ArgentinaAsylum / refugee status

Residence for refugees and asylees in Argentina

Temporary residence for foreign nationals whom Argentina has officially recognised as refugees or asylees. The status protects people fleeing persecution in their home country and gives them the legal right to live, work and receive medical care in the country.

Visa term

A solicitante de refugio document (renewable) until the decision; then refugee status

Threshold

There are no special income requirements; humanitarian support is available

Processing time

Filed shortly after entry; the decision takes months or years

Work

The right to work once the documents are issued

Source: argentina.gob.ar — residence for those granted asylum and refugee status

Who can get the residence

The residence is only granted once the status has been confirmed by the competent authority — CONARE or the body that granted asylum.

Recognised refugees (refugiado)

The status has been confirmed by the National Commission for Refugees (CONARE)
The residence requires a CONARE certificate of refugee status

Recognised asylees (asilado)

Asylum has been granted by the body competent to take that decision
The residence requires a certificate from that body confirming the asylee status

What it costs

Application for temporary residence as a refugee or asylee	0 ARS

Documents to gather

The general documents for the migration service plus confirmation of the status from CONARE or the body that granted asylum.

A valid passport — for nationals of countries outside MERCOSUR
For MERCOSUR nationals — a document from the list in Annex I of the MERCOSUR agreement on travel documents
A certificate of no criminal record in Argentina from the National Register of Recidivism — mandatory from the age of 16
Proof of an address of residence in Argentina
Proof of lawful entry into the country
For refugees — the CONARE certificate confirming the status
For asylees — a certificate from the body that granted asylum
Foreign documents — with an apostille or consular legalisation and a sworn translation into Spanish if they are in another language

How the process runs

The residence is applied for in person, without the electronic RaDEX system — this category is not covered by it.

1
Application for refugee or asylee status at CONARE
applicant's document — 90 days, renewable
Until the status is confirmed, the applicant renews the temporary solicitante de refugio document in person every 90 days at CONARE (for residents of Greater Buenos Aires) or at the regional office of the migration service. The document allows the holder to live in the country, work, study and receive medical care, and the renewal must be started no later than 5 days before it expires.
2
CONARE's decision recognising the status
6 months – 1 year
Under the rules in Decreto No. 646/2025 the ordinary procedure takes 1 year, counted from 15 days after the in-person interview; the summary (sumaria) procedure takes 6 months. CONARE may reject a case without examining its merits within 20 days of the application being filed.
3
Filing the documents for temporary residence
Once the status is recognised, the applicant files the documents in person: in Greater Buenos Aires by appointment at CONARE, elsewhere at the migration service office for their place of residence.
4
Issue of temporary residence
2 years
The residence is issued free of charge for 2 years and can be renewed.

Who you can bring with you

Refugee status is recognised individually, but it is extended to close relatives included in the application.

A spouse or partner in a de facto relationship

The status is granted by extension together with the main applicant where the relationship is evidenced

Parents and other relatives in the ascending line

Included in the application as family members where they are economically dependent on the main applicant

Children, other relatives in the descending line and relatives in the first collateral line

The status is extended to them where they are economically dependent on the recognised refugee or asylee; CONARE assesses each case individually

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Access to education and healthcare

The residence is renewed in person, not through RaDEX: in Greater Buenos Aires by appointment at CONARE, elsewhere at the migration service office. A CONARE certificate confirming that the refugee status still stands is required. Renewal is free of charge and the new term is 1 year, which can be renewed again.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Residence for refugees and asylees	Residence for pensioners	Digital nomad residence
Visa term	A solicitante de refugio document (renewable) until the decision; then refugee status	Temporary residence for 1 year, renewed while the pension continues	Usually up to 180 days, sometimes +180
Money	There are no special income requirements; humanitarian support is available	Income of at least ~5 SMVM per month; fees from ~USD 100	Income is usually above the subsistence minimum (~USD 1–2k per month); there is no clear-cut threshold
Work	The right to work once the documents are issued	Employment and self-employment permitted	You may not work for a local employer
Residence	Access to education and healthcare	You may live legally, rent housing and use medical services	You may live legally for up to a year

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After a period as a refugee — more stable residence or permanent residence

Route to citizenship

The time counts towards naturalisation (2 years)

Frequently asked questions about Residence for refugees and asylees

Who can get residence as a refugee or asylee in Argentina?

Foreign nationals whom the National Commission for Refugees (CONARE) has recognised as refugees, or those to whom asylum has been granted by the body competent to do so. The residence is applied for after the status has been recognised, not at the application stage.

How much does the residence cost and how long is it issued for?

The application is free of charge — recognised refugees and asylees are exempt from the migration fee. The first temporary residence is issued for 2 years and can be renewed.

What happens while CONARE is still examining the application for status?

The applicant receives a temporary document (certificado de permanencia provisoria) allowing them to live in Argentina, work, study and receive medical and social assistance. The document is valid for 90 calendar days, is automatically renewed for the same periods, and the renewal must be started no later than 5 days before it expires.

How long does a decision on refugee status take?

Under the rules in Decreto No. 646/2025 the ordinary procedure takes 1 year, counted from 15 days after the in-person interview; the summary procedure takes 6 months. CONARE may reject a case without examining its merits within 20 days of the application being filed.

What happens to the status of a recognised refugee's family?

Refugee status is recognised individually, but it is extended to a spouse or partner in a de facto relationship, to parents, children and relatives in the first collateral line, if they are economically dependent on the main applicant and are included in the application. The relationship must be evidenced with documents, and CONARE assesses each case individually.

How is the residence renewed after the first two years?

The renewal is made in person, not through RaDEX, and free of charge. Personal documents and a CONARE certificate confirming that the refugee status still stands are required. After renewal the new term of the residence is 1 year, which can also be renewed.

How does the status of an applicant (solicitante) differ from that of a recognised refugee?

Until a decision is taken, the applicant only has a temporary document, which does not serve as proof of identity and is not valid as a travel document. Once the status is recognised, the person receives residence from the migration service, an identity document (DNI) and, if they wish, a refugee travel document under the 1951 Convention.

Can an applicant for refugee status work while the decision is pending?

Yes. The applicant's temporary document entitles them to obtain a labour identification code (CUIL) from ANSES and to work legally as an employee, as well as to open a bank account.

Other ways to move to Argentina

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Argentina.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.