How do I get Argentine citizenship?

Last verified: 27 Oct 2026 · Status: Changing

Short answer. Apply to the National Directorate of Migration (DNM) through RaDEx, from inside Argentina, once you have lived in the country legally for two continuous years without any trip abroad. You must be 18 or over, hold a DNI, show lawful means and a clean Argentine criminal record. The procedure is free. A separate investment route was announced for late 2026.

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

Key rules

Ordinary naturalisation. Foreigners aged 18 or over who prove continuous and legal residence for the two years before the application and declare to the DNM that they want to be Argentine. "Continuous" means staying in the territory for the whole period with no trip abroad at all (Law 346 art. 2, 1°, as replaced by DNU 366/2025 art. 37). Time on a provisional "residencia precaria" does not count (Law 25.871 art. 20, last paragraph, as replaced by DNU 366/2025 art. 4).
Courts out, DNM in. Since 29 May 2025 the DNM grants the naturalisation certificate and RENAPER issues the citizen's DNI (Law 346 art. 6, replaced by DNU 366/2025 art. 39). The old court procedure articles (arts. 3, 4, 5 and 11) were repealed (DNU 366/2025 art. 43). Applications filed in court before 29 May 2025 stay there under the old grounds (art. 45).
What the DNM asks for. A DNI, proof of a lawful occupation or means of living, an Argentine criminal record certificate from the National Recidivism Registry (RNR), and a declaration of intent. Foreign documents need a legalisation or apostille and a sworn translation into Spanish. Applicants must hold temporary or permanent residence and be inside Argentina when filing (DNM naturalisation page; RaDEx citizenship steps). Neither Law 346 nor the DNM page sets a Spanish language or civics test. The Constitution, art. 20, also sets two continuous years.
Fees. The citizenship certificate and the procedure are free (Law 346 art. 10). The only exception it referred to, art. 11, is repealed.
Investment route. Foreigners who make a "relevant investment", whatever their time in the country, can apply (Law 346 art. 2, 2°). The Ministry of Economy defines what qualifies (art. 2 bis). The Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programmes vets applications; the DNM decides within 30 business days of the agency's report (Decree 524/2025 arts. 1 to 4). On 2 Oct 2026 the Ministry of Economy announced two options, a non refundable USD 350,000 contribution to the Treasury or a USD 800,000 special government bond, with intake during Q4 2026 (announcement). Infoleg shows no Ministry of Economy rule setting these amounts as of 26 Oct 2026 (unconfirmed).
By birth and by option. Anyone born in Argentina is Argentine, whatever the parents' nationality, except children of foreign diplomats (Law 346 art. 1, 1°). Children of native Argentines born abroad can opt for Argentine nationality (art. 1, 2°; Decree 3213/1984 art. 2). RENAPER takes the option in Argentina for ARS 10,000, also for children of Argentines by option; consulates handle only children of native Argentines (RENAPER option page).

What is uncertain. Congress can still reject DNU 366/2025, an emergency decree, under Law 26.122; Infoleg lists no rejection as of 26 Oct 2026. A declaratory action challenging the constitutionality of arts. 37 and 39 was sent to the federal administrative courts in December 2025 (SAIJ summary K0030953); no ruling on the merits was found (unconfirmed). Decree 3213/1984 was never updated: it still refers to federal judges, an oath and old shortcuts (Argentine spouse or child, teachers, public employees). The new art. 2 dropped those shortcuts, and no DNM rule replacing the decree was found (unconfirmed).

What changes the answer

Any trip abroad inside the two years, even a weekend in Uruguay, breaks continuity (Law 346 art. 2, 1°).
Precaria months do not count, so a slow residence decision delays the start of the clock (Law 25.871 art. 20).
Filed in court before 29 May 2025: your case stays with the court under the old rules (DNU 366/2025 art. 45).
Argentine parent: you may not need naturalisation at all; use the option route at a consulate or RENAPER (Decree 3213/1984 art. 2).

Worked examples

A foreign engineer gets temporary residence as a migrant worker on 15 Apr 2024 and a foreigner DNI. They spend 20 Dec 2024 to 5 Jan 2025 abroad. Permanent residence would come in Apr 2027 (Decree 616/2010 art. 22 c), but citizenship need not wait for it.

Pesos converted at dólar MEP ARS 1,563.90 per US$ on 23 Oct 2026 (rate (dólar MEP selling rate (dolarapi.com)) (unconfirmed); see /data/mep/).

Step or item	Time	Cost ARS	Cost USD
Two years in Argentina with no exits, counted from return on 5 Jan 2025	Until 5 Jan 2027	0	0
Renew temporary residence so it stays valid	Before expiry	DNM fee, see parent page	See parent page
RNR criminal record certificate (24 hour option)	1 day	2,400	1.53
RaDEx application, DNM appointment	From 6 Jan 2027	0 (Law 346 art. 10)	0
DNM decision	No deadline in the sources (unconfirmed)	0	0
First DNI as a citizen (Carta de Ciudadanía)	After grant	10,000	6.39
Regular Argentine passport (optional)	After DNI	100,000	63.94
Total		112,400	71.87

Step by step:

The trip abroad breaks continuity, so the two year count runs from the return on 5 Jan 2025 and is complete on 5 Jan 2027. The earliest safe filing date is 6 Jan 2027 (unconfirmed). With no trip, the earliest date would have been 16 Apr 2026.
RNR certificate: ARS 1,000 (5 days) to ARS 8,500 (1 hour); the 24 hour option costs ARS 2,400 (RNR page).
Total: ARS 2,400 + 10,000 + 100,000 = ARS 112,400; 112,400 ÷ 1,563.90 = US$71.87 (RENAPER tariff).
Apostilles and sworn translations of foreign documents are extra (no official tariff in the sources).

Cost to do it: about ARS 112,400 (US$71.87) in official fees, no capital, and at least 24 months of unbroken presence. By investment: USD 350,000 (ARS 547,365,000) or a USD 800,000 bond, if the announced amounts are formally adopted (unconfirmed).

Practical traps

Assuming permanent residence comes first. The DNM accepts applicants with temporary or permanent residence; letting a temporary residence lapse breaks "legal" residence.
Applying from abroad. You must be in Argentina to file; RaDEx checks your residence and time in the country.
Relying on the old marriage or child shortcut. It is gone from Law 346 art. 2, even though Decree 3213/1984 still mentions it.

FAQ

Do I have to give up my current nationality? Neither Law 346 nor the DNM requirements ask you to renounce it. Whether your home country lets you keep it depends on its own law.

Is there a Spanish test? No language or civics test appears in Law 346, Decree 3213/1984 or the DNM page.

Does a criminal record abroad matter? The DNM page asks only for the Argentine RNR certificate but says it may request more documents. Records that block residence (Law 25.871 art. 29) can also cost you the legal residence you need.

Can I vote once naturalised? Argentines aged 16 or over hold political rights (Law 346 art. 7, as replaced by Law 26.774).

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.