Moving to Argentina: Residency, Bank, Rent, Health
Guides · Argentina
The stakes: Moving to Argentina requires following a specific sequence of administrative steps. Missing one can delay your entire relocation.
The facts: You must first obtain a residency category, then get a tax number (CUIT, CUIL, or CDI), open bank accounts, and secure housing and health cover.
The context: This guide explains each step in order, based on official sources and relocation experts, so you can plan your first 90 days.
Residency First: Choose Your Category
Applications for temporary and permanent residence in Argentina are processed by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) under the Ministry of Interior. This is primarily through the RaDEX online platform, according to Golden Harbors in July 2026.
Every residency route (work, study, family, rentista, digital nomad, MERCOSUR, etc.) ultimately files through the same RaDEX system operated by DNM. This is even when initiated at a consulate abroad, as reported by Golden Harbors in August 2026.
For non-MERCOSUR nationals, general residency requirements are set by DNM Regulation 1105/2011. MERCOSUR nationals’ applications are governed by DNM Regulation 1637/2022, according to Quinterno Fidanza Abogados in March 2026.
MERCOSUR nationals are generally eligible for a two-year temporary residence route. This can lead to permanent residency after the requisite period of continuous residence, including a ‘three-year rule’ for MERCOSUR citizens, as noted by Argentina Visa Law in February 2026.
Practical guides advise applicants to first select the immigration category. Then open the official DNM page for that route to confirm current requirements, before starting RaDEX or consular filing, according to eArgentina in March 2026.
The RaDEX Filing Sequence
The RaDEX filing sequence described by Argentine immigration practitioners is: (1) registration and payment of the immigration fee. (2) Upload of all required documents (family members can be included on one file and minors under 18 are exempt from fees).
(3) DNM review and possible requests for clarifications. (4) Issuance of digital precarious residence (residencia precaria).
(5) Biometric appointment (fingerprints, photo). (6) Final resolution and mailing of the DNI (national ID) to the declared domicile, according to Quinterno Fidanza Abogados in March 2026.
A standard temporary residency application through RaDEX requires: an Argentine criminal background check (from age 16). Also required: sworn declaration of absence of international criminal records, proof of domicile in the relevant DNM jurisdiction, proof of legal entry (visa or stamp), and documentation supporting the claimed category (employment contract, enrollment, income, marriage certificate, etc.), as detailed by Quinterno Fidanza Abogados in March 2026.
For visa-free nationals or those entering on a visa, the recommended sequence given by relocation guides is: obtain entry permit/visa if required, travel to Argentina. Then register on the DNM website, upload the electronic dossier via RaDEX, pay the state fee, attend an in-person appointment for originals and biometrics.
Then await residence approval and issuance of the identity card, according to iWorld in October 2025.
The receipt of the Certificado de Residencia Precaria (Precarious Residency Authorization) is explicitly mentioned as what allows foreigners to legally stay in Argentina. It also allows them to open a bank account and sign leases while their residency application is processed, as stated by Global Citizen Solutions in November 2025.
Tax Numbers: CUIT, CUIL, and CDI
The CUIT (Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria) is Argentina’s primary tax identification number. It consists of 11 digits in the format NN-NNNNNNNN-N, according to LookupTax in May 2026.
The CUIL (Clave Única de Identificación Laboral) is the labour and social-security identifier, administered by ANSES. It is used for tracking pension and social-security contributions and is functionally the employment equivalent of CUIT, as explained by LookupTax in May 2026.
When an individual already has a CUIT, their CUIL uses the same 11-digit number. This means CUIT and CUIL are numerically identical even though they are administered by different bodies, according to LookupTax in May 2026.
The CDI (Código de Identificación) is a numeric code issued to individuals who do not have CUIT or CUIL. They also do not have ongoing tax or social-security obligations, but need identification for a one-off procedure such as receiving a bank transfer or registering property, as reported by LookupTax in May 2026.
Foreigners without Argentine residence and without a DNI typically use a CDI as a transitional identifier for isolated procedures. These include certain financial or property operations until they obtain residence and a standard CUIT/CUIL, according to LookupTax in May 2026.
The former tax agency AFIP was dissolved and replaced by the Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero (ARCA) under Presidential Decree 953/2024. This was published in the Official Gazette on 25 Oct 2024; ARCA now issues CUIT and CDI identifiers, as noted by LookupTax in May 2026.
Practical tax-ID guidance states the functional distinction: CUIT is the fiscal identifier for all business and tax-declaration activity. CUIL is the social-security identifier managed by ANSES.
CDI is the transitional identifier for foreigners without DNI who need to complete specific procedures, according to LookupTax in May 2026.
No official figure has been published for the fee or processing time specifically to obtain a CUIL number for a newly arrived foreign resident in 2026.
Opening Bank Accounts After Currency Controls
Commentary on Argentina’s 2024–2025 ‘cepo’ (capital control) relaxations indicates that foreigners with legal residence and DNI can open both peso and dollar savings accounts. However, banks may request proof of residence status and CUIT/CUIL/CDI, and apply their own compliance checks, according to Golden Harbors in July 2026.
Practical residency guides state that the precarious residence certificate is commonly used by new arrivals as sufficient documentation for opening a basic bank account. It is also used for signing rental contracts while the full DNI card is still in process, as reported by Global Citizen Solutions in November 2025.
No official figure has been published for the minimum income threshold (in pesos or USD) specifically required to open a standard peso bank account nationwide after 2024–2025 currency-control changes.
No official figure has been published for the exact nationwide bank-imposed minimum deposit or balance requirement (in ARS or USD) for non-resident or recently resident foreigners’ dollar accounts following 2024–2025 currency-control changes.
Rental Contracts and Guarantees
General property and relocation guidance for Buenos Aires notes that formal rental contracts in the city commonly require either: a property-owner garantía (real-estate guarantee) from someone who owns property in Argentina. Or alternative instruments such as bank guarantees or insurance, depending on local practice and landlord preference, according to Property in Buenos Aires in July 2026.
No official figure has been published for a standardized national amount or percentage for rental security deposits applicable to all provinces. Regulation and practice vary and guides describe typical local customs rather than a single binding threshold.
Health Cover: Obra Social vs. Prepaga
Obra social is generally described in Argentine health-system commentary as the social-security-linked insurance administered through employers and unions. It is financed by payroll contributions and providing coverage through a network of providers, according to Global Citizen Solutions in November 2025.
Prepaga health cover is described by relocation and legal guides as private, voluntary health insurance that individuals can purchase directly. It often offers broader provider choice and faster access compared with standard obra social plans, as stated by Global Citizen Solutions in November 2025.
Residency practitioners note that once temporary residence is approved and the DNI issued, foreign residents become eligible to register for Argentine social-security systems. This includes obra social via employment using their CUIL, according to Quinterno Fidanza Abogados in March 2026.
No official figure has been published for a single official, national minimum monthly premium (in pesos and USD) for prepaga health plans for foreign residents. Costs vary by age, plan, and provider.
Driving Licence and Shipping
Legal driving practice guides for foreign residents emphasize that an approved residence permit and DNI are typically required before applying for a full Argentine driving licence (licencia de conducir) at municipal authorities. Tourist-status licences are commonly limited or require recognition of foreign licences, according to eArgentina in March 2026.
No official figure has been published for the exact fee schedule (in ARS and USD) for converting a foreign driving licence to an Argentine licence in 2026. Fees are set by municipalities and can differ by jurisdiction.
Commentaries on customs and residence procedures explain that ARCA (which also replaced AFIP’s customs functions) is now the authority overseeing customs and revenue control. This means foreign arrivals shipping household goods must meet ARCA customs rules and declare imports accordingly, according to LookupTax in May 2026.
No official figure has been published for the exact duty-free allowance in weight or value for household goods for newly arriving foreign residents in Argentina in 2026. Publicly accessible relocation guides refer to ARCA customs regulations but do not reproduce specific thresholds.
Schools for Foreign Children
Argentina-focused education and relocation guidance emphasize that foreign children can attend Argentine public schools without tuition fees but must comply with local administrative requirements. These include proof of domicile and identity documents; private schools generally require additional documentation and charge tuition, according to eArgentina in March 2026.
First 90 Days Checklist
Residency and relocation guides identify typical first-90-days priorities for expats as: filing or completing the residence application via RaDEX. Also obtaining the precarious residence certificate; starting the DNI process; securing a rental contract; opening bank accounts; arranging health coverage (obra social or prepaga); registering children in schools; and, for drivers, starting local licence procedures, according to Golden Harbors in August 2026.
One relocation guide reports that the state fee for the migration application process considered there is approximately USD 7. This is payable through the migration service website before the in-person appointment.
This figure is given in US dollars without a parallel Argentine peso amount and may be specific to that route rather than universal, as stated by iWorld in October 2025.
No official figure has been published for a universal migration application fee in Argentine pesos applicable to all residency categories in 2026. Fees vary by category and are updated on official DNM pages.
Sources: Golden Harbors, Quinterno Fidanza Abogados, eArgentina, iWorld, Global Citizen Solutions, LookupTax, Argentina Visa Law, Property in Buenos Aires
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