What a US passport gets you

A US passport gets you 90 days in Argentina as a tourist, extendable once by 90 days at Migraciones (the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina's immigration office). Anything longer rests on a residence permit tied to a purpose: income from abroad, a pension, a job, studies, an Argentine family member or remote work for foreign clients.

Nationality buys Americans no shortcut. The Mercosur route, which gives citizens of Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and other South American countries residence on nationality alone and permanent residence after 2 years, is closed to US citizens.

The seven routes, side by side

Seven routes lead to staying longer, and what separates them is what you prove when you file and what you may do once you are there.

Tourist entry runs 90 days plus one 90-day extension, with no work in Argentina. Many people use it to scout cities before filing.

Rentista asks for passive income from abroad, such as rent, dividends or interest, of at least 5 × SMVM (Argentina's monthly minimum wage): about ARS 1.9 million, or US$1,250 at ARS 1,545 per dollar. It gives one year of temporary residence, renewable, no job in Argentina, and a US salary does not count as passive income.

Pensionado runs on the same threshold and terms, paid by a foreign pension.

Work residence comes backed by a job with an Argentine employer registered with Migraciones to hire foreign workers.

Study residence follows enrollment in a recognized Argentine university or other official program, and the institution issues the enrollment certificate you file.

Family residence, since DNU 366/2025 (a presidential decree), covers spouses and parents of Argentine citizens with temporary family-reunification residence first, then permanent residence based on their ties in Argentina. A child of an Argentine parent can claim Argentine nationality by option; a grandchild cannot.

The digital nomad visa covers remote work for employers or clients outside Argentina: 180 days of transitory residence, extendable once for 180 more. It gives no DNI (the national ID card), and the time counts toward neither permanent residence nor citizenship.

What filing costs and how long it takes

Temporary or permanent residence costs 100 UMSM at Migraciones, or ARS 100,000 (the UMSM is Migraciones' fee unit, worth ARS 1,000). A preferential appointment adds 50 UMSM (ARS 50,000).

Filing moves through four fixed moments. You submit the file and pay the fee, and Migraciones issues a precaria, a provisional residence certificate usually valid 90 days and renewable, which keeps your stay legal while the case is decided. A decision typically lands 3–12 months after filing. Then a RENAPER (national registry) or Registro Civil appointment produces your first foreign-resident DNI: ARS 20,000, delivered by post in 2–6 weeks.

The DNI also settles healthcare access. Since DNU 366/2025 public hospitals can charge non-residents for non-emergency care, while residents with a DNI keep free public care and emergency care stays free for everyone.

Documents Americans file

Temporary residence needs a passport, an FBI Identity History Summary (the US criminal record check) apostilled by the US Department of State, and proof of your category: pension or income statements, an employment contract, an enrollment certificate or civil records. Birth and marriage certificates are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state. English documents need a Spanish translation by an Argentine public translator (traductor público).

Green card holders: your passport decides

Entry rules follow the passport you travel on, not a US green card. Citizens of the UK, EU countries, Canada and Australia enter visa-free for 90 days, like Americans. Chinese citizens need a visa unless they hold a valid US or Schengen visa, which qualifies them for an electronic travel authorization (AVE). For any other passport, ask the Argentine consulate that covers your US address.

The residence routes apply to green card holders on the same terms. The exception is traveling on a Mercosur country's passport, which opens the Mercosur route: a 50 UMSM fee and permanent residence after 2 years.

From temporary residence to permanent residence and citizenship

After 3 years of temporary residence you can apply for permanent residence, if you spent at least half that time in Argentina and were never away for 6 months or more in a row. The fee is again 100 UMSM (ARS 100,000).

Citizenship is its own application, filed with Migraciones rather than a federal court since DNU 366/2025, after 2 years of continuous legal residence. Digital nomad time counts toward neither.

Common questions

Can Americans move to Argentina?

Yes. Americans can live in Argentina on residence based on passive income, a pension, a job, studies, family ties or remote work; tourist entry alone allows 90 days plus one 90-day extension.

Do green card holders need a visa for Argentina?

Your passport decides, not the green card. UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens enter visa-free for 90 days; Chinese citizens need a visa unless they hold a valid US or Schengen visa, which qualifies them for an electronic travel authorization (AVE).

How much income do rentista and pensionado residence need?

At least 5 × SMVM a month, about ARS 1.9 million or US$1,250. Both give 1 year of renewable temporary residence and do not allow a job in Argentina.

Can I work remotely as a tourist?

No. Tourist entry carries no work rights; the digital nomad visa allows remote work for foreign employers or clients for 180 days, extendable once for 180.

When can I get permanent residence or citizenship?

Permanent residence after 3 years of temporary residence, with at least half that time spent in Argentina. Citizenship after 2 years of continuous legal residence, filed with Migraciones since DNU 366/2025.