Residence for pensioners in Argentina
Residencia Pensionado is Argentina's temporary residence visa for foreign nationals who receive a permanent pension from a state, an international organisation or a private company for services rendered abroad. The programme is designed for pensioners who want to live in Argentina legally and who evidence their income with pension payments specifically, rather than with earnings or income from assets.
Source: argentina.gob.ar — temporary residence for pensioners (residencia temporaria como pensionado)
Who can get pensioner residence
There is only one route in — a documented pension — but the requirements placed on the applicant and on the income itself differ.
Applicant profile
- A foreign national of any citizenship who receives a regular and permanent pension from a state, an international organisation or a private company
- The pension is granted for services rendered abroad — not for work in Argentina
- The applicant files the documents in person, while on Argentine territory
Income requirement
- A pension of at least 5 minimum living wages (Salario Mínimo Vital y Móvil)
- The income is evidenced by a certificate from the payer of the pension confirming its regular and permanent character
What it costs
| Residence application fee — applicants from outside the MERCOSUR countries | 100 000 ARS |
|---|---|
| Residence application fee — nationals of MERCOSUR and associated states | 50 000 ARS |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. | 150 000 ARS |
Documents to gather
The pack for filing through RaDEX. All documents issued abroad must carry an apostille or consular legalisation; where necessary, they must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
- A valid passport (or a document recognised under MERCOSUR)
- A certificate of no criminal record in Argentina for applicants over 16 — issued automatically within the RaDEX system itself
- A certificate of no criminal record and no criminal prosecution from the countries where the applicant has lived for more than a year in the past 3 years (for applicants over 16)
- Proof of an address in Argentina
- Proof of regular income
- A certificate from the state, international organisation or private company confirming payment of a pension of at least 5 minimum living wages
How the process runs
The application is filed remotely through the RaDEX system of the National Directorate of Migration, with no intermediaries.
- 1
Registration in RaDEX
Start the procedure remotely in the RaDEX system and register as a user.
- 2
Application form and payment of the fee
Complete the residence application form and pay the fee — the only payment the procedure provides for.
- 3
Uploading the documents
Attach in the system the documents and data required for the pensioner category.
- 4
Appearing in person and issue of the residence
1 yearIf the applicant meets the requirements, a date for an in-person appointment at the migration service arrives by email. The outcome is temporary residence for 1 year, renewable (prorrogable).
Trips, renewal and the grace period
You may live legally, rent housing and use medical services
Temporary pensioner residence is issued for 1 year and is renewable (prorrogable) for as long as the pension income stays at or above 5 minimum living wages. Renewal is a separate procedure in RaDEX with a fee of 100 UMSM for applicants from outside the MERCOSUR countries and 50 UMSM for nationals of MERCOSUR and associated states.
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 pensioners | Digital nomad residence | Citizenship by naturalisation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | Temporary residence for 1 year, renewed while the pension continues | Usually up to 180 days, sometimes +180 | Citizenship is indefinite; the passport has the standard validity |
| Grounds | Pension | Remote income | 2 years of residence |
| Money | 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 | There is no fixed minimum, but lawful means of support are required |
| Work | Employment and self-employment permitted | You may not work for a local employer | The full set of rights: to live, to work, to run a business |
| Residence | You may live legally, rent housing and use medical services | You may live legally for up to a year | Actual residence of 2 years |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
After 3 years → Residencia Permanente
Route to citizenship
Citizenship after 2 years of residence (from May 2025)
Frequently asked questions about Residence for pensioners
Who can get pensioner residence in Argentina?
How much do you need to receive to qualify as a pensioner?
How much does pensioner residence cost?
How long is the residence issued for, and does it have to be renewed?
How do you apply for pensioner residence?
How does pensioner residence differ from rentista residence?
Can you move from temporary pensioner residence to permanent residence?
Other ways to move to Argentina
- Nómada DigitalDigital nomad
- Asilo / RefugioAsylum / refugee status
- Nacionalidad por NaturalizaciónCitizenship (naturalisation)
- Permanent residencePermanent residence
- Temporary residence as a migrant workerWork residence permit
- Temporary residence as a studentStudy
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.