Argentina Visa And Residency

U.S. citizens may enter Argentina without a visa and remain in the country as a tourist for a maximum of 90 days per trip.

As of March 2016, U.S. citizens no longer need to pay a reciprocity fee to enter the country, though citizens from other countries may need to (including Canadians and Australians).

Some expats choose to bridge from a tourist visa to official (temporary) residency.

To renew a tourist visa, you simply have to leave the country and then reenter (known as a border run).

Under that arrangement many people stay for years in Argentina, just making sure to leave before their tourist visa is up and then returning.

By obtaining temporary residency, you would not have to worry about having to leave within a certain time frame.

The other benefits to being a resident include the ability to open up a local bank account, and discounts on national airlines.

Obtaining residency as a foreigner in Argentina undoubtedly requires some help from professionals, as the process involves a lot of specifics that often are not detailed outright online or in official documents.

The fee for legal services to assist with this usually comes out to about US$2,000.

That essentially is the price you would pay to obtain temporary residency, which would need to be renewed annually for the first couple years until obtaining permanent residency. Some see that price as worth it, others as not.

Visa Options

Argentina offers a handful of visa options for those looking to reside in the country and conduct business.

The government offers sponsored work visas, visas for contracted personnel, journalists and correspondents, retired persons, and financiers.

Should you plan to apply for residency once in Argentina, you will want to work to obtain some documents before leaving your home country, including a background check and official birth certificate, both with apostilles.