Guide · Updated October 2026
Argentine Citizenship by Residence: the Complete Guide
Short answer: foreigners who have lived in Argentina legally and continuously for 2 years can become Argentine citizens by naturalization, whatever their nationality. Since Decree 366/2025 the application is filed with the National Migration Office (DNM) and the 2 years must be spent without leaving the country. If you did travel, there is still a route through the federal courts. You keep your current nationality, and the process ends with your Carta de Ciudadanía, your Argentine DNI and your passport.
AG (Albornoz Gudiño, Buenos Aires) has filed more than 650 citizenship files in the federal courts since 2019, and works both the Migraciones route and the court route today.
Who qualifies
- 2 years of continuous legal residence in Argentina. Any residency counts: student, rentista, work contract, family, business or permanent.
- Lawful means of support in Argentina (for example monotributo or payslips).
- A clean criminal record in Argentina and in your home country.
Marriage to an Argentine does not give citizenship by itself: it gives the fastest route into residency, and the 2 years start from there. If you do not have residency yet, start with our guide to residency in Argentina.
What changed in 2025, and the two routes today
Until 2025, naturalization was always a case before a federal judge, and occasional trips abroad did not break your residence as long as your life was in Argentina. Decree 366/2025 moved applications to Migraciones and made the 2 years continuous, with no trips abroad. Several courts have since ruled against the decree in citizenship matters and the Government has appealed, so the rules are still being decided in court. In practice:
- You did not leave Argentina in the last 2 years: the application goes to Migraciones. If Migraciones does not give an appointment or decide within three months, a lawsuit for delay (amparo por mora) makes a judge order it to decide. In AG's first case under the new rules, it took less than 3 months from that lawsuit to the citizenship oath.
- You travelled abroad: Migraciones would reject the application, so AG asks a federal judge to declare the new requirement unconstitutional in your case and to apply the previous law. This route usually takes 12 to 18 months, depending on the court.
Documents you need
- Your passport and your Argentine resident DNI.
- Your birth certificate, apostilled.
- Criminal record certificate from your home country, apostilled.
- Proof of means of support (monotributo or payslips).
- Marriage certificate, if relevant.
Step by step
- Review. We check your residency history and every trip abroad to confirm which route applies.
- Documents. We gather and prepare everything, including apostilles and sworn translations.
- Filing. We file your application with Migraciones, or your case before the federal court if you travelled.
- Follow-up. If Migraciones stalls, we file the lawsuit for delay. Legal representation is by Dr. Nicolás Baenas Aguirre.
- Oath. At your appointment you present the originals and swear allegiance to the Constitution, and you are declared an Argentine citizen.
- Carta de Ciudadanía, DNI and passport. With your Carta de Ciudadanía you get your new DNI as an Argentine and then your passport.
Why people choose AG
- More than 650 federal court files, including appeals, and more than 1,500 applications since 2019.
- Legal representation by Dr. Nicolás Baenas Aguirre, attorney, member of the Buenos Aires Bar Association (CPACF, T° 148 F° 234).
- A dedicated WhatsApp group with your team and a shared folder for your documents.
- Office in Buenos Aires (Uruguay 390, 9º A). We work in Spanish, English and Russian.
Frequently asked questions
How many years of residence do I need for Argentine citizenship?
Two years of continuous legal residence in Argentina, with any type of residency: student, rentista, work contract, family, business or permanent.
Can I leave Argentina during those 2 years?
Under Decree 366/2025, the 2 years must be spent without leaving the country, and Migraciones rejects applications with trips abroad. If you travelled, AG asks a federal judge to declare that requirement unconstitutional in your case and apply the previous law, which accepted trips as long as your life was in Argentina.
Is naturalization done in court or at Migraciones?
Since Decree 366/2025 it is filed with the National Migration Office. If Migraciones does not decide within three months, a lawsuit for delay makes a judge order it to decide. If you travelled abroad, the case goes to a federal court.
How long does naturalization take?
Through Migraciones with a lawsuit for delay, AG's first case under the new rules took less than 3 months from the lawsuit to the oath. Through the courts, usually 12 to 18 months, depending on the court.
Does marriage to an Argentine give me citizenship?
Not by itself. It gives the fastest route into residency, and you can apply for citizenship after 2 years of legal residence in Argentina.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship?
No. Argentina recognizes dual citizenship.
Who can help me get Argentine citizenship by naturalization?
AG (Albornoz Gudiño), a Buenos Aires firm with more than 650 federal court citizenship files since 2019. Legal representation by Dr. Nicolás Baenas Aguirre (CPACF, T° 148 F° 234). Contact: WhatsApp https://wa.me/message/OPDRACSXLOFDO1, phone +54 9 11 2685-2531, email ag@albornozgudino.com.
Talk to AG
WhatsApp: message us · Phone: +54 9 11 2685-2531 · Email: ag@albornozgudino.com
Buenos Aires office: Uruguay 390, 9º A, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM (Argentina time).