Moving to Argentina in 2026: what changed

Argentina's migration rules changed sharply in 2025, mostly through one emergency decree, and more changes followed in 2026. If a guide you are reading was written before then, check each claim against this page.

One decree changed most of the rules

The government rewrote the migration law by DNU (emergency decree) 366/2025. It took effect on 29 May 2025. Migraciones applies it today.

A decree of this kind falls only if both chambers of Congress reject it. We found no report that Congress has rejected this one.

Residence applications started before 29 May 2025 are decided under the old rules. Whether that also covers later renewals is not clear. If this is you, ask a lawyer.

Permanent residence now has conditions

Temporary residents can apply for permanent residence after 3 years of temporary residence, or 2 years for Mercosur nationals. This is called arraigo (settlement). Three conditions now apply.

• You must prove "sufficient economic means" to live in Argentina. We have found no published standard for how much is enough.
• You must have spent enough of the period granted in Argentina. One government page says at least 50%. The Migraciones FAQ says more than 50%. Plan for more than 50%.
• You must not have been abroad for 6 months or more in a row.

Time on a precaria (temporary certificate) does not count toward the years.

Marrying an Argentine no longer means permanent residence

Spouses and parents of Argentines used to go straight to permanent residence. Now they get temporary family residence for up to 3 years. The permanent-residence page lists no spouse or parent category. So the usual next step is the arraigo route above.

Children of Argentines who were born abroad are still listed as a direct permanent-residence category. If that is you, talk to a lawyer about your options.

Time abroad can end your residence

• 6 months outside Argentina cancels temporary residence.
• 1 year or more outside Argentina cancels permanent residence.

There are exceptions for Argentine public duties, approved studies or activities, and express permission from Migraciones. Whether separate trips add up toward the limit for temporary residents is not clear.

Before the decree, permanent residents could be away for up to 2 years. Guides that still say so are out of date.

Shorter certificates and faster notices

• The precaria now lasts up to 90 days. A press report says it used to last 180 days. It can be renewed, but Migraciones is not obliged to issue one.
• You must report a change of address within 3 business days.
• Emails to the email address you declare count as legal notice. Migraciones warns that its emails can land in spam.

Stricter checks at the border

• Border officers can refuse a visitor when they suspect the real purpose is not tourism. Refusals of this kind, called falso turista (false tourist), rose from 8% of all refusals in 2023 to 41% in 2025.
• A refusal on the grounds in article 29 of the migration law, which include criminal records, carries a re-entry ban of at least 5 years.
• A criminal record now includes non-final sentences and indictments. Failing to declare a record is itself a ground for refusal.
• A 2026 decree added hate messages and desecration of national symbols as grounds to refuse entry or cancel residence. Political, academic and civic criticism is expressly excluded.

If anything might show up on a record, speak to an independent lawyer before you file.

National hospitals now bill non-residents

Under Health Ministry Resolución 1066/2026, 5 national hospitals ask every foreigner without permanent residence to show insurance that covers the care. Without it, you pay 100% of the quoted price before scheduled care.

Emergencies cannot be refused. Sources differ on whether a bill can follow. Several provinces and Buenos Aires City already charged non-resident foreigners before this.

Citizenship is contested

The decree moved citizenship from the courts to Migraciones. It asks for 2 years of continuous legal residence with no trips abroad. Time on a precaria does not count.

Courts have struck down this part of the decree in individual cases. The national electoral court declared the decree null in the "Yang" case, in a ruling reported on 30 June 2026. On 24 September 2026 the electoral court allowed the government's appeal to the Supreme Court. No decision date is set.

Which rules apply is contested until the Supreme Court rules. Nobody can honestly promise you a passport or a timeline.

Money and tax numbers

• The monthly limit on individuals buying dollars ended on 14 April 2025. On 6 October 2026 the gap between the official and parallel (blue) exchange rates was 0.64%.
• The tax authority, ARCA, replaced the old CDI tax code with the CUIT (tax number) from 2 March 2026. Foreigners without an ID card can ask for a provisional CUIT, valid for up to 2 years.
• A foreigner's first ID card, and each update, costs ARS 20,000 (about USD 13 at ARS 1,540 on 6 October 2026) from 6 March 2026.

What to do next

Start with the Route Finder. It asks a few questions and shows the routes you may fit under the current rules. Then read nine things most guides still get wrong.