Asylum in Argentina: refugee status with CONARE

Refugee status protects people who have left their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for the reasons in the 1951 Convention: political opinion, nationality, religion, race or membership of a particular social group. CONARE distinguishes this from migration for economic, family or personal reasons. Applicants and refugees are protected by the principle of non-refoulement.

CONARE also recognises people whose life, freedom or safety has been threatened by the situations listed in the 1984 Cartagena Declaration: generalised violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive human rights violations or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order.

In the City of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area, applications for refugee status are sent by email to the CONARE address published on the official 'Canales de atención' page; renewals of the provisional document use a separate address. Outside that area, applications continue at the DNM delegation for your place of residence. CONARE's Executive Secretariat is at Hipólito Yrigoyen 952, 1st floor, Buenos Aires.

CONARE may reject a manifestly inadmissible claim within 20 days. Otherwise the Executive Secretariat assigns an ordinary or summary procedure, holds a personal interview and decides within the time limits set by Decree 646/2025. You can move within Argentina and continue the procedure at the local DNM delegation.

The provisional document is not a travel document, and under Decree 646/2025 leaving the country during the procedure is treated as tacit withdrawal of the claim. Recognised refugees obtain a DNM residence, a national identity document and, on request, a 1951 Convention travel document; the status extends to family members included in the claim.

Refugee status has no expiry date, but CONARE can decide on cessation, for example if the person voluntarily re-avails of the protection of the country of origin, acquires a new nationality or settles again in the country left. Cessation is not automatic and is notified to the person. A lawyer is optional at every stage.

The provisional certificate, valid for 90 days and renewable, allows you to live in Argentina, work (by obtaining a CUIL from ANSES), study, open a bank account and use health and social security services. Information you give is confidential and is not shared with your country's authorities. Every applicant may be assisted free of charge by a lawyer from the Defensoría General de la Nación. You may also apply for an ordinary DNM residence at the same time if you meet its requirements.