Argentina permanent residence by arraigo and other grounds

To change category by arraigo you must have held temporary residence for 2 years if you are a MERCOSUR national or 3 years otherwise. You must show sufficient means of subsistence, have been present in Argentina for at least 50% of the period granted, and not have been outside the country for six consecutive months or more.

The DNM lists: children of native, naturalised or by-option Argentine citizens born abroad; foreigners who qualify by arraigo to change their residence category; recognised refugees who meet the arraigo requirement; Brazilian nationals under Law 26.240; former diplomatic, consular or international organisation officials after two (MERCOSUR) or three (others) continuous years in post; and others enabled by current rules.

All applicants provide a valid passport, the Argentine criminal record certificate (included in RaDEX), criminal records from countries where they lived more than a year in the last three years (from age 16), proof of address and regular entry. Children of Argentines add the birth certificate and the parent's DNI; arraigo applicants add evidence of means of subsistence.

Foreign-language documents need a Spanish translation by an Argentine national public translator under article 6 of Law 20.305, legalised by the College of Translators, and documents must be originals. Applicants under 18 present a legalised birth certificate and the authorisation of a parent who attends with a valid DNI; if the parents do not live in Argentina, a guardian with legal residence designated by public instrument is required.

Apply in RaDEX from inside Argentina, pay the fee and attend the appointment; change-of-category requests should be filed within the 60 days before your temporary residence expires. The DNM can cancel a permanent residence if the holder is absent from Argentina for more than one year, unless for reasons of interest to the Republic.

While you are still a temporary resident, the DNM can cancel the residence if you are away for more than six months, which also breaks the presence requirement for arraigo. A preferential appointment costs an extra 50 UMSM, and employers registered in RENURE can request urgent processing for 100 UMSM.