Argentina · Citizenship

Argentina citizenship by naturalization

Source-checked26 sources, 22 officialHow we check

Last checked 13 Nov 2026Written for US citizensSome rules are still being checked

In brief

The Constitution says 2 years of continuous residence. A 2025 decree made it stricter, and courts are striking that down case by case.

CitizenshipAfter 2 years; the rule is in court

Visa-free (US)Up to 3 months, extendable once

Residency income fromAbout $1,291 a month (retirees)

Tax on foreign incomeWorldwide once resident, with a credit for US tax

Becoming an Argentine citizen

Timeline: 2 years of continuous residence, but the rules are disputed in court Needs review
Dual citizenship: Depends: no rule requiring you to give up US citizenship was found, but this isn't settled. Not established yet

What you need

The Constitution's rule: 2 years of continuous residence in Argentina.
The 2025 decree's rule: 2 years of legal residence with no trips abroad at all, filed with immigration instead of a federal judge.
In court: two appeals courts and a federal judge have struck down the decree's changes in individual cases.
Pending time doesn't count: months on a temporary permit issued while your residence is processed never count.
Investment route: the decree adds citizenship for a significant investment; no official minimum is set.
Tests: the decree sets none; any language test under the court procedure is Not established yet

Good to know

Older applications: cases filed before the decree continue in court under the old rules.
Keep a clean record: a prison sentence for an intentional crime can cancel your residence.

Checked against the lawThe Constitution's 2-year rule.

Not yet verifiedThe court rulings, read only in news and law-journal reports, and whether every part of this timeline is confirmed.

Pending changeThe government's reported Supreme Court appeal, and bills in Congress to annul the decree.

Sources (6)

Legal basis and exact figures

Branch 1: Constitución art 20: naturalisation 'residiendo dos años continuos en la Nación'.
Branch 2: Ley 346 art 2 as replaced by DNU 366/2025 art 37 (BO 29 May 2025): 2 years of continuous and legal residence before applying, no trip abroad at all, filed with DNM; investment route (art 2 inc 2, 2 bis, 6 bis-quáter; Decreto 524/2025: the Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión assesses, Migraciones decides within 30 business days; no minimum; reported USD 350,000 / 800,000 figures appear in no official text). Pre-DNU applications continue in court (DNU art 45).
Courts: Cámara Nacional Electoral (Yang, 30 Jun 2026) declared the DNU null; CCF Sala III (Volosh, 18 Jun 2026) and a federal judge in Esquel declared arts 4, 37 and 39 unconstitutional; Supreme Court appeal reported. Rulings not read.
Other: precarious residence never counts (Ley 25.871 art 20); conviction for an intentional crime with a prison sentence is a ground to cancel residence (art 62 b). Not established: whether tourist or nomad time counts, language or civics tests, dual nationality.

Every rule, with its legal basis

The rules

Two branches; Needs review. (1) Constitution art 20: foreigners 'Obtienen nacionalización residiendo dos años continuos en la Nación'. (2) Ley 346 art 2 as replaced by DNU 366/2025 art 37 (BO 29 May 2025): adults who prove continuous and legal residence for the 2 years before the application, with continuity defined as no trip abroad at all during those 2 years, apply to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones instead of a federal judge; a separate route gives citizenship for a 'relevant investment' regardless of residence time (Ley 346 art 2 inc 2, 2 bis, 6 bis-quáter). Applications filed before the DNU continue before the court under the old grounds (DNU art 45). Courts have struck down the citizenship changes in individual cases: Cámara Nacional Electoral (case Yang, 30 Jun 2026) declared the DNU absolutely null and restored the judicial procedure; Cámara Civil y Comercial Federal Sala III (Volosh, 18 Jun 2026) and a federal judge in Esquel (Aug 2026) declared arts 4, 37 and 39 unconstitutional; the State reportedly appealed to the Supreme Court, with no decision found as of 13 Nov 2026 (news and law-journal reports only; rulings not read). Which residence counts: a precarious residence does not count (Ley 25.871 art 20); whether transitory (tourist, nomad) time counts is not established. For a US retiree on temporary residence, the earliest realistic date is 2 years of lawful residence; under the DNU text any trip abroad restarts the clock.

Language or civics tests: none in the DNU text; the pre-DNU judicial requirements (and any Spanish test) were not read.

Dual nationality: no renunciation requirement found in the texts read; not established.

Not yet verified Whether every part of this timeline is confirmed at the official source.

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Every rule with its legal source.

Argentina overviewKey facts, cities and every guide Entry and visasUp to 3 months visa-free, extendable once Residency3 routes: nomad, retiree and investment income TaxesWhat retirees and remote workers pay

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