For many people, Argentina citizenship by naturalization is the step that completes a life built in this country. Right now the process is going through a period of change: since October 2025, naturalization by residence is filed with the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (National Migration Office) rather than with a court, and that reform is being challenged in the courts.
In this landscape, having a Buenos Aires citizenship lawyer on your side makes a real difference. Our team reviews your situation, tells you clearly which route applies to you and helps you gather and check your documents. If your application is delayed or refused, we file the complaints, appeals or court actions that your case calls for.
Who can obtain it?
- Naturalization by residence: foreign nationals aged 18 or over who live in Argentina with legal residence, temporary or permanent, for the period required by law.
- Citizenship by option: children of native-born Argentines who were born abroad.
- People who met the requirements before the rules changed and want to assert their rights under the previous law.
How it works today
Since 6 October 2025, under Decree 366/2025, which amended Law 346 (the Citizenship Law), applications for naturalization by residence are no longer filed with the courts. They are now handled by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (National Migration Office) and started online through its RaDEX system. According to official information, the application is personal: it cannot be filed through agents or intermediaries.
The published Argentine citizenship requirements are: being 18 or over; holding temporary or permanent residence; being in the country when the application is filed; a valid Argentine ID (DNI); a criminal record certificate; proof of occupation or means of support; and a tax/labor ID number (CUIT or CUIL). The two years of residence only count if they were held in a legal category — not provisional (precaria) residence.
In August 2026, the Federal Court of Esquel declared certain articles of that decree unconstitutional in a specific case — a person who had completed two years of residence before the change — and processed their citizenship under the previous law. The issue is still being argued in the courts.
Please note: these rules are under judicial review. We update this information regularly, but please seek advice on your own case before you apply.
How our firm helps
The application before Migraciones is personal: no one can file it on your behalf. Our job is to make sure you arrive well prepared and that your rights are protected at every stage.
- Advice before you apply and an assessment of the right route for your case.
- Review and preparation of your documents, including prior residence if you do not have it yet.
- Complaints over delays or refusals, and administrative appeals.
- Court action where appropriate: acquired rights under the previous law, constitutional challenges or amparo por mora (a court action against administrative delay).
- Citizenship by option for children of Argentines born abroad.
- Coordination of apostilles, legalizations and certified (sworn) translations.
Step by step
Initial consultation
You tell us your immigration history and we review your current situation together.
Assessment
We explain which route applies to you and what you need to start it.
Documents
We help you gather and check your paperwork and, if needed, get it apostilled and translated.
Follow-up and defense
If your application is delayed or refused, we file the appropriate complaints or court actions.
Documents usually needed
- Valid Argentine ID (DNI).
- Proof of temporary or permanent residence.
- Criminal record certificate (Registro Nacional de Reincidencia).
- Proof of your CUIT or CUIL (tax/labor ID number).
- Proof of occupation or means of support.
- Depending on your case, birth certificates and other documents from your home country, apostilled and translated.
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything: we will go through it together at the consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to live in Argentina to apply for citizenship?
Naturalization by residence requires two years of residence. Under the rules in force since October 2025, those two years only count if they were held in a legal residence category (temporary or permanent), not provisional (precaria) residence. At the consultation, we check from when your residence counts.
Can the firm file the application with Migraciones for me?
No. According to official information, the application before the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones is personal and cannot be filed through agents or intermediaries. What we do is advise you beforehand, prepare your documents and defend your application if it is delayed or refused.
What happens if my application is refused?
A refusal is not always final. Depending on the reason, you may be able to file an administrative appeal or go to court. It is best to seek advice straight away, because appeals have deadlines.
What can I do if my application is delayed?
If the authorities do not decide within a reasonable time, there are legal tools to challenge the delay, such as an amparo por mora. We review the status of your application and tell you which route makes sense.
I completed two years of residence before October 2025. Does the previous law apply to me?
This is one of the questions the courts are currently debating. Some rulings have allowed citizenship to be processed under the previous law in cases like this, but every situation has to be assessed individually.
Can I leave the country while my citizenship application is in progress?
It depends on your situation: one of the published requirements is being in the country when the application is filed. Before planning a trip, talk to us so we can review your case.
Will I lose my original nationality if I become Argentine?
Argentina does not require you to give up your original nationality. Whether you keep it depends on the laws of your home country, which are worth checking before you apply.
My father or mother is Argentine and I was born abroad. How do I obtain citizenship?
In that case, citizenship by option may apply. It is a different route from naturalization. We explain the requirements and help you gather the documents, including apostilled and translated certificates.
How long does the process take?
Timeframes depend on the authority and on each case, and they are currently changing under the new rules. At the consultation, we explain what you can expect in your situation.
Do you help people who don't speak Spanish well?
Yes. You can write to us in your own language: we organize the consultation so that you understand every step and, when needed, we arrange translations.
General information only. It is not a substitute for advice on your specific case.