How to Get Argentina Citizenship (2026): Routes, Years, Requirements

Key facts

Based on GLOBALCIT data, not yet verified by our team

Residence for naturalisation: 2 years1 change not yet in force and not applied: see the timeline.
Language: None
Dual citizenship: Accepted

Civic test: No civic knowledge requirement
Criminal record: A criminal record or good character condition applies
Income condition: Income or economic resources must be shown
Dual citizenship in detail: Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
Available routes: Naturalisation (residence)Marriage or civil partnership Descent (citizen parent)Birth in the country Child of a new citizen Other family members of citizens Former citizens (reacquisition)Special achievements Public or military service
Region: Americas
Law in force as of: 1 January 2024
Last checked: 5 November 2026

What changed since 2024

2 October 2026Scheduled
Citizenship-by-investment programme under DNU 366/2025: USD 350,000 contribution or USD 800,000 public bond; applications to open in Q4 2026.
Secondary source (law firm or media). Source: reuters.com

The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. The changes in the timeline above are not in force and are not applied.

9 routes in the law of Argentina.

Naturalisation (residence)

Entitlement

For foreign nationals living in Argentina, this is the ordinary route based on residence. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Residence: 2 years
Person has been resident in Argentina for a continuous period of at least 2 years preceding his/her request.
Previous citizenship: New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
Language: No language requirement
Civic knowledge: No civic knowledge requirement
Criminal record: A criminal record or good character condition applies
No convictions for a crime committed in Argentina or abroad that carries a prison sentence of 3 years or more (unless the sentence has been served and the application for naturalisation is submitted 5 years after serving the sentence, or when amnesty has been granted), no criminal proceedings initiatives against the person in Argentina or abroad. Judge may deny naturalisation if the applicant publicly advocates the overthrow of the democratic system, the use of violence, or denies the value of the human rights system.
Income or economic resources: Income or economic resources must be shown
Honest source of income or occupation.

EntitlementLegal basis: Constitution Art. 20, Nationality law Art. 2(1), 6, Decree 3213/84 3-8

Marriage or civil partnership

Entitlement

For spouses of citizens of Argentina, the rules below set out what this route requires. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Person is the spouse of a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement). (Note: Provision used to discriminate between men and women. After the ratification by Argentina of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on 15 July 1985 and the adoption of the 1994 Argentinean Constitution which includes this convention in Art. 75 (22), this discrimination ceased to exist and the provision applies to both men and women.)

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 2(2)(7)

Descent (citizen parent)

Entitlement

This route covers children of a citizen of Argentina, subject to the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Person is born abroad to a citizen who was born in Argentina.

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 1(2), 5, Decree 3213/84 2

Person is born abroad to a citizen who was exiled from Argentina. Option right can be exercised after arrival in the country.

EntitlementNationality law: Law 16.569 as modified by Law 25.327

Birth in the country

Automatic

Birth in Argentina is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below. The law of Argentina confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.

Person is born in Argentina. Unless parents are foreign diplomats.

AutomaticNationality law: Art. 1(1), 1(3), 1(5)

Child of a new citizen

Entitlement

A parent acquiring citizenship of Argentina is the basis of this route. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Person is the child of a father who acquired citizenship by naturalisation. Other conditions: the person was a minor at the time of the parent's naturalisation, was born abroad and he/she enrols in the National Guard under the age-conditions prescribed by the pertinent law.

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 3

Other family members of citizens

Entitlement

A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Argentina is the basis of this route. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Transfer to other relatives

Regardless of the time of residence, a foreigner may naturalise if they have a child who is a national by birth (e.g. has been born in Argentina).

EntitlementNationality law: Article 3.f. Decree 3213/1984

Transfer from former citizen

Person is the child of a father who acquired citizenship of another country by naturalisation. Other conditions: he or she enrols in the National Guard under the time-conditions prescribed by pertinent law.

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 4

Former citizens (reacquisition)

Automatic

Earlier citizenship of Argentina is the basis of this route. The law of Argentina confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.

Person lost citizenship due to de facto laws 21.795 and 21.610 (i.e. enacted by the dictatorship). Re-acquisition is automatic unless the person manifests the contrary via judicial process.

AutomaticNationality law: Law 23.059 3, 4

Special achievements

Entitlement

This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Argentina, subject to the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Person is an entrepreneur or builder in the field of railway construction, part of an established colony and own real estate in the country, populates an Argentinean national territory, or is a teacher in any field of education or industry. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 2(2)(4)-2(2)(6), 2(2)(8)

Person has established a new industry or introduced a useful invention. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 2(2)(3)

Public or military service

Entitlement

Public or military service for Argentina is the basis of this route. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.

Person has honourably fulfiled, in Argentina or abroad, a function in the service of Argentina, or has militarily defended the country. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).

EntitlementNationality law: Art. 2(2)(1), 2(2)(2)

Not available in Argentina: Adoption, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Stateless persons, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.

Dual citizenship

Argentina accepts dual citizenship in both directions.

New citizens: New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
Citizens who naturalise abroad: Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship

Compare with neighbours

Compare Argentina with all countries in the residence ranking

Countries in South America with the closest residence requirement
Country	Residence	Language	Dual citizenship
Bolivia	3 years	None	Accepted
Brazil	4 years	Required, no test	Accepted
Chile	5 years	None	Accepted
Ecuador	3 years	Required, no test	Accepted
Paraguay	3 years	Required, no test	Accepted
Peru	2 years	None	Accepted

Official sources

Argentine nationality by option

This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.

Naturalisation provisions: Legal basis: Constitution Art. 20, Nationality law Art. 2(1), 6, Decree 3213/84 3-8.

Cite this page

APA citation

TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get Argentina Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/argentina/

HTML link

<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/argentina/">How to Get Argentina Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)

Sources and licence

Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.

Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.

GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.

FAQ

How many years to become an Argentine citizen?

2 years of residence, under the ordinary naturalisation route. The conditions that come with it are listed on this page.

Does Argentina allow dual citizenship?

Yes. The law of Argentina accepts dual citizenship for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.

Do I need a language test for Argentine citizenship?

Applicants are not required to demonstrate language skills under the law of Argentina.

Is there a civic knowledge test for Argentine citizenship?

Applicants for Argentine citizenship are not asked to demonstrate civic knowledge.

Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Argentine citizenship?

There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Argentine citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.