Argentine permanent residence in Argentina
Permanent residence is an open-ended migration status for foreign nationals in Argentina. It is granted to children of Argentine citizens born abroad, to recognised refugees, to Brazilian nationals under the bilateral agreement, and to holders of temporary residence who have lived in the country long enough and have evidenced their roots there (arraigo).
Source: Argentina.gob.ar — Radicaciones: Residencia Permanente
Who can get permanent residence
The grounds split into obtaining the status by origin or standing, and changing category after a period of temporary residence.
By origin and standing
- Children of Argentine citizens — by birth, by naturalisation or by option — who were born abroad
- Brazilian nationals under the agreement between Argentina and Brazil approved by Law No. 26.240
- Former staff of diplomatic and consular missions and of international organisations who have served in the country for the prescribed period and completed their mission
- Refugees recognised in Argentina who meet the arraigo (roots) requirement
By change of category (arraigo)
- Nationals of MERCOSUR countries and associated states — after 2 years of temporary residence
- Nationals of all other countries — after 3 years of temporary residence
- Presence in Argentina for at least half of the authorised period and without an absence from the country of 6 consecutive months or longer
- Evidence of sufficient means of support
What it costs
| Residence fee — from outside MERCOSUR (100 UMSM) | 100 000 ARS |
|---|---|
| Residence fee — for nationals of MERCOSUR and associated states (50 UMSM) | 50 000 ARS |
Documents to gather
The general list; each particular ground calls for additional documents.
- A valid passport or a document from the list in the MERCOSUR Agreement on travel documents (for MERCOSUR nationals)
- A certificate of no criminal record in Argentina from the National Register of Recidivism — for people over 16; it is produced within the RaDEX system itself, so there is no need to obtain it separately
- A certificate of no criminal record from any country where the applicant has lived for more than a year in the past three years — for people over 16
- Proof of an address of residence in Argentina
- Proof of regular income
- For children of Argentine citizens — a birth certificate evidencing the relationship, and the parent's DNI
- For a change of category on arraigo grounds — documents evidencing sufficient means of support
- For minors — a legalised birth certificate and a notarised parental consent, with the parent present holding a valid DNI; if the parents are not in the country — an appointed guardian with evidenced lawful residence
- Documents issued abroad — with consular legalisation or an apostille and a certified translation into Spanish
How the process runs
The application is made remotely on the RaDEX platform of the National Directorate of Migration; no intermediary is needed, and attendance in person is only required for the appointment.
- 1
Registration in RaDEX
The applicant logs into the RaDEX system and opens the trámite remotely.
- 2
Completing the application and paying the fees
They register as a user, fill in the application form and pay the fees on the platform itself.
- 3
Uploading the documents
They attach the documents and data required for the chosen ground of residence.
- 4
Invitation to an in-person appointment
usually within 24 hours of the documents being uploadedIf the requirements are met, an email arrives with a date to attend the nearest migration service office; sometimes the application is passed to a supervisor, who requests additional documents.
Timelines and rights
Work
A permanent resident may carry on any paid work — as an employee or self-employed — under the protection of employment law.
Who you can bring with you
The rules for minors and family members in the application.
Children under 18 who apply together with their mother and/or father
Minors with no parents in the country
Children of Argentine citizens born abroad
Trips, renewal and the grace period
Changing category requires 2 years of temporary residence for nationals of the Mercosur countries and 3 years for nationals of all other countries. You must be in the country for at least 50% of the authorised period of stay and must not be absent for 6 consecutive months or longer.
Permanent residence is issued indefinitely and does not need to be renewed. It is, however, cancelled if a permanent resident stays outside Argentina for a year or longer at a stretch; for temporary residence that period is 6 months.
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.
| Argentine permanent residence | Residence for pensioners | Digital nomad residence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | There is no time limit | Temporary residence for 1 year, renewed while the pension continues | Usually up to 180 days, sometimes +180 |
| Grounds | Ley 25.871 and Decreto 616/2010 | Pension | Remote income |
| Money | The fee is 50 UMSM for nationals of the Mercosur countries and 100 UMSM for everyone else | 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 |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to citizenship
You apply for citizenship after 2 years of continuous residence as a resident — permanent or temporary. You need means of support, the ability to read, write and make yourself understood in Spanish, and good conduct. Under Decreto 366/25 the application is filed online with the Directorate of Migration, not with a court.
Frequently asked questions about Argentine permanent residence
Who can get permanent residence in Argentina?
How much does permanent residence cost?
Do children pay the migration fee?
Does permanent residence have to be renewed?
How does obtaining the status through arraigo differ from obtaining it by origin?
How do you apply, and how long does the invitation to the appointment take?
Can the residence be arranged through an intermediary (gestor)?
Other ways to move to Argentina
- Residencia PensionadoResidence permit for financially independent people
- Nómada DigitalDigital nomad
- Asilo / RefugioAsylum / refugee status
- Nacionalidad por NaturalizaciónCitizenship (naturalisation)
- 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: 7 August 2026.