Argentine Dual Citizenship in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

A child born in the United States to an Argentine parent is not automatically Argentine. Nationality is acquired through a formal procedure called the option, in which the child, or the parents on the child’s behalf, elect Argentine nationality before a consular officer. It is one of the few networks where the step is explicitly a choice.

Quick facts

Documents can be submitted without an appointment or sent by post; the consulate reviews them first and only then assigns a slot to sign the option deed.

Fees breakdown

The applicant’s U.S. birth certificate stays with the consulate and is not returned, so order spares before filing.

How the option works

1. Gather the documents for the applicant’s age group, including the Argentine parent’s recent birth certificate and identity document.
2. Submit them in person without an appointment, or by post with notarised copies of identity documents and originals of everything else.
3. Wait for the consulate to verify the file and contact you with a slot.
4. Attend on the day. Applicants under eighteen come with both parents, who bring their own documents.
5. Sign the option deed before the consular officer and pay the tariffs.
6. Apply for the first identity document, and then for the passport.

Required documents

• Applicant’s U.S. birth certificate, which the consulate retains.
• Argentine parent’s birth certificate, issued within the last six months.
• Argentine parent’s valid identity document.
• Copy of the other parent’s identity document, or a valid passport if foreign.
• Proof of the applicant’s address, such as a driving licence showing it.
• Presence of both parents for applicants under eighteen.

Where to apply

Where the birth occurred inside your consulate’s states, that post handles it. Otherwise your consulate receives the documents and forwards them to the competent office.

Additional notes

Dual nationality is kept

Taking Argentine nationality by option does not affect U.S. citizenship, and Argentina does not require anyone to renounce another nationality.

Adults

The option is not limited to children. Adults file the same procedure with documents appropriate to their age.

Order copies first

Because the birth certificate is retained, ordering two or three certified copies before filing saves a second request to the vital records office.

What follows

The identity document and the passport come after the option, each with its own appointment, so budget time for three separate steps.