Argentina
Argentina Mercosur residence
First stay: 2 yrs
Mercosur residence agreement (Mercosur and associated-state nationals)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Mercosur residence is a long-stay route for Argentina. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only for passports from 11 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is a native national of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana or Suriname.
- Naturalised nationals of other countries qualify after 5 years of nationality in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru.
- No job, study or other purpose has to be shown; proof of nationality is enough for the temporary residence.
Documents4
- A valid passport, or an identity document listed in the Mercosur travel documents agreement.
- A criminal record certificate from every country lived in over 1 year in the last 3 years (applicants over 16).
- Proof of address in Argentina and a regular entry into the country.
- An Argentine criminal record certificate, requested through the online system (applicants over 16).
Steps2
- Start the application online in the RaDEX remote system: register, fill in the form, pay the fees and upload the documents.
- The applicant must be in Argentina; the immigration office then emails an in-person appointment date.
After you arrive3
- Temporary residence lasts up to 2 years and can be extended.
- Mercosur nationals can move to permanent residence after 2 years of temporary residence, with presence in Argentina for over 50% of that time.
- The agreement asks for proof of lawful means of support for the permanent residence application.
When you become tax resident
How Argentina decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
The 12-month temporary-authorisation test and the 6-month rule for deductions are stated by ARCA; Argentine nationals lose resident status on acquiring permanent residence abroad or after 12 continuous months abroad.
- Foreign-source income
Argentine tax residents pay Ganancias on income obtained in Argentina and abroad and may credit analogous foreign taxes up to the limit set by law; non-residents pay only on Argentine-source income.
All tax rules for Argentina Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Accommodation
Proof of address in Argentina and a regular entry into the country
- Police certificate and civil documents
A criminal record certificate from every country lived in over 1 year in the last 3 years (applicants over 16)
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Nationals of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname can get a 2-year temporary residence in Argentina on proof of nationality alone, then permanent residence. 1 2 3 4
Requirements
- The applicant is a native national of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana or Suriname. 1
- Naturalised nationals of other countries qualify after 5 years of nationality in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru. 1
- No job, study or other purpose has to be shown; proof of nationality is enough for the temporary residence. 4
- A valid passport, or an identity document listed in the Mercosur travel documents agreement. 1
- A criminal record certificate from every country lived in over 1 year in the last 3 years (applicants over 16). 1
- Proof of address in Argentina and a regular entry into the country. 1
- An Argentine criminal record certificate, requested through the online system (applicants over 16). 1
- Start the application online in the RaDEX remote system: register, fill in the form, pay the fees and upload the documents. 1
- The applicant must be in Argentina; the immigration office then emails an in-person appointment date. 1
- Temporary residence lasts up to 2 years and can be extended. 1
- Mercosur nationals can move to permanent residence after 2 years of temporary residence, with presence in Argentina for over 50% of that time. 2
- The agreement asks for proof of lawful means of support for the permanent residence application. 3
Stay
- Temporary residence of up to 2 years, renewable; permanent residence after 2 years.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
- Temporary residence up to 24 months: Proof of nationality and clean criminal record.
- Permanent residence: After 2 years of temporary residence.
Nationality
Native nationals of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname (and some naturalised nationals) Open to: Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname.
Work
Residents under the agreement may work as employees or self-employed on the same terms as Argentine nationals.
Family
Family members who are not nationals of a Mercosur state get a residence of the same validity as the main holder.
Official sources
- Obtener una residencia temporaria por nacionalidad - Mercosur · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
- Preguntas frecuentes - Residencias · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
- Ley 25.903 - Acuerdo sobre Residencia para Nacionales de los Estados Partes del Mercosur · Infoleg, Ministerio de Justicia, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
- Circulación de personas · MERCOSUR · checked 2026-10-10
Mercosur residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercosur residence | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Visa-free stay Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| Andean free movement Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Brazil | – | – | – |
| Visa-free stay (6 months) Canada | – | 6 mo | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Mercosur residence?
Temporary residence of up to 2 years, renewable; permanent residence after 2 years.
Can I work on the Mercosur residence?
Yes. Residents under the agreement may work as employees or self-employed on the same terms as Argentine nationals.
Can I bring my family on the Mercosur residence?
Family members who are not nationals of a Mercosur state get a residence of the same validity as the main holder.
Who can apply for the Mercosur residence?
Native nationals of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname (and some naturalised nationals) Open to: Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname.
How are Mercosur residence holders taxed in Argentina?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Mercosur residence. The standard rules apply: Argentine tax residents pay Ganancias on income obtained in Argentina and abroad and may credit analogous foreign taxes up to the limit set by law; non-residents pay only on Argentine-source income.
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Obtener una residencia temporaria por nacionalidad - Mercosur · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
- Preguntas frecuentes - Residencias · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
- Ley 25.903 - Acuerdo sobre Residencia para Nacionales de los Estados Partes del Mercosur · Infoleg, Ministerio de Justicia, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
- Circulación de personas · MERCOSUR · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.