Explore the power of Argentine Passport, Es Buena Onda!

Whatever your needs are, the question is: how far can your passport take you? 

The dual/second Argentine citizenship comes with the perks that keep the Argentine passport on the top 20 Global Passport Power Rank 2021 list. 

Besides, Argentine passports are remarkably easy to get.

Argentine citizens are either born, naturalized, or obtain nationality by option (Art.l, Ley 346 – Art. 2 Decreto 3213/84).

The main principle of the country’s law (LEY 346) is ius soli. This means that  Argentine citizenship is acquired by birth or birthright. Anybody born on its territory, regardless of the citizenship of their parents, are automatically Argentine nationals. 

The difference between Argentine naturalization and citizenship by option is small

Naturalization is a judicial process carried out exclusively by the Argentine federal court. 

The option for Argentine citizenship can be taken before the Civil Registry in Argentina or at the Argentine Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence of the applicants.

The exclusive right to choose Argentine citizenship for minors (who are under the age of 18), is enjoyed only by the holders of the parental rights. 

The Option for Argentine citizenship can only be made by persons who are parents or children of Argentines and provide documentary evidence for careful verification.

To qualify for Naturalization, the applicant needs to be:

• over 18 years old,
• be married to an Argentine citizen or be a resident in the country for at least two consecutive years.

Also, foreigners, regardless of the period of residence in the country (as clearly stated in Law Ley 346, art.2 “….cualquiera que sea el tiempo de su residencia…”) are eligible for Argentine passports if they:

• have performed honorary duties while working in Argentina’s public administration or outside Argentina
• served in the country’s army or participated in its defense during military operations
• have established a new industrial enterprise or invented something useful 
• are entrepreneurs or builders of railroads in any province of Argentina
• belong to any of the colonies already established or to be established in the future and have some property there
• reside in the proximity of the current frontier of the country
• are academic researchers residing in Argentina and working in the field of education for a long time
• are married to an Argentine citizen.
• Some specific circumstances may also justify a petition for citizenship, e.g. if the applicants are political asylum seekers, stateless people, etc.

Argentina is one of the few countries with the fastest naturalization procedure and the smallest residence qualification. Of all Latin American countries, apart from Argentina, only Ecuador and the Dominican Republic also accept applications for citizenship after only two years of residence. In all other Latin American countries, the standard naturalization period is at least three years.

Argentine laws do not provide for dual citizenship (with some exceptions), but this does not mean that you can only have one citizenship. In Argentina, like in most counties of the world, obtaining a second passport is absolutely legal and does not require resignation or loss of any other citizenship.

The list of required documents:

• Birth certificate, legalized at the Argentine Consulate in the country of origin
• proof of residence in Argentina for 2 consecutive years
• copy of the DNI
• 4 passport photos
• proof of funds sufficient to live in Argentina, such as a payslip, an employment contract, or a photocopy of your taxes
• certificate of residence, issued by a public authority, proving the current place of residence
• a photocopy of your ID and/or valid passport.

Some other documents may be requested as well.

The usual wait period for obtaining citizenship is from 12 to 18 months. For example, in the province of Buenos Aires, it can be reduced to 6-7 months.

Frankly, there are certain ambiguities in the laws. Hence, each judge is often guided by their own interpretation of the law. Some federal courts accept citizenship documents from parents, children born in the country, without any account of the required residence qualification (a 2-year stay in the country). 

However, the law is there, and you have to know it and be ready to comply. 

Argentine passports: ¡Qué interesante!

The value and benefits of an Argentine passport are individual to each citizen. But by and large, its power allows you visa-free travel to 125 countries, have 31 e-visas and 22 visas on arrival.

As of December 2021, visa-free travel is allowed for Argentine passport holders for 90 days – to Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, for 6 months – to the United Kingdom, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Japan, Mongolia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Botswana, South Africa, Tunisia, for 30 days – to Grenada, Jamaica, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Eswatini, Micronesia, Vanuatu, Niue, for 1 month – to Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Cook Islands. Also,  visas are not needed on trips with Argentine passports to Georgia (1 year), Mexico, Panama, Peru (183 days), Armenia (180 days), Barbados, Dominica (6 months), Fiji (4 months), Bahamas, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Uruguay, Israel, Malaysia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan (60 days), Saint Lucia (6 weeks), Turkey (3 months).

When traveling around South America, Argentine citizens do not need a passport at all if they have their DIN (national Identity Document).

In the ‘90s, Argentine passport holders enjoyed visa-free entry to the U.S. This is not possible at the moment, but negotiations are in progress. 

The list of countries open to Argentine citizens is subject to regular revision. That is why please refer to our experts for updates.

Argentine citizenship: biometric Argentine passports

In June 2012, the Argentine passport was completely modified, it is now electronic, i.e. biometric. A special chip is inserted into the passport, which contains all the necessary information about its holder: the photo, the full name, the date of birth, all data relating to the date and place of issue, the term of validity. There is also a possibility to save some specific biometric information, such as fingerprints.

Biometric passports are considered the most reliable, as they are difficult to forge.

Besides the introduction of the electronic passport, the old hard copy Argentine passports are still valid. 

The biometric Argentine passport is designed for 10 years, and then it needs to be renewed. It should be noted that the passport fee is one of the cheapest in Latin America). If you need to rush your passport, you can get it in 48 hours for an extra fee and even at the Ezeiza international airport. 

Do you think it’s all too good to be true? Indeed, the Argentine passport is a mix of many advantages: it is a nearly global pass for travelers, it can be rather quickly acquired, the overall costs are reasonable, the terms and conditions are not too sophisticated. 

Please note, though, that to obtain the citizenship of Argentina it is very important to submit to the federal court all the required documents correctly, and you will not have a second chance. 

If you have any questions on this subject, please contact us at info@offshore-pro.info or in messengers mentioned on this page.