How to Obtain an Argentina Retirement Visa : visasupply.com

Argentina’s popularity with foreign retirees continues to grow as expats seek the lower cost of living in the eighth-largest country in the world. Diverse European influences give the Argentine Republic a rich and vibrant culture reflected in its architecture, fashion, museums, literature, and cuisine. Its majestic landscapes span the towering Andes Mountains, lush rainforests, pristine Atlantic beaches, glacial lakes, and the flat plains of Patagonia and the Pampas.

Living costs average are more than 50% lower than those in the United States, while rents are 85% less (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Argentina). Retirees are also attracted to Argentina’s low taxes, robust healthcare system, and its ranking as one of the safest countries in South America. While Argentina is the world’s largest Spanish-speaking nation, more than 15 percent of its residents speak English (including many of the 60,000 expats). One challenging aspect to living in Argentina is the financial system, which favors cash while limited ATM withdrawal amounts while charging fees of about $11 per transaction. However, newcomers quickly learn hacks to get around that challenge, as outlined here: https://landingpadba.com/money-argentina-exchange-rates-atm-withdrawals-credit-card

In 2019, more than 5.5 million tourists visited Argentina before the COVID-19 pandemic halted most foreign travel. By 2022, the country had dropped its coronavirus testing requirements and travelers began returning. It takes about 10 hours to fly from Atlanta to the capital city of Buenos Aries on the continent's southeastern Atlantic coast.

Metropolitan Buenos Aires is the largest city in Argentina and the most visited city in South America. The cosmopolitan capital centers on the Plaza de Mayo, home to stately 19th-Century buildings such as the presidential palace of Casa Rosada. Buenos Aires is also a top retirement destination, with vibrant nightlight, diverse Latin and European restaurants, and a multicultural flavor. The second-largest city, Cordoba, located in the center of Argentina between three mountain ranges, is known for its Spanish colonial architecture. Other cities often listed as the best for retirees include Mendoza in the heart of the wine country; the river port of Rosario, the nation’s third-largest city; San Juan, nestled in a valley east of the Andes; and the beach resort of Mar del Plata. Retirees seeking natural beauty are also drawn to the city of Bariloche’s Swiss-alpine flavor and its position near the Nahuel Huapi glacier lake in the Patagonia region.

Argentina also contains 30 national parks and 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz province, the largest in the country, features the largest ice cap outside of Antarctica. Tierra del Fuego National Park is known for dramatic scenery including glaciers, waterfalls, forests, and mountains. The nearby Beagle Channel (which Charles Darwin visited on the HMS Beagle) is a popular cruise and wildlife tour destination. Hikers, campers, and tour groups in the northern lake region of Patagonia can see elephant seals, ice fields, dinosaur fossils, and prehistoric rock art. Other top destinations include swampy Ibera Wetlands preserve, the second largest wetlands on the planet; whale watching tours at Peninsula Valdes; the thundering Iguazu Falls; and Antarctic cruises originating from Ushuaia. With vast natural and manmade wonders, Argentina offers destinations for retirees of all interests.

Argentine Retirement Visa Programs

Citizens of the United States and most other countries do not need a visa to visit Argentina unless they plan to stay for more than 90 days. Travelers with valid passports are no longer required to pass a COVID-19 test; they need only provide sworn statements that they are not infected with the coronavirus and that their medical insurance covers any COVID-related treatment or hospitalization. For longer stays, visitors will need to obtain one of the several temporary residency visas available.

The primary retiree visa in Argentina is the pensioner (pensionado) visa. The main qualification is that you must receive a monthly pension income of at least 30,000 Argentine pesos (about $260 at current exchange rates). You will need to verify your income by providing your last three paystubs from Social Security or a private pension company demonstrating that your pension is being banked in your home country. Documentation must be certified by a notary public or county clerk. The pensioner visa is valid for one year and can be renewed up to two more years.

Two other options are available for those who are not retired employees drawing pensions. The financier (rentista, or person of independent means) visa is for people who can demonstrate guaranteed monthly income of at least 30,000 pesos. It can also be renewed for up to two more years, but at each renewal, you must again prove your guaranteed income is sufficient to support you and any family members living with you. While living in Argentina, you cannot work as an employee, but you can establish a business or become self-employed.

The other variation is the investment visa, available to foreigners who plan to invest at least $1.5 million Argentine pesos (currently about $13,000) in a business or commercial activity in Argentina. Applicants must submit a business and investment plan to the Ministry of Industry and Tourism for approval. The investment visa is also valid for up to three years.

After you live in Argentina for three years, you can apply for permanent residency and, if desired, eventually Argentinian citizenship. Argentina allows dual citizenship, so you are not required to renounce your U.S. citizenship.

How to Obtain a Retirement Visa

For residents of the United States, you will need to visit the Argentine embassy or one of its six U.S. consulates. The first step in the process is to contact the closest consulate and set up an appointment for a visa interview. Argentina has six U.S. consulates, including an Atlanta consulate (https://catla.cancilleria.gob.ar) for residents of most Southeastern states. The Miami and Houston consulates serve their respective states.

The second step is to collect the required documents and fill out a retirement visa application (https://cnyor.cancilleria.gob.ar/userfiles/fsv_2022_ing_editable_5.pdf). All documents submitted must also either be written in Spanish or translated into Spanish, with the translation certified and apostilled (authenticated). Once your consulate appointment is confirmed, you must pay a $250 application fee to the consulate before your interview.

Required documentation for the pensioner visa includes:

Original U.S. passport valid for at least six months with at least two blank pages.
Copies of passport showing personal details plus any prior or current visas.
Two passport-size photos.
Certified proof of monthly pension income from outside Argentina, as detailed above.
Return flight tickets or travel itinerary, if you initially plan a short stay.
Proof of your accommodations in Argentina.
Police clearance documentation from your home country.
Sworn statement (https://cnyor.cancilleria.gob.ar/userfiles/Declaracion%20Jurada.pdf) that you neither have a police record nor face international penalties.
Proof you have paid the application fee.

Complete the retirement visa application, print it, and sign it. Bring all your documentation to the consulate appointment. During your interview, you will need to sign the sworn statement concerning your police record in front of the consulate official. You will also need to pay an immigration fee at the end of the interview, using debit card or money order. The fee for citizens of the United States and most other countries is $600; for those from MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) nations of South America, the fee is $300.

It generally takes seven to 10 working days for a decision on an Argentine visa. The consulate will tell you if they expect the process to take longer (typically 30 to 45 days). Those who do not face an extended review have the option to pay a $40 fee via money order to expedite their visa within three days.

U.S. citizens with questions about obtaining a retirement visa for Argentina -- or who would like us to help ensure they have accumulated the necessary documents and paperwork before they visit the consulate -- can schedule a telephone call through our website.