Guidance

Living in Argentina

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Argentina – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
5 November 2013
Last updated
23 December 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Argentina 

Help from the Argentine government 

For any questions about moving to or living in Argentina, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Buenos Aires cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Argentina. 

Professional help in Argentina  

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Argentina, including:  

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government  

Read the travel advice for Argentina to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Argentina. This includes the latest information on:  

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.  

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.   

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Argentina before you travel.  

Visas and residence permits

Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in Argentina.

You can get a visa to:

  • work
  • study
  • retire

For more information, read guidance from the Argentine National Directorate for Migration (in Spanish), part of the Ministry of National Security.

You may need to provide a copy of your police records as part of a visa or residency application. You can get a police certificate online. You will need to get it legalised by the Legalisation Office in the UK before submitting it to the Argentine authorities.

Identity card

You may need to get an identity card (‘Documento Nacional de Identidad’ or ‘DNI’). Read the Argentine Ministry of the Interior’s DNI information (in Spanish). 

Permanent residency  

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Argentina if you meet the Argentine government’s criteria.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Argentine Ministry of National Security’s residency guidance (in Spanish).

Citizenship  

Argentina recognises dual citizenship. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become an Argentine citizen.  

To find out if you’re eligible for Argentine citizenship:  

Find out more and apply for citizenship by following the Ministry of National Security’s online application process (in Spanish).

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications 

The British Embassy in Buenos Aires cannot help with Argentine visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:  

Passports and travel 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

Read the entry requirements for Argentina for information on letters of authority for resident children travelling without a parent or legal guardian.

For more information read guidance from the Argentine government on travel authorisation for minors (in Spanish).

Healthcare in Argentina     

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to: 

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

Argentina does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.  

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Argentine and international providers.  

To find out how to get medical treatment: 

Working in Argentina  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Argentina, you may need a work permit or work visa.  

The Argentine government explains what you need to do to work in Argentina (in Spanish).  

To apply for a job, you may need to provide:  

  • a valid passport
  • a criminal record check for the past 3 years
  • certificates, degrees and other academic documents

All documents must be legalised, apostilled and accompanied by an official translation if not in Spanish. Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad for more information.

Recognition of qualifications 

If you want to work in Argentina, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised (in Spanish). 

Driving in Argentina 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to: 

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Argentine government offers guidance on driving in Argentina with a foreign driving licence (in Spanish).

Read our information on applying for an international driving permit before you leave the UK.

The Argentine National Road Safety Agency (in Spanish) provides information on driving in Argentina, including how to:  

For more information, read about road travel in Argentina, in safety and security in the travel advice for Argentina.

Disabled drivers 

You may be able to apply for an Argentine disabled parking card (in Spanish). 

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Argentina, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority. 

Tax  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Argentina so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. 

Contact the Argentine Public Revenue Secretariat (in Spanish) for any questions. 

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Argentina (in Spanish). To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Argentina.  

Pensions 

Claiming your UK pension 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers: 

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming an Argentine pension  

To find out whether you can claim an Argentine pension:

Benefits    

Claiming UK benefits  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit. 

Claiming Argentine benefits  

You may be entitled to some Argentine benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim, visit the Argentine National Social Security Administration (ANSES) website (in Spanish) or contact ANSES.

Buying and renting property in Argentina  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad. 

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Argentina if you’re considering buying property or land. 

Voting in Argentina  

UK elections 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to: 

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Argentine elections  

You may be eligible to vote in some local and municipal elections in Argentina. Read the Argentine government’s guidance on voting rights for foreign nationals in Argentina (in Spanish).

Studying in Argentina  

If you plan to study in Argentina, you must meet all visa requirements (in Spanish) before you travel. 

For more information:  

Children 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including: 

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education 

The Argentine Education Secretariat (in Spanish) provides information about the school system in Argentina.  

All children aged 4 to 17  must attend school or home school in Argentina.  

For more information, read the Argentine government’s guidance on:  

Childcare  

The Ministry of Human Capital is responsible for childcare services in Argentina.  

Early years education is available for children from 45 days to 5 years old.

There are many private nurseries and childcare facilities available throughout Argentina.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships 

Births  

If your child is born in Argentina, register the birth with the Argentine authorities. You can register the birth at the local civil registry office (registro civil), or sometimes at the hospital .

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to: 

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers: 

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Argentina, read guidance on: 

Marriages and civil partnerships  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You can also read the Argentine government’s guidance on getting married in Argentina (in Spanish).

Divorce and separation 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

The Ministry of Justice offers guidance on how to get a divorce in Argentina (in Spanish).  

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Argentina.  

Documents for British people in Argentina  

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries  

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Argentina, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.  

Pets 

If you want to bring your pet with you to Argentina, read guidance on:  

Returning to the UK  

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.  

Shipping personal belongings to the UK

If your shipping company asks for a consular certificate (‘baja consular’) or for proof of residency when you have a UK passport, download this letter explaining that the British Embassy does not issue consular certificates (PDF, 303 KB).

Disclaimer  

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Argentine authorities.  

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 5 November 2013
Last updated 23 December 2025 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  2. Following Consular team's instructions, we've updated the date on Tuesday 14 January 2025.

  3. Yes, we have updated the Living in Argentina guide on Wednesday 17 January, 2024.

  4. I updated relevant information on Thursday 29, December.

  5. FCDO update.

  6. Coronavirus section added with a link to guidance on vaccines

  7. Last updated 2 December 2020

  8. Last updated 6 May 2019

  9. Disclaimer updated

  10. Changes to the items in the guide.

  11. Changed the 'Returning to the UK' content.

  12. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content