U.S. citizens travel to Argentina without a visa for tourism and business, for stays of up to ninety days, and the reciprocity fee that used to apply on arrival was abolished years ago. Consular visa work in the United States is therefore about longer stays and third-country nationals.
Quick facts
Temporary residence categories — work, study, family reunion, rentista and investor — usually need an entry permit issued by the immigration authority in Argentina before the consulate can put a visa in the passport.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consular visa | Consular tariff by category | Not refundable if refused |
| Entry permit from the immigration authority | Charged in Argentina | Required for most residence categories |
| Apostille of supporting documents | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
| Translation into Spanish | Per page | Certified translator |
| Criminal background check | Federal or state fee | Apostilled, for residence categories |
Residence is finalised in Argentina, where the national identity document for foreigners is issued after arrival.
How to apply
- Confirm whether your nationality needs a visa for a short visit at all.
- Identify the category and whether it requires an entry permit obtained in Argentina first.
- Order the criminal background check and have it apostilled and translated.
- Book an appointment at the consulate covering your address and submit the file.
- Pay the tariff and wait for the visa to be issued.
- Enter Argentina within its validity and complete the residence formalities there.
Required documents
- Passport valid for the whole stay, with blank pages.
- Completed application and photographs.
- Proof of lawful residence in the United States for third-country nationals.
- Criminal background check, apostilled and translated.
- Evidence of means, enrolment, employment or family relationship as the category requires.
- Entry permit where the category demands one.
Where to apply
At the consulate covering your U.S. address. Files from outside the district are not accepted for visa categories.
Consulate General of Argentina
View details →ChicagoConsulate General of Argentina in Chicago
View details →HoustonConsulate General of Argentina
View details →Los AngelesArgentina Consulate
View details →MiamiGeneral Consulate of Argentina
View details →New YorkConsulate General of Argentina
View details →WashingtonArgentine Embassy
View details →WashingtonEmbassy of Argentina
View details →Additional notes
Short visits
The ninety-day admission is granted at the border and can sometimes be extended inside the country. It never authorises paid work.
Family ties
Being the parent, child or spouse of an Argentine opens a residence category that is usually faster than the employment routes.
Documents go stale
Background checks have a short shelf life and the apostille does not extend it. Order them close to filing.
After arrival
Residence categories require completing the file with the immigration authority in Argentina within the deadline that follows entry.