Can a foreigner open a bank account in Argentina?

Last verified: 27 Oct 2026 · Status: Changing

Short answer. Yes. A foreigner can open an Argentine savings account with a passport while on precaria or transitory residence, or with a DNI once resident, plus a CUIT or CUIL. Individuals no longer get a CDI. Peso savings accounts are free to open and keep. Tourists qualify on paper, but banks may treat non residents as higher risk.

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

Key rules

Identity document. Banks use the BCRA list Documentos de identificación en vigencia (Depósitos de ahorro, point 4.1.1):

Transitory or precaria residence: passport, consular visa where applicable (point 2.1.1).
Permanent or temporary residence granted less than one year ago: DNI or passport (point 2.1.2). After one year: DNI only (point 2.1.3). Residence status is proved with DNM documents.
Non residents: home country ID, legalised or apostilled and translated (point 2.5).

Tourists are transitory residents (Law 25.871 art. 24(a)). The BCRA text does not say whether tourists fall under point 2.1.1 or 2.5 (unconfirmed).

Tax ID. The bank must pull a CUIT or CDI from ARCA, or a CUIL from RENAPER or ANSES (Depósitos de ahorro, point 4.2). Since 2 March 2026, ARCA RG 5803/2025 gives individuals a CUIT, not a CDI:

a resident without a DNI files form 460 F/PD, passport and DNM certificate through "Presentaciones Digitales" for a CUIT valid up to 2 years (art. 4), replaced within 10 business days of getting the DNI (art. 5);
a non resident applies through a local representative, or in person at ARCA if temporarily in Argentina, expressly including for bank procedures (art. 6);
CDIs are now only for diplomatic missions and entities (art. 19). Old individual CDIs last until a data change (art. 33(b)).

Precaria holders can also get a free CUIL at ANSES; tourists cannot (ANSES, Obtener CUIL).

KYC. Under UIF Resolution 14/2023 as replaced by UIF 199/2024, banks accept a DNI, or a foreign identity card or passport (art. 22(a)). They may rate non residents as higher risk, except tourists who only buy and sell foreign currency (art. 27(a)). Banks build a transactional profile but may not ask for tax returns (art. 37, replaced by UIF 78/2025 art. 5).

What you can open.

Peso savings account: opening, maintenance, one debit card, own ATMs and home banking are free (Depósitos de ahorro, point 1.8). Accounts may also be in US dollars, euros or yuan (point 1.5).
Free universal account (cuenta gratuita universal): for individuals with no other demand account anywhere, pesos only, free, openable online (points 3.11, 3.11.1, 3.11.3 and 3.11.6). Credits are capped at the UIF simplified due diligence amount (point 3.11.4.1), which UIF 14/2023 art. 28 sets at 12 minimum wages (SMVM) a month or 120 a year.
Fintech wallets: payment service providers open peso payment accounts with a CVU; the funds are not deposits and are not insured (BCRA Proveedores de servicios de pago, points 1.4.1, 4.1.2 and 4.2.2). A passport is valid ID under UIF 200/2024 art. 22(a). Mercado Pago and similar brands: check the BCRA PSP register (unconfirmed).
Company accounts: an SAS needs only its registered instrument and CUIT, and the current account must work the next banking day (Cuenta corriente bancaria, point 1.3.2). An unregistered foreign company can only open accounts to the personal order of its members or legal representatives (point 1.3.2.4).

What changes the answer

Residence status. After one year of temporary or permanent residence only the DNI works (point 2.1.3).
No DNI yet. The CUIT is provisional and must be replaced within 10 business days of getting the DNI (RG 5803 art. 5).
Already banked. Anyone holding another demand account cannot use the universal account (point 3.11.1).

Worked examples

Two non Mercosur nationals, 26 Oct 2026. A filed for temporary residence and holds a precaria. B is a tourist. Pesos at dólar MEP ARS 1,563.90 per US$ on 23 Oct 2026 (dólar MEP selling rate (dolarapi.com)) (unconfirmed) (see /data/mep/).

Step or item	Time	Cost ARS	Cost USD
A: CUIL at ANSES (if employed)	Walk in, issue time not published (unconfirmed)	0	0
A: provisional CUIT (RG 5803 art. 4)	No term in RG 5803 (unconfirmed)	0	0
A: peso savings account or universal account	No regulatory term (unconfirmed)	0	0
A: US dollar savings account	No regulatory term (unconfirmed)	Bank tariff (unconfirmed)	Bank tariff (unconfirmed)
B: CUIT in person at ARCA (art. 6)	Web appointment, no term (unconfirmed)	0	0
B: savings account	Bank's risk decision	0 if peso	0 if peso
Company (SAS): current account	Next banking day after instrument and CUIT	Bank tariff (unconfirmed)	Bank tariff (unconfirmed)

Step by step, the universal account cap for A:

SMVM from 1 Oct 2026: ARS 391,200 (CNEPSMVM Resolution 4/2026 art. 1(b)).
Monthly cap: 12 × 391,200 = ARS 4,694,400 (US$ 3,001.73).
Yearly cap: 120 × 391,200 = ARS 46,944,000 (US$ 30,017.26).
From 1 Nov 2026 the SMVM is ARS 398,800 (art. 1(c)), so the monthly cap rises to ARS 4,785,600 (US$ 3,060.04).

Above the cap the bank asks for more documents (UIF 14/2023 art. 28). A's precaria lasts up to 90 days, renewable (Law 25.871 art. 20).

Cost to do it: ARS 0 in regulated fees for CUIL, CUIT and a peso savings account; no minimum deposit in the BCRA savings rules (unconfirmed); dollar account and company account fees are set by each bank (unconfirmed). Time: no legal deadline; it depends on ARCA and bank KYC processing (unconfirmed).

Practical traps

Asking for a CDI. Bank checklists and the ARCA CDI page (still live on 26 Oct 2026) offer individuals a CDI. RG 5803/2025 arts. 19 and 33 ended that. Ask for a CUIT.
Wallet balances are not insured. Bank deposits are; payment accounts are not (PSP text, point 4.2.2).
Letting the precaria lapse. Banks must check residence validity (point 2.1); a lapsed certificate can freeze onboarding.

FAQ

Can I open an account with only my passport? Yes, while on transitory or precaria residence, or within a year of residence (points 2.1.1 and 2.1.2). You still need a CUIT or CUIL.

Can a tourist open an account? The rules allow it with a CUIT obtained under RG 5803 art. 6, but banks may apply enhanced due diligence to non residents (UIF 14/2023 art. 27(a)).

Can I hold US dollars? Yes (point 1.5). Buying them is a separate question.

Do I need to show tax returns? No. Banks may not require tax sworn statements (UIF 14/2023 art. 37).

Published 27 Oct 2026 from our research draft. Points marked (unconfirmed) have not yet been checked against the official text; rely on the primary sources linked below.