Immigration info

Immigration and visa laws in Argentina are liberal and different requirements will apply to different nationalities. For tourists visiting the country 90 days or less, a visa or tourist card is required depending on the country you are a citizen of. If you decide to stay longer than 90 days you'll simply need to extend your visa. Many people visit for a variety of reasons and simply use a tourist visa while in Argentina. If you are in the country for reasons other than a vacation or a casual visit your best course of action is to obtain the proper paperwork. This will ensure no snags during your stay in Argentina.

If you are visiting Argentina on a work related matter a business visa may be required. For this situation your employer will need to write a letter stating the reason for visiting and the business you will be conducting while in Argentina. The documentation required for a business visa can be as simple as a valid passport, but other documentation may be required as well. Everyone visiting Argentina should carry a valid passport for identification reasons.

Visiting Argentina and staying on a semi permanent basis will require a little work but is usually easily accomplished. For a retiree or someone wishing to relocate you may qualify as a pensioner. The visa, although not permanent will allow the person to reside in Argentina for one year with the option of extending their visa after the year has expired. You'll need to show an income of $2100 pesos or $700 dollars (at the time of writing this article) or more monthly that will be transferred to Argentina. As a pensioner you can renew your visa continually for 3 years. At the end of the third year you qualify for residency and then may continue on for citizenship in Argentina. This is the most common and straightforward road to citizenship in Argentina.

Other visas are available for different situations and the best place to start your inquiries will be the Argentinean Embassy or a Consulate in your country. There you can obtain all the information needed along with the time requirements, financial requirements and the process of obtaining a visa.

Some of the most common paperwork you'll need to apply for any visa includes a valid passport for the time you'll be in Argentina. A health certificate is required along with a criminal background check, verification of your pension or income or other financial requirements along with additional passport photos that may be required by Argentina's government. Be prepared to have certain documents notarized in Argentina or the Consulate as well as having other documents translated to Spanish. Despite the amount of documentation needed most visas are easily obtained.

The Argentinean Embassy is located in Washington D.C. and consulates are located throughout the United States and other countries. They will gladly supply you with information regarding visas and different types of residency along with other information about Argentina. Most consulates will aid in the visa process as well as helping Argentinean residents while in the U.S.