Phrasebook

At Migraciones

• Hola, buen día. Tengo turno.

  Hello, good morning. I have an appointment.

  Turno means appointment. Migraciones does not take walk-ins.

• Vengo por mi trámite de residencia.

  I'm here about my residence application.

  Trámite means an official procedure.

• Este es mi número de expediente.

  This is my file number.

  The expediente is your case file. You also need its number to renew your precaria online.

• Traje los originales de todos los documentos que subí.

  I brought the originals of all the documents I uploaded.

  Migraciones requires the original documents, not only the scans.

• Acá están los comprobantes de pago.

  Here are the payment receipts.

• Esta es la traducción hecha por un traductor público.

  This is the translation by a sworn translator.

  Documents in another language need a Spanish translation by a sworn translator, legalised by the translators' college.

• ¿Me falta algún documento?

  Am I missing any document?

• Perdón, no entendí. ¿Lo puedo ver por escrito?

  Sorry, I didn't understand. Can I see it in writing?

• ¿Dónde me toman las huellas y la foto?

  Where do they take my fingerprints and photo?

  You must attend in person to have your biometric data taken.

• Quisiera confirmar que todos mis documentos están en mi expediente.

  I'd like to confirm that all my documents are in my file.

  In one forum report, a case was delayed because a document the applicants uploaded was missing from their digital file.

• ¿Cómo puedo consultar el estado de mi trámite?

  How can I check the status of my application?

  Migraciones has an online portal where you can check your case.

• Necesito renovar mi precaria.

  I need to renew my precaria.

  The precaria is the temporary certificate you hold while Migraciones decides. You renew it online while you are in Argentina.

• Quiero informar un cambio de domicilio.

  I want to report a change of address.

  The rules set a short deadline for reporting a new address.

The sources behind these notes: Spanish for paperwork: the words for Migraciones, the bank and your landlord

At the bank

• Quiero abrir una caja de ahorro en pesos.

  I'd like to open a peso savings account.

  Caja de ahorro means savings account.

• ¿Qué documentos necesito para abrir una cuenta?

  What documents do I need to open an account?

• Tengo pasaporte, precaria y CUIL.

  I have a passport, a precaria and a CUIL.

  A press report lists these as what to bring. Some banks asked for more.

• Todavía no tengo DNI. Está en trámite.

  I don't have my DNI yet. It's being processed.

  The DNI is the Argentine ID card.

• Las normas del Banco Central permiten abrir una cuenta con la precaria.

  Central Bank rules allow an account to be opened with a precaria.

  This is how a press report describes the rules. In practice, results vary by bank, branch and employee.

• ¿Puedo hablar con un supervisor, por favor?

  May I speak to a supervisor, please?

  In one reported case, a bank opened the account only after a letter from Migraciones and a supervisor's help.

• Traje un comprobante de domicilio.

  I brought proof of address.

  Banks often ask for proof of address.

• ¿La cuenta trae tarjeta de débito?

  Does the account come with a debit card?

• ¿Cuánto tarda en abrirse la cuenta?

  How long does it take for the account to open?

The sources behind these notes: Opening a bank account before you have an ID card

With your landlord

• Busco un alquiler temporario amueblado.

  I'm looking for a furnished short-term rental.

  In Buenos Aires, a separate market of shorter, dollar-priced lets is aimed at foreigners.

• ¿Puedo ver el departamento antes?

  Can I see the flat first?

• ¿Cuántos ambientes tiene?

  How many rooms does it have?

  Listings count ambientes, or rooms. A monoambiente is a studio, and dos ambientes is a one-bedroom flat.

• ¿Las expensas están incluidas?

  Are the building charges included?

  Expensas are building service charges. Listings often show them separately from the rent.

• ¿El alquiler es en pesos o en dólares?

  Is the rent in pesos or in dollars?

• ¿Cada cuánto se ajusta el alquiler?

  How often does the rent go up?

  Landlord and tenant now agree how rent is adjusted. Many new leases follow the consumer price index.

• ¿Qué garantías aceptan?

  Which guarantees do you accept?

  Landlords usually ask for a guarantee: a local property owner, or a paid option such as guarantee insurance.

• No tengo garantía propietaria.

  I don't have a property-owner guarantor.

• ¿Aceptan seguro de caución?

  Do you accept guarantee insurance?

  Not every agency accepts every insurer.

• ¿Cuánto es el depósito?

  How much is the deposit?

• ¿Hay que pagar comisión inmobiliaria?

  Is there an agency fee to pay?

  Our research did not confirm who pays the agency's commission in Buenos Aires. Ask before you commit.

• ¿Me mandás el contrato antes de firmar?

  Can you send me the contract before I sign?

  Read it in full, or have it translated, before you sign.

• Quiero hacer un inventario con fotos antes de entrar.

  I'd like to make an inventory with photos before I move in.

  Press advice is to record the flat's condition with an inventory and photos.

• ¿La inmobiliaria tiene corredor matriculado?

  Does the agency have a licensed broker?

  Press advice is to pay reservations and deposits only through a licensed broker.

• ¿Me das un recibo, por favor?

  Can you give me a receipt, please?

The sources behind these notes: Renting as a foreigner: furnished lets, guarantees and the cash you need up front

Everyday

• Hola, ¿cómo andás?

  Hi, how are you?

  Andás is the vos form.

• Perdón, no entiendo.

  Sorry, I don't understand.

• ¿Podés hablar más despacio, por favor?

  Can you speak more slowly, please?

• ¿Me lo repetís, por favor?

  Could you say that again, please?

• ¿Me lo escribís?

  Could you write it down for me?

• Estoy aprendiendo español.

  I'm learning Spanish.

• ¿Cómo se dice esto en español?

  How do you say this in Spanish?

• Disculpá.

  Excuse me.

  A vos command, like hablá (speak) and vení (come).

• La cuenta, por favor.

  The bill, please.

• ¿El servicio está incluido?

  Is service included?

  If service is not included, a tip is usual. The cubierto on a bill is a table charge, not a tip.

• ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?

  Can I pay by card?

• ¿Dónde puedo cargar la SUBE?

  Where can I top up my SUBE card?

  SUBE is the transport card for buses and the metro.

The sources behind these notes: Mate, asado and the cheek kiss: a short etiquette

Health

• Es una emergencia.

  It's an emergency.

  Emergency care cannot be refused to any foreigner, whatever their migration status. In some places you may get a bill afterwards.

• Necesito una ambulancia.

  I need an ambulance.

• ¿Dónde está la guardia?

  Where is the emergency department?

  La guardia is the hospital's emergency department.

• Necesito ver a un médico.

  I need to see a doctor.

• ¿Esta atención tiene costo?

  Is there a charge for this care?

  Outside emergencies, some public hospitals charge foreigners who are not permanent residents.

• ¿Me pueden dar un presupuesto antes?

  Can you give me a quote first?

  City of Buenos Aires public hospitals charge non-resident foreigners without a DNI for planned care. The hospital checks your status and gives a quote.

• Tengo prepaga.

  I have private health cover.

  A prepaga is a private health plan.

• Tengo seguro médico de viaje.

  I have travel medical insurance.

• ¿Me puedo afiliar con pasaporte y precaria?

  Can I join with a passport and a precaria?

  Our research did not confirm which health plans accept people without a DNI. Ask before you apply.

• Soy alérgico a este medicamento.

  I'm allergic to this medicine.

  A woman says alérgica.

• Me duele acá.

  It hurts here.

The sources behind these notes: Public hospitals now bill non-residents: what cover you need

Phone and internet

• Quiero un chip prepago.

  I'd like a prepaid SIM card.

  Chip means SIM card.

• ¿Lo puedo registrar con mi pasaporte?

  Can I register it with my passport?

  The national tourism site says the main networks sell prepaid SIM cards you can register with a passport.

• Quiero cargar saldo.

  I'd like to top up my credit.

• ¿Hay buena señal en esta zona?

  Is there good signal in this area?

  Coverage differs between networks.

• Quiero contratar internet para mi casa.

  I'd like to sign up for home internet.

• ¿Hace falta DNI o CUIL para contratar el servicio?

  Do I need a DNI or a CUIL to sign up?

  Forum users report providers asking for one of these. If you only have a passport, ask before you book.

• ¿Llegan con el servicio a este edificio?

  Do you serve this building?

  Not every provider serves every building.

• ¿Cuándo pueden venir a instalarlo?

  When can you come to install it?