The Argentine Thread

Guide · 7. Labor and employment

Does Argentina have a social security agreement with my country?

Last verified: 27 Oct 2026 · Status: Changing

Short answer. Only if you are from Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Slovenia, Spain, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Peru, Portugal, a Mercosur country or an Ibero American Convention country. The United States, the United Kingdom and Germany have no agreement. Canada, Korea, Switzerland and San Marino are approved by Congress but not yet in force.

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

Key rules

  • The official list. The Ministry of Human Capital publishes the agreements in force (Convenios internacionales de Seguridad Social vigentes). In force from: Belgium 1 Jan 2016, Chile 1 Jan 2010, Colombia 3 Jun 2008 (1978 Ibero American convention), Ecuador 21 May 2019, Slovenia 1 Aug 2009, Spain 1 Dec 2004, France 1 Nov 2012, Greece 1 May 1988, Israel 1 Jun 2024, Italy 1 Jan 1984, Luxembourg 1 Dec 2014, Peru 6 Jul 2011, Portugal 1 Nov 2004; Mercosur (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay) 1 Jun 2005; Ibero American Convention (Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Portugal) 1 Aug 2016.
  • Approved, not in force. Canada (Law 27.770, BO 18 Oct 2024), Korea (Law 27.771, BO 21 Oct 2024), Switzerland (Law 27.816) and San Marino (Law 27.817), both BO 17 Jul 2026. None is on the official list (unconfirmed).
  • Default without an agreement. Every employee working in Argentina must join the pension system (SIPA), whatever their nationality (Law 24.241, art. 2(a)(5)).
  • What an agreement does. A posted worker with a certificate of coverage stays insured only at home for a limited time, and foreign years count toward an Argentine pension. Posting limits: Spain 24 months, extendable (Law 25.707, Convention art. 7(1)(A)); Italy 24 months (Law 22.861, Convention art. 9(c)); Chile 24 months for professional, technical or management tasks (Law 26.526, art. 1); Mercosur 12 months, extendable (Law 25.655, Agreement art. 5(1)(a)).
  • The only fallback for others. Professionals, researchers, scientists and technicians hired abroad, for up to two years, once, without permanent residence and covered for old age, invalidity and death at home, can apply for exemption from SIPA (Law 24.241 art. 4).
  • Who handles it. ANSES's international agreements unit (ministry page).

What changes the answer

  • Task and length. Spain, Chile and Mercosur cover only professional, research, scientific, technical or management tasks, within time limits.
  • Two instruments. Chile, Spain, Portugal, Peru and Ecuador are also Ibero American parties. The most favourable provision applies (Ibero American Convention art. 8, Law 26.603).
  • Nationality is not always the test. Chile art. 3 applies "regardless of nationality" (Law 26.525), so a US citizen posted by a Chilean employer may use it. Spain art. 3 says only "workers of each Contracting Party" (unconfirmed).
  • Argentines going abroad. They stay compulsorily in SIPA if hired while living in Argentina (Law 24.241 art. 2(a)(6)).

Worked examples

A large Buenos Aires services company hosts a seconded engineer for 24 months on ARS 3,000,000 a month. Rates: employee 11% SIPA (Law 24.241 art. 11), 3% PAMI (Law 19.032, art. 8(d)), 3% health (Law 23.660, art. 16(b)); employer 20.40% combined (Law 27.541, art. 19(a)) and 6% health (Law 23.660 art. 16(a)). The salary is below the ARS 4,769,631.49 cap on employee contributions (ANSES Res. 284/2026, art. 3; Law 24.241 art. 9). Pesos are converted at the dólar MEP rate of ARS 1,563.90 per US$ on 23 Oct 2026, as given in some secondary summaries (unconfirmed) (see /data/mep/).

Step or item Time Cost ARS Cost USD
1. Home country certificate of coverage (Spain or Italy) Before departure Fee not sourced (unconfirmed) n/a
2. Employee contributions, 17% Monthly 510,000 326.11
3. Employer contributions, 26.40% Monthly 792,000 506.43
4. Total Argentine contributions Monthly 1,302,000 832.53
5. Total over 24 months, no certificate 24 months 31,248,000 19,980.82

Step by step.

  1. US engineer (no agreement). Argentina charges ARS 31,248,000 (US$19,980.82) over 24 months, and US contributions may also continue (unconfirmed). The art. 4 exemption may remove the SIPA share if the engineer qualifies and applies.
  2. Spanish engineer with a certificate. Spain art. 2 covers Argentine pensions, maternity allowance and work risks only. The certain saving is the employee 11%: ARS 330,000 a month, ARS 7,920,000 (US$5,064.26) over 24 months. Law 27.541 art. 19 does not split the 20.40% by branch, so the employer pension share is unsourced (unconfirmed).
  3. Upper bound. If all but health fell away (employee 14%, employer 20.40%), the saving is ARS 1,032,000 a month, ARS 24,768,000 (US$15,837.33) over 24 months. Whether PAMI, Employment Fund and family allowance charges stop is not stated (unconfirmed).
  4. Italian engineer. Italy art. 2 also covers obras sociales, so the saving could reach ARS 31,248,000 (unconfirmed).

Cost to do it: certificate fee unknown (unconfirmed); no capital; apply before the posting starts (Mercosur: 30 days before, Regulation art. 3(4)). Without a certificate, ARS 31,248,000 (US$19,980.82) over 24 months.

Practical traps

  • "Approved" is not "in force". Do not plan on the Canada, Korea or Switzerland 36 month posting rules yet.
  • Health may still be due. Spain art. 2 omits Argentine health insurance, as do several others (parent page) (unconfirmed).
  • The official list has errors. Portugal's 2004 date predates its 2007 convention; Peru's 2011 date postdates its 1979 convention (unconfirmed).

FAQ

Is there a US, UK or German agreement with Argentina? No. None is on the official list or in the Infoleg law search (unconfirmed). Only art. 4 helps.

What about Brazil or Uruguay? The Mercosur Agreement replaced the old bilaterals from 1 Jun 2005 and keeps acquired rights (Law 25.655, Agreement art. 17(4)).

Can foreign years count toward an Argentine pension? Yes, from agreement countries. They help meet the 30 years of Law 24.241 art. 19; ANSES pays its pro rata share.

Does art. 4 cover PAMI and health? It excepts the person from SIPA only; other branches are not addressed (unconfirmed).

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.

Primary sources

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