---
title: "Argentina Mercosur residence requirements 2026: 2-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/argentina/free-movement-mercosur/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-10
---

Argentina

# Argentina Mercosur residence

**First stay:** 2 yrs

Mercosur residence agreement (Mercosur and associated-state nationals)

First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 2 yrs (Temporary residence of up to 2 years, renewable; permanent residence after 2 years.)
- **Renewal:** Renewable
- **Who can apply:** 11 nationalities (Native nationals of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname (and some naturalised nationals))
- **Work:** Yes (Residents under the agreement may work as employees or self-employed on the same terms as Argentine nationals.)

## 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 apply

- 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.

#### Documents

- 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).

#### Steps

1. Start the application online in the RaDEX remote system: register, fill in the form, pay the fees and upload the documents.
2. The applicant must be in Argentina; the immigration office then emails an in-person appointment date.

#### After you arrive

- 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/argentina/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

## 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. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a native national of Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana or Suriname. (source 1)
- Naturalised nationals of other countries qualify after 5 years of nationality in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru. (source 1)
- No job, study or other purpose has to be shown; proof of nationality is enough for the temporary residence. (source 4)
- A valid passport, or an identity document listed in the Mercosur travel documents agreement. (source 1)
- A criminal record certificate from every country lived in over 1 year in the last 3 years (applicants over 16). (source 1)
- Proof of address in Argentina and a regular entry into the country. (source 1)
- An Argentine criminal record certificate, requested through the online system (applicants over 16). (source 1)
- Start the application online in the RaDEX remote system: register, fill in the form, pay the fees and upload the documents. (source 1)
- The applicant must be in Argentina; the immigration office then emails an in-person appointment date. (source 1)
- Temporary residence lasts up to 2 years and can be extended. (source 1)
- Mercosur nationals can move to permanent residence after 2 years of temporary residence, with presence in Argentina for over 50% of that time. (source 2)
- The agreement asks for proof of lawful means of support for the permanent residence application. (source 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.

Checked 2026-10-10

## Official sources

1. [Obtener una residencia temporaria por nacionalidad - Mercosur](https://www.argentina.gob.ar/servicio/obtener-una-residencia-temporaria-por-nacionalidad-mercosur) · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Preguntas frecuentes - Residencias](https://www.argentina.gob.ar/migraciones/preguntas-frecuentes-residencias) · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Ley 25.903 - Acuerdo sobre Residencia para Nacionales de los Estados Partes del Mercosur](https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/95000-99999/96650/norma.htm) · Infoleg, Ministerio de Justicia, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Circulación de personas](https://www.mercosur.int/estatuto-de-la-ciudadania/circulacion-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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/visa-free-180d/) Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| [Andean free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/free-movement-can/) Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| [Free movement by treaty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/free-movement-brazil-uruguay/) Brazil | – | – | – |
| [Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/visa-free-180d/) 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

[🇺🇾 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/uruguay/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇨🇱 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/chile/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇵🇪 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/peru/visa-free-183d/) [🇦🇬 CARICOM free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/free-movement-caricom/) [🇧🇸 Visa-free stay (8 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/the-bahamas/visa-free-240d/) [🇧🇿 CARICOM free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/belize/free-movement-caricom/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## 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.

1. [Obtener una residencia temporaria por nacionalidad - Mercosur](https://www.argentina.gob.ar/servicio/obtener-una-residencia-temporaria-por-nacionalidad-mercosur) · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Preguntas frecuentes - Residencias](https://www.argentina.gob.ar/migraciones/preguntas-frecuentes-residencias) · Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Ley 25.903 - Acuerdo sobre Residencia para Nacionales de los Estados Partes del Mercosur](https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/95000-99999/96650/norma.htm) · Infoleg, Ministerio de Justicia, Argentina · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Circulación de personas](https://www.mercosur.int/estatuto-de-la-ciudadania/circulacion-de-personas) · MERCOSUR · checked 2026-10-10

Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.