Can a foreigner open a company in Argentina without living there?

Last verified: 26 Oct 2026 · Status: Changing

Short answer. Yes. A foreigner living abroad can own 100% of an Argentine company and form it remotely through a local attorney. You cannot manage it alone: an SAS needs at least one manager living in Argentina, and an SA needs a resident majority on its board. You also need an Argentine tax ID, a registered office and apostilled documents.

As of 26 Oct 2026. Rules in force at that date.

Key rules

Ownership has no residence test. One or more individuals or legal entities may form an SAS, with no nationality or residence condition (Law 27.349 art. 34). Residence rules apply to managers and directors only.

Management does.

SAS: at least one member of the management body must have real domicile in Argentina. Foreign members must hold a CDI, appoint a representative in Argentina and give an Argentine domicile for notices (Law 27.349 art. 51). At least one alternate manager is required if there is no supervisory body (art. 50).
SA: the absolute majority of directors must have real domicile in Argentina, and every director must give a special domicile there (LGS art. 256). DNU 70/2023 did not change this.
SRL: managers have the duties of SA directors (LGS art. 157). Whether the art. 256 majority rule reaches them is not settled in the sources; check with the IGJ.

Tax ID. Since 2 March 2026 a non resident individual gets a CUIT, not a CDI. A representative domiciled in Argentina files it with form F. 460 F/PD and a passport or foreign ID (ARCA RG 5803/2025 art. 6). The SAS law still says "CDI" (arts. 51 and 60(2)); no official text confirms the CUIT satisfies it (not confirmed by the IGJ).

A foreign company as shareholder must first register with the IGJ under LGS art. 123 (IGJ Rules arts. 53(2) and 164, as replaced by IGJ RG 11/2026 and IGJ RG 4/2026).

Attorneys and documents. A founder may act through an attorney (IGJ Rules art. 53(1)). Foreign documents must be authenticated, apostilled and translated by an Argentine sworn translator (IGJ Rules art. 34(6); Apostille Convention, Law 23.458).

Bank account. Banks must open an SAS account against the registered bylaws and CUIT (Law 27.349 art. 60(1)), operational next banking day (BCRA, cuenta corriente rules, point 1.3.2). Each signatory still needs an Argentine tax ID and a PEP statement (point 1.3.1).

What changes the answer

Owning through a US company instead of personally. The LLC or corporation must register under LGS art. 123 with a good standing certificate no older than six months and a local legal representative (IGJ Rules art. 164(1)).
Choosing an SA. A majority of resident directors is needed (LGS art. 256), so a three member board needs two residents.
Wanting to be the only manager. Contested. Art. 51's residence sentence sits in the paragraph on plural boards, so whether it binds a sole manager, or is met by a resident alternate, is not settled. The safe course is a resident full manager (the IGJ has not published a criterion).

Worked examples

A founder living in the US forms a single shareholder SAS in Buenos Aires City with the IGJ model bylaws, as sole shareholder and alternate manager. A resident with a DNI is full manager and legal representative. Capital is a hypothetical ARS 1,000,000. Conversions use the dólar MEP of ARS 1,563.90 per US$ on 23 Oct 2026 (dólar MEP selling rate, dolarapi.com) (live rate).

Step or item	Time	Cost ARS	Cost USD
1. Power of attorney before a US notary, US apostille, sworn translation	Days to weeks (estimate)	Translation (not set in an official source)	Apostille set by issuing State (not set in an official source)
2. Founder's CUIT via the attorney (RG 5803/2025 art. 6)	24 hours (Law 27.349 art. 60(2))	Not published in an official source	None stated
3. Attorney signs bylaws, notary certifies (IGJ RG 6/2017 art. 7(a))	1 day	Not published in an official source	Not published in an official source
4. Capital paid at signing, 25% (Law 27.349 art. 41)	Same day	250,000	160
5. One day notice in the Boletín Oficial (art. 37)	1 day	Not published in an official source	Not published in an official source
6. IGJ filing and fee	24 hours from next business day (art. 38)	(fees vary and are not set in an official source)	Not published in an official source
7. SAS CUIT (Joint Res. 4098 art. 4)	With registration	None stated	None stated
8. Bank account	Next banking day (BCRA point 1.3.2)	Bank tariff	Not published in an official source

Step by step calculation.

Minimum capital is 2 SMVM (Law 27.349 art. 40). SMVM from 1 Oct 2026: ARS 391,200 (CNEPSMVM Res. 4/2026, point b). Minimum: 2 × 391,200 = ARS 782,400 (US$500). From 1 Nov 2026 the SMVM is ARS 398,800 (point c), so the minimum becomes ARS 797,600 (US$510).
Capital chosen: ARS 1,000,000 (US$639), above both minimums.
Paid at signing: 25% × 1,000,000 = ARS 250,000 (US$160). Balance: ARS 750,000 (US$480) within two years (arts. 36(6) and 41).
ARS 250,000 is not above 2 SMVM, so a sworn statement can prove payment instead of a bank slip (IGJ Rules art. 62(4)), useful while the company has no account.
Conversions: 250,000 ÷ 1,563.90 = 159.86; 1,000,000 ÷ 1,563.90 = 639.43.

Cost to do it: ARS 250,000 (US$160) capital at signing, plus IGJ fee, notice, notary, apostille and translation, none in the sources (fees vary and are not set in an official source). The shortest legal path from signature to SAS CUIT is about five business days, but automatic registration is suspended (IGJ RG 12/2024 art. 3). Allow 1 to 2 months with the foreign paperwork (our estimate, not an official term).

Practical traps

Old checklists asking for a "CDI". Non resident individuals now get a CUIT (RG 5803/2025 art. 6), though forms may still say CDI.
ARCA's wording on apostilles. RG 5803/2025 art. 31 says foreign documents must be apostilled "by the Argentine Consulate", contradicting the Apostille Convention, under which the State of origin issues it. The treaty should prevail (ARCA practice not confirmed).
Distance does not shield a manager. Managers can be personally liable for unpaid company taxes (Law 11.683 art. 8(a)), and habitual directors are covered as self employed (Law 24.241 art. 2(b)(1)) (not confirmed in an official source).

FAQ

Do I need an Argentine visa or residence to be a shareholder? No law in the sources requires one. Residence rules apply to managers and directors (Law 27.349 art. 51; LGS art. 256).

Can I open the company bank account without travelling? Banks may onboard legal persons remotely if they verify identity and powers (BCRA, Depósitos de ahorro, point 4.16.1.3; UIF Res. 14/2023 art. 25). Each bank's policy on foreign passports varies (not confirmed in an official source).

Who signs ARCA filings if I live abroad? The legal representative, with a level 3 Clave Fiscal (RG 5048/2021 art. 3; RG 5803/2025 art. 10). Without a DNI, level 3 needs an in person ARCA visit (RG 5048 Annex I, A.3).