MERCOSUR Residency
in Argentina

Temporary residency for MERCOSUR and Associated State nationals

Argentina's immigration framework, structured around Law 25,871, provides a specific pathway for nationals of MERCOSUR Member States and Associated States. Unlike other residency categories, the determining criterion is nationality itself: having been born in one of the countries covered by the regional bloc constitutes sufficient grounds to apply for temporary residency, without the need to prove an employment relationship, university enrollment or family ties in Argentine territory. This provision reflects the Argentine Republic's commitment to regional integration and the free movement of persons within the South American space.

The countries whose nationals may avail themselves of this criterion are Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname. Additionally, individuals who are not originally from these countries but who obtained the nationality of a MERCOSUR Member or Associated State at least five years prior are also eligible to file an application under this category.

Required documentation

• Valid passport or authorized travel document in accordance with CMC Decision 46/2015
• Argentine criminal background check (applicants over 16 years of age)
• Criminal background check from countries where the applicant resided for more than one year during the last three years
• Proof of domicile in Argentina
• Proof of lawful entry into the country
• For minors under 18: legalized birth certificate and authorization from a parent or legal guardian
• Foreign documentation legalized by the Argentine consulate, apostilled under the Hague Convention, or translated by a certified public translator

Process

The procedure is carried out on a semi-in-person basis through the RaDEx system of the National Immigration Office (DNM). The applicant must create an account on the platform, complete the corresponding form, pay the immigration fee and upload the required documentation in digital format. Once the application has been processed, the system assigns an in-person appointment, the date of which is notified by email.

Duration

Temporary residency under the MERCOSUR nationality criterion is granted for a period of two years, during which the holder may enter and leave Argentine territory without restrictions. Upon completion of that period, the resident is eligible to apply for conversion to permanent residency before the immigration authority.

Legal framework

This residency category is grounded in Immigration Law 25,871, its Regulatory Decree 616/10 and the Agreements on Residency for Nationals of MERCOSUR Member States, Bolivia and Chile, instruments that together constitute the legal regime governing the free movement of persons within the regional sphere.

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