Relocating to Argentina with a Rentista Visa

What is a retirement visa, and what are the pros and cons?

A Rentista Visa, also known as a retirement visa, is a temporary residence permit in Argentina for individuals who receive passive income from abroad, such as a pension, property rental income, dividends, interest on bank deposits, or cryptocurrency income. The key requirement is a stable source of income that allows the visa holder to support themselves in Argentina.

Some features of the Rentista Visa include:

1. It prohibits employment in Argentina, unlike other types of residence permits.
2. It is suited for wealthy individuals, retirees, digital nomads, and remote self-employed workers (provided they can prove a stable passive income).
3. It is issued for 1-3 years with the option to extend.
4. The opportunity to bring your family to Argentina.

After residing in the country for at least 2 years as a temporary resident, you will be eligible to apply for citizenship. If you are not ready to obtain an Argentine passport, you may apply for permanent residency after another year.

Due to the high demand for Argentine residency among retirees, processing times have increased significantly. While the process previously took no more than a month, it can now take 4 months or longer.

The financial threshold for the retirement program depends on the minimum wage, which is gradually increasing due to high inflation and the devaluation of the peso in the country. If your income is not indexed (for example, if you receive a fixed pension or rent), it may eventually become insufficient to renew your permit.

To obtain permanent residency or citizenship, you must prove that you have lived in Argentina for more than half of your residency permit’s validity period. You cannot leave the country for extended periods; otherwise, you risk losing your residency status.

One way to simplify the process of obtaining an Argentine passport is to give birth in the country. In this case, you won’t need to prove your income when applying for citizenship. The child will automatically become an Argentine citizen at birth by the right of soil. The parents can immediately apply for permanent residency and, after two years, apply for a passport. My Argentina specialists are available to provide professional legal support.

Requirements for an Argentina residence permit and Rentista Visa

You can apply for an Argentine residence permit as a retiree if you meet the following 3 requirements:

• You have a regular monthly income equivalent to 5 minimum wages in Argentina for at least 2 years. As of March 1, 2025, the minimum monthly income per family member must be at least USD 1,390.
• The funds must be received from abroad through financial institutions approved by the Central Bank of Argentina.
• The source of income must be related to your assets (e.g., real estate, shares in a foreign company, securities, or bank deposits) and must not include any remuneration from hired labor.

You must provide an official document confirming passive income from abroad. For example, this could be a real estate lease agreement or a pension deed. The funds must be deposited into your bank account, including via Western Union. You must also register your residence in Argentina.

How to move to Argentina with a Rentista Visa

You can only obtain a retirement residence permit in Argentina. The process involves several steps:

1. Arrive in Argentina. Depending on your country of citizenship, you may need an entry permit, which can be obtained at your local consulate.
2. Submit an online application for an Argentine residence permit through the RaDEX system. Before visiting the National Directorate of Migration in person, you must register on the RaDEX portal, complete the form, upload documents, and pay a USD 6 state fee. A priority application costs USD 9.
3. Submit your residence permit documents to the Migration Service. After completing the online application, you will receive a temporary residence permit (Certificado de Residencia Precaria) and an invitation to submit your application via email. On the appointed day, bring a complete set of documents to the central office of the National Directorate of Migration to apply for a residence permit.
4. Obtain a residence permit. You can track the status of your application on the immigration service website. Once approved, you will be invited to the department to receive your local identity card (DNI).

Required documents for Rentista Visa application

To move to Argentina on a retirement visa, prepare a dossier containing the following:

1. A passport or travel document with an entry stamp, or a citizenship certificate issued by the consulate (in exceptional cases).
2. A 4×4 cm photo.
3. Proof of residence in Argentina.
4. A certificate of no criminal record from countries where the applicant has resided for more than 1 year within the last 3 years (for individuals over 16 years of age).
5. A document indicating the source of funds (e.g., a real estate lease agreement, a statement showing interest accruals, or proof of dividend payment).
6. An application for a certificate of no criminal record in Argentina.
7. A bank statement confirming the amount and legal origin of the funds received.

Documents issued abroad must be notarized. An apostille may also be required. All documents submitted must be in Spanish. The translation must be certified by an accredited translation service.

How to verify income from abroad

To apply for an Argentine Rentista Visa, you must prove that you have sufficient passive income and that the funds are legally obtained.

First, open an account with an Argentine bank and transfer funds from abroad. This confirms the legal origin of the funds. Transfers must be made through institutions approved by the Central Bank of Argentina.

Additionally, you will need a document confirming that your income is derived from passive sources, such as a company ownership stake, foreign bank deposits, or property leases. The original document must be certified in Argentina. When making payments, it is important to indicate whether they are rental income, dividends, or interest. Otherwise, you may be questioned by immigration officials.

Residence permit extension for Rentista Visa and Argentine citizenship

To stay in Argentina for more than a year and be eligible for citizenship, you must renew your residence permit. The application must be submitted at least 60 days before your current permit expires. If you apply within the first 30 days after your permit expires, you will have to pay an additional 50% of the state fee.

To renew your residence permit, submit the same documents as for the initial application to the immigration service and pay a fee of USD 94. The renewal process is the same as the initial application process.

After 3 years of continuous residence in Argentina, with a temporary residence permit, you can obtain permanent residency. The application must be submitted through the RaDEX system, and the state fee is USD 94.

To obtain Argentine citizenship, you must reside in the country for at least 2 years. You must submit the application in person to the National Court of Appeals in Buenos Aires or the nearest Federal Court. If approved, you will be issued a citizenship card (Carta de Ciudadanía), which you can use to obtain an identity document (DNI) at the Renaper documentation center. Although there are no legal time limits for processing citizenship applications, in practice, it can take anywhere from six months to several years.

With an Argentine passport, you will have visa-free access to countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. You don’t need to renounce your current citizenship because dual citizenship is permitted in Argentina.

Having an Argentine passport doesn’t obligate you to live in Argentina, but it offers benefits such as freedom of international travel and the opportunity to travel to or relocate to one of South America’s largest countries at any time. Contact the lawyers at My Argentina to learn how to quickly obtain Argentine citizenship on favorable terms.