Argentine Citizenship & Naturalization Guide

Argentina offers three principal routes to citizenship: naturalization (by choice after meeting residency requirements), jus soli (birth on Argentine territory), and descent from an Argentine parent. For most foreign nationals, naturalization is the relevant pathway. Under Decreto 366/2025, which took effect in mid-2025, the requirements for naturalization have been significantly tightened. The most impactful change is the redefinition of 'continuous residence' — applicants must now demonstrate two uninterrupted years of physical presence in Argentina with zero departures from the country. This is a dramatic shift from previous practice, which tolerated short trips abroad during the residency period. The rationale behind the reform, according to the Milei administration, is to ensure that citizenship is granted only to individuals with a genuine and sustained connection to Argentina. Despite these restrictions, Argentina remains one of the most accessible countries in the world for naturalization, with a relatively short residency requirement and no renunciation of prior nationality.

To qualify for Argentine citizenship by naturalization, you must satisfy the following conditions. First, you need two years of continuous legal residence in Argentina. Under Decreto 366/2025, 'continuous' means exactly that — you cannot leave the country for any reason during the two-year period. Even a brief day trip to Uruguay resets your clock. Second, you must hold a valid DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) obtained through a permanent or temporary residency visa. Third, you must demonstrate a lawful means of livelihood — this can be employment, a business, freelance work, retirement income, or other provable financial support. Fourth, you need a clean criminal record both in Argentina and from your country of origin. Fifth, you must present two Argentine citizen witnesses who can attest to your moral character and genuine residence. These witnesses must appear in person or provide notarized declarations. The two-year period begins from the date your residency was formally granted by Migraciones, not from the date you entered the country as a tourist.

In October 2025, Argentina launched RADEX (Registro de Antecedentes y Documentación para Extranjeros), a digital platform that replaces the previous paper-based citizenship application process handled through federal courts. RADEX allows applicants to submit their naturalization request entirely online, upload supporting documents, schedule their citizenship interview and test, and track the status of their application in real time. To use RADEX, you must first create an account using your DNI number and a valid email address. The platform walks you through each step of the application, including uploading certified translations and apostilled documents. One important note: while the application is submitted online, the citizenship test and final oath ceremony still require in-person attendance at a designated federal court. RADEX has significantly reduced processing bottlenecks, particularly in Buenos Aires where courts were previously overwhelmed with paper applications. However, technical issues have been reported in the early months, so it is advisable to save copies of all uploaded documents and confirmation receipts. The platform is available in Spanish only.

Gathering the correct documentation is often the most time-consuming part of the citizenship process. You will need the following: your original birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified Argentine traductor publico; a valid passport (current and any previous passports used to enter Argentina); your DNI (front and back); proof of legal residence for at least two continuous years; a certificate of good conduct (certificado de antecedentes penales) from both Argentine federal police and your country of origin, apostilled and translated; proof of livelihood such as employment contracts, tax filings (monotributo or relacion de dependencia), bank statements, or retirement pension documentation; two Argentine citizen witnesses with their DNI numbers and contact information; and a completed application form through RADEX. All foreign documents must bear an apostille from the issuing country (or consular legalization if the country is not party to the Hague Convention) and be translated by a traductor publico matriculado registered with the Colegio de Traductores Publicos of the relevant Argentine jurisdiction. Translations done abroad are not accepted.

Argentina requires naturalization applicants to pass a citizenship test administered during an interview at a federal court. The test evaluates three areas: basic Spanish language proficiency, knowledge of Argentine history, and familiarity with the Argentine Constitution (Constitucion Nacional). For the language component, the judge or court clerk will conduct a conversational interview in Spanish — you do not need to be fluent, but you must demonstrate the ability to communicate in everyday situations, understand questions, and express yourself coherently. For the history component, expect questions about key events such as the May Revolution of 1810, independence in 1816, the role of figures like San Martin and Belgrano, the structure of the federal government, and major 20th-century events. For the constitutional knowledge component, you should be familiar with fundamental rights and guarantees (Articles 14-20), the division of powers (executive, legislative, judicial), and the basic structure of the Argentine state. Study materials are available online through various immigrant community organizations, and several NGOs offer free preparation courses in Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Mendoza. The test is not designed to be exclusionary — most applicants who prepare reasonably pass on the first attempt.

One of Argentina's most attractive features for prospective citizens is its permissive approach to dual (and multiple) citizenship. Argentina does not require you to renounce your existing nationality when you naturalize. You can hold Argentine citizenship alongside citizenship from the United States, European Union countries, Canada, Australia, or any other nation. This is established in Argentine law and reaffirmed in practice — there is no oath of exclusive allegiance. However, it is critical to check the rules from the other direction: some countries (such as Japan, China, India, and certain Middle Eastern nations) do not permit their citizens to hold another nationality and may revoke your original citizenship if you naturalize elsewhere. For citizens of the United States, the UK, Canada, most EU countries, Brazil, and many Latin American nations, dual citizenship with Argentina is straightforward and fully legal from both sides. The Argentine passport itself is highly valuable, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 170 countries, including the entire European Union and Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and most of Latin America and Asia.

Argentina follows a strong jus soli principle: anyone born on Argentine territory is automatically an Argentine citizen, regardless of the nationality of their parents. This includes children born to tourists, undocumented immigrants, and temporary residents. The only exception is children of foreign diplomats accredited in Argentina. For jus sanguinis (citizenship by descent), a person born outside Argentina to at least one Argentine parent can claim Argentine citizenship. This right does not have a generational limit in law, but in practice, the process requires documenting an unbroken chain of civil registrations. To claim citizenship by descent, you must present the Argentine parent's birth certificate (or their own citizenship documentation), your birth certificate apostilled and translated, and apply at an Argentine consulate abroad or at the Registro Civil in Argentina. Processing times vary widely — from a few months at efficient consulates to over a year in high-demand locations. Children born in Argentina receive their DNI automatically through the hospital registration process, and their citizenship is irrevocable.

The total timeline from arrival in Argentina to citizenship in hand typically ranges from three to four years at minimum. The breakdown is roughly as follows: obtaining a temporary or permanent residency visa and DNI (1-6 months, depending on visa category and processing speed); completing two continuous years of residence under Decreto 366/2025 with zero departures (exactly 24 months); gathering and preparing documentation, including obtaining fresh criminal background checks and apostilled documents (1-3 months); submitting the application through RADEX and waiting for a court date (1-6 months); attending the citizenship test and interview (scheduled by the court); receiving the citizenship resolution and attending the oath ceremony (1-6 months after the interview). In total, after meeting the two-year residency requirement, the application process itself takes approximately 6 to 18 months depending on the federal court's workload, the completeness of your documentation, and your location. Courts in Buenos Aires tend to have longer backlogs than those in smaller provinces. The RADEX system has improved tracking but has not yet significantly reduced wait times at the court level.

Argentine citizenship confers substantial benefits beyond the obvious right to live and work permanently in the country. The Argentine passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the European Union and Schengen Area (up to 90 days), the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and most countries in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia — over 170 destinations in total. Citizens gain full voting rights in national, provincial, and municipal elections (voting is mandatory for citizens aged 18-70). You receive full access to Argentina's public healthcare system and the PAMI system upon retirement. Citizens can apply for public sector employment, which is restricted to nationals. You gain the right to transmit Argentine citizenship to your children born abroad. Argentine citizens can also access bilateral social security agreements that Argentina maintains with countries including Spain, Italy, Chile, and others, potentially allowing you to combine pension contributions. Finally, Argentine citizens cannot be deported — a critical protection given the expanded deportation grounds under Decreto 366/2025 that apply to residents and temporary visa holders.