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Practice area 03

Argentine citizenship

We advise foreign nationals who want to live in Argentina legally and become Argentine citizens, guiding them every step of the way.

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  • Temporary residency
  • Permanent residency
  • Argentine citizenship through the administrative route (National Directorate of Migration)
  • Argentine citizenship through court proceedings filed before DNI 366/2025
  • Argentine citizenship through an unconstitutionality claim against DNU 366/2025
  • Argentine citizenship by option (for children of Argentines born abroad)

Argentina has historically kept an open-door policy towards immigration, enshrining the right to reside, work and travel within its territory. However, legal settlement requires strict compliance with the regulatory framework set by Law No. 25,871 and the enforcing authorities.

Many of the foreign nationals who choose to settle here come from neighbouring countries, from the region or from all over the world, drawn by new job opportunities, family ties or study plans. Yet it is common for many to enter as tourists or, due to administrative issues, consular delays or economic circumstances, to remain in the country irregularly (with expired residency, lapsed provisional permits or unregistered entries).

An irregular migration status not only creates deep vulnerability at work, socially and in terms of social security—exposing people to fines, formal notices or the risk of deportation—but also prevents the full exercise of civil rights. As a full-service law firm, we provide strategic support in every filing, offering legal and administrative solutions both for those starting their residency from scratch and for those who need to resolve complex regularisation cases.

Argentine residency and citizenship

Temporary residency

Designed for foreign nationals who wish to live in the country for a set period (usually up to three years, depending on the subcategory), with the option to renew and to enter and leave the country multiple times. Within this category we handle the main routes:

  • Nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states: A simplified scheme based on proof of nationality.
  • Family ties (family reunification): For spouses, parents or children of Argentine citizens or of foreign nationals who already hold legal residency.
  • Employees and self-employed: Foreign nationals hired as employees or carrying out registered independent work.
  • Students: People enrolled as regular students at officially recognised institutions (secondary, tertiary, undergraduate or postgraduate).
  • Annuitants and pensioners: People with a stable and sufficient income from abroad.
  • Investors and scientists/professionals.

Key benefit during the process

Applying online with the National Directorate of Migration (DNM) gives you an immediate Provisional Residency (Residencia Precaria), which legally allows you to work, study and stay in the country while your final residency is being decided.

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Permanent residency

This is the definitive status in Argentina: it has no expiry date, grants a permanent National Identity Document (DNI) and makes you eligible to apply for Argentine citizenship in the future. The main routes we handle include:

  • Through settlement (arraigo): For temporary residents who have completed the legal period required in that category (for example, two years for MERCOSUR nationals and three years for other nationals), with proof of legitimate means of support.
  • Through direct family ties: For children, parents or spouses of Argentine citizens by birth, by option or naturalised.
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Argentine citizenship: taking the step towards becoming a citizen

Becoming an Argentine citizen is the final step to fully integrate into the country. It gives you a citizen's DNI, an Argentine passport and full civil and political rights in Argentina.

Following the 2025 regulatory changes, there are now two main routes to citizenship: administrative (through the Migration Directorate) or judicial (before the Federal Courts). We guide you through the whole process so you can choose the option that best fits your situation.

Citizenship through the administrative route (National Directorate of Migration)

Since Decree 366/2025, the National Directorate of Migration can process and grant citizenship directly and online.

Who is this option for?

  • Legal residents: Foreign nationals over 18 who have lived in Argentina continuously and without interruption for at least 2 years (with all their paperwork up to date).
  • Investors: Foreign nationals making significant investments or economic developments in the country who want a faster process.

How we help

  • We check that you meet the length-of-stay and residency requirements set by law.
  • We prepare your full document file (criminal record certificate, proof of income, CUIT/CUIL tax ID and proof that you live in the country).
  • We submit the application on the online platform and follow it up daily to respond quickly to any request from Migration.
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Citizenship through the courts (Federal Justice)

When is the judicial route the right choice?

  • Stalled or archived cases: If you had already started your citizenship case at a Federal Court but it stalled, had no updates or was archived over time, we retrieve the file from the archive, reactivate it and see it through to the end.
  • Exceptions to the residency period: If you do not meet the 2-year uninterrupted residency requirement because you left the country, we file an unconstitutionality claim against Decree 366/2025, since some federal courts have already declared it unconstitutional.
  • Solving problems or rejections: If your administrative application to Migration was rejected, got stuck on a complex observation, or ran into issues that require a federal judge to resolve.

How we support you at the Federal Court

  • Retrieval and reactivation: We request the reopening of your file if it was stalled, or file the claim from scratch if it is your first time.
  • Full management of evidence: We obtain all certificates, reports from official agencies, public notices and arrange the witnesses.
  • Personal support: We assist you at every in-person step, including the hearings and the final oath of allegiance to the Constitution.
  • DNI and passport: Once a favourable ruling is issued, we handle the official registration so you can apply for your Argentine citizen DNI and passport.
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Argentine citizenship by option

Citizenship by Option is a right recognised by Argentine law (Law 346 and its amendments) that allows children of a native-born Argentine father or mother, born abroad, to acquire Argentine nationality.

Unlike naturalisation, this process does not require prior residency in Argentina and grants full citizenship from the moment it is approved.

Who can apply?

  • Children of a father or mother born in Argentina (native-born Argentines).
  • People born abroad of any age (under or over 18).
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Which route is right for you?

Tell us about your migration status and we will tell you the most direct route for your case.

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