 22/2001 gives discharging effect to cash payments made when signing a deed that creates, modifies or extinguishes rights over real estate. The notary must record the delivery and receipt of the money in the deed and report it to ARCA (the national tax agency) (arts. 1 and 2). As of the date of this article, ARCA recalled this when it issued the rules for the "fiscal innocence" regime: real estate sales can still be made in cash, although the regime may change. The discharging effect applies to cash handed over on the occasion of the deed: deposits or installments paid in cash earlier, outside that act, do not have that backing.

Cash comes with its own requirements:

What is the cepo, and does it affect me if I buy from abroad?

The cepo is the popular name for Argentina's currency controls. The Central Bank's foreign exchange rules are addressed to banks and set when they may give access to the foreign exchange market (point 1.2), mainly to buy or transfer foreign currency (section 3). A non-resident who pays in dollars from abroad into the seller's dollar account is not buying currency in the market: the seller's bank credits the same amount received (point 2.8). Each bank may ask for documentation on the purpose of the transfer. What you should plan for is the exit: point 3.13.1 requires the BCRA's prior approval for a non-resident to access the foreign exchange market to repatriate investments or buy foreign currency, except in the cases it lists, and the sale of real estate is not among them. Which route each bank accepts for sending abroad a price collected in dollars inside the country, for example from a local dollar account (point 3.14.1), should be checked before you buy. If you plan to sell later, ask your bank how you will be able to convert and send the money, and plan to receive the sale proceeds in dollars inside Argentina. Exchange rules change often.

What is the difference between the official, MEP, CCL and blue dollar?

The official dollar is the one traded through banks and authorized exchange houses in the foreign exchange market. The MEP and the CCL (or "cable") are transactions with securities that settle in dollars in Argentina or abroad, and they are legal operations. The "blue" dollar is the one traded outside authorized channels: the Foreign Exchange Criminal Regime punishes any exchange trading without an authorized entity and operating in foreign exchange without being authorized (Law 19.359, consolidated text by Decree 480/1995, art. 1), so using it can have consequences. Exchange rates change daily, so this article does not quote them: check them on the day of the transaction.

What does the notary do with the money, and what do they ask for?

The notary is an obliged party before the UIF. From a foreign buyer they ask for a passport, nationality, marital status, CUIT, address, occupation, declarations on whether you are a politically exposed person, and a sworn statement on the lawfulness and source of the funds. They may ask for documents that back up that source, such as bank statements or the sale of other assets, but they cannot demand tax returns (UIF Resolution 242/2023, arts. 13 and 24). The deed must state whether there were cash payments and the parties' declaration on their origin (art. 23). If a company is buying, the notary identifies its beneficial owners (art. 14). If the buyer acts through a power of attorney, see power of attorney to buy from abroad (in Spanish).

Do you need a CUIT to buy, and how do you get one without living in Argentina?

Yes. The registry does not record a deed unless the parties' identification code appears in it (Law 17.801, art. 3 bis). Since March 2, 2026, ARCA has replaced the CDI with the CUIT for individuals, and CDIs already issued remain valid until the holder changes their details. A non-resident applies through a representative domiciled in Argentina, with a passport or ID from their country, which must be certified, legalized or apostilled and translated (ARCA General Resolution 5803/2025, arts. 6 and 31). Someone who is temporarily in the country can apply in person with an appointment. The steps are in CUIT for foreigners buying land in Argentina.

Can a non-resident open a bank account?

There is no single, recent rule that settles it. In practice it depends on each bank, which usually asks for a passport, proof of address, evidence of the source of income and sometimes a CUIT. Do not assume it will be easy: ask the bank first. To pay for a purchase you do not need an Argentine account of your own: it is enough to wire to the seller's account.

What price is declared in the deed?

The notary records the real price and the payment method. Declaring a lower price is a tax risk and an anti-money-laundering risk. Provincial stamp tax is usually calculated on the higher of the price and the tax valuation, depending on the province: see cost of buying land in Argentina.

When is it safe to pay a deposit, and when is it not?

Transferring real estate requires a public deed, and the title and its registration are what protect the buyer (Civil and Commercial Code, arts. 1017, 1892 and 1893). A deposit is an advance payment, and paying it before knowing who the owner is and what encumbrances the property has is the most common risk. See purchase agreement without a deed (in Spanish), how to check a lot (in Spanish) and Argentina land scams: red flags.

What if the lot is in a border zone?

In a border security zone, a foreigner needs prior approval before the deed, except for the exceptions in Resolution 166/2009: the urban centers in Annex B (art. 14) and, in other urban centers, properties of up to 5,000 m² not for profit, with a sworn statement (arts. 16 and 17). The notary must check whether the lot is inside the zone. See border security zone (in Spanish).

Checklist before paying

If you are weighing whether to buy as an individual or through an entity, see buying land in Argentina in your name or through a company and buying land in Argentina as a non-resident.

See also: property taxes on land.

See also: the blue dollar and exchanging money, buying a house or an apartment in Argentina.

Sources

Argentina updates

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