Can a foreigner buy dollars in Argentina?

Last verified: 26 Oct 2026 · Status: Changing

Short answer. Yes, but residence matters, not nationality. A foreigner who lives in Argentina is a resident and can buy dollars at the official market with no monthly cap, paying from their own bank account. A non resident tourist can buy back only US$ 100 in cash, and only after selling at least that amount in the previous 90 days.

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

Key rules

Official market (MLC) purchases go through BCRA authorised banks or exchange houses (BCRA "Exterior y Cambios", point 1.1). The key question is whether the buyer is a resident.

Who is a resident. An individual is resident where their centre of economic interest is, presumed if they stay or intend to stay at least one year (point 6.5.1). Nationality does not decide it. A foreigner with a DNI and a local job is normally resident; a tourist is not.
Resident individuals (point 3.8). Since 14 April 2025 (Com. A 8226, point 1) residents may buy dollars for savings without prior approval or monthly cap, if: it is debited to their own local account, with cash limited to US$ 100 a month (point 3.8.1); the bank registers it in the BCRA online system (point 3.8.3) and holds evidence of consistent income or assets (point 3.8.4); and the client promises not to buy securities settled in foreign currency for 90 calendar days (point 3.8.5, reinstated for all individuals by Com. A 8336 from 26 September 2025).
Non residents (point 3.13.1). Non resident purchases need BCRA prior approval, except listed cases. For a tourist the only one is point 3.13.1.5: cash for tourism and travel up to US$ 100 across all entities, if the BCRA online system shows the client sold at least that amount in the previous 90 calendar days.
Identification. Residents show an accepted ID; tourists may use "other enabling documents" (point 5.4.1). Operations are registered under CUIT, CUIL, CDI, CIE or DNI, or the passport for non residents (points 5.7.3, 5.7.3.1).
Tax. No 30% tax prepayment applies to individuals' savings purchases since 14 April 2025 (ARCA RG 5617/2024, art. 2 (e), added by RG 5672/2025). It still applies to residents' card spending abroad (RG 5617, arts. 1 (b) to (e) and 3).

What changes the answer

Residence, not the visa stamp. A foreigner with a DNI but no local income may fail the income or assets test (point 3.8.4); banks decide what evidence they accept (practice varies by bank or broker).
Cash versus account. Residents paying cash are limited to US$ 100 a month (point 3.8.1). Arbitrage not debited from a dollar account is limited to the same cash amounts (point 3.14.4).
Prior securities trades. A non resident who sold securities for dollars (MEP or CCL) in the previous 90 days cannot access the official market without BCRA approval (point 3.16.3.1). The point 3.16.3.5 exemptions do not list the tourist case of point 3.13.1.5, so on the text the statement applies even to the US$ 100 buyback (practice varies by bank or broker).

Worked examples

Two buyers want US$ 1,000 on 23 Oct 2026. Official: BCRA retail average selling rate ARS 1,549.77 (series 4; wholesale Com. A 3500 was 1,528.263, series 5), see /data/oficial/. Dólar MEP ARS 1,563.90 per US$ on 23 Oct 2026 (dólar MEP selling rate, dolarapi.com), see /data/mep/. Banks set their own price (point 1.3); the average is a reference.

Step or item	Time	Cost ARS	Cost USD (at MEP)
A. Resident foreigner with DNI: US$ 1,000 by account debit, official market	Same day once account is open	1,549,770	990.96
A. Same amount via MEP instead	Same day (no CNV holding period for resident individuals)	1,563,900	1,000.00
B. Tourist: buy back US$ 100 cash at a bank (point 3.13.1.5)	Same day, after a prior sale	154,977	99.10
B. Tourist: US$ 100 at an airport exchange house, up to 3% over Banco Nación (point 5.2.2)	Same day	about 159,626, if Banco Nación's rate matches the retail average	102.07
B. Tourist: remaining US$ 900	Official market only with BCRA prior approval	not available without approval	n/a

Step by step.

Resident, official market: 1,000 × 1,549.77 = ARS 1,549,770. In USD at MEP: 1,549,770 ÷ 1,563.90 = US$ 990.96.
Resident, MEP: 1,000 × 1,563.90 = ARS 1,563,900. The official route is ARS 14,130 cheaper (0.91%), about US$ 9.04, before bank and broker fees (fees vary and are not set in an official source).
Tourist: 100 × 1,549.77 = ARS 154,977. Airport ceiling: 154,977 × 1.03 = ARS 159,626, assuming Banco Nación matched the retail average.
The other US$ 900: 900 × 1,563.90 = ARS 1,407,510 through MEP, which requires a broker account, in practice with a CDI tax key (practice varies by bank or broker), and a 1 business day hold (CNV Rules, Title XVIII, Chapter V, art. 2, per RG 1062/2025).

Cost to do it: resident, about 0.9% below MEP, same day, no fees in official sources, plus a 90 day securities promise. Tourist, US$ 100 at most officially, up to 3% spread at airports.

Practical traps

The 90 day promise covers purchases only. After an official purchase a resident may not buy dollar settled securities for 90 days (point 3.8.5). The MEP leg is a sale for dollars; brokers may read the rule more widely (not confirmed in an official source).
Keep the exchange receipt. The buyback depends on the bank finding your earlier sale in the BCRA system (point 3.13.1.5). Informal exchange leaves no record.
Peso debit cards abroad. For residents, a cash withdrawal abroad debited to a peso account counts as a point 3.8 purchase (point 4.1.1), and card spending abroad paid in pesos bears the 30% prepayment (RG 5617, arts. 1 (b) and 6).

FAQ

Can a tourist change dollars into pesos? Yes, at an authorised entity with ID (points 1.2, 5.4.1). Buying back is the restricted side.

Is a DNI enough to count as a resident? Not by itself. The test is the centre of economic interest, presumed after one year of stay or intended stay (point 6.5.1). How banks weigh a DNI is their call (not confirmed in an official source).

Is there a monthly limit for residents? No for purchases debited to your own account (point 3.8, per Com. A 8226). Cash purchases are capped at US$ 100 a month (point 3.8.1).

Can a non resident use the blue market? Informal dealers are not authorised entities (point 1.1), and breaches fall under the Criminal Foreign Exchange Regime Law (point 1.5). Rate: /data/blue/.

Is there a cap on MEP for foreigners? Foreign clients with a CDI or CIE may trade up to ARS 200,000,000 a day in these operations (CNV Rules, art. 6 ter, per RG 1128/2026), about US$ 127,885 at MEP.