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Argentina Passport

Ranked #16 Globally

The Argentine passport is one of the three strongest travel documents in South America. In 2026 it ranks #16 worldwide, behind only Chile and Brazil in the region, and lets holders enter 169 countries and territories without arranging a visa first, or with a visa issued on arrival. Holders travel visa-free to the (the borderless travel zone covering most of Europe), the United Kingdom, Japan and most of Latin America. A new booklet with a hard plastic data page entered service in February 2026. Foreigners can qualify for citizenship after two years of continuous legal residence, one of the shortest ordinary routes anywhere, and a citizenship-by-investment program was announced in October 2026 but is not yet open.

16th
Global Ranking
169
Destinations
84.92
Mobility Score
Argentina Passport - Passport Power 12th | worldpath.ai WRI

Argentina Passport Global Mobility Context

The reach of this passport comes from geography and diplomacy rather than economic size. Argentina sits at #16 worldwide in 2026 with 169 destinations, behind only Chile (174) and Brazil (170) among its South American neighbours. Argentina has climbed from 26th place in 2010 to its best result to date.

Europe is the anchor. Argentines enter the (the borderless travel zone covering most of Europe) for 90 days in any 180-day period, and the United Kingdom without a visa after a short online check. Close historical ties with Spain and Italy mean millions of Argentines also hold a second, European passport through ancestry.

At home, membership of MERCOSUR (the Southern Common Market trade bloc) lets citizens cross into neighbouring countries with only their national identity card. Asian access has widened too: mainland China has admitted Argentines for up to 30 days without a visa since June 2025, a pilot extended to the end of 2026.

The document itself was rebuilt in 2026. The new booklet uses a laser-engraved polycarbonate (hard plastic) data page and meets (International Civil Aviation Organization) rules for chip passports, the standard airports use to read passports at automated gates.

La ciudadanía argentina sólo se va a otorgar a quienes residan de forma continua durante dos años en el país, sin abandonar el territorio nacional.

On This Page

Argentina Passport at a Glance

Global rank (2026)

#16 worldwide in the October 2026 edition of the main global passport ranking, third in South America after Chile and Brazil, and Argentina's best result to date.

Visa-free destinations

169 countries and territories visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2026, including the , the United Kingdom, Japan, mainland China for up to 30 days and almost all of Latin America.

Document type

Biometric ePassport with an electronic chip that stores the holder's photo and personal data, so airports can check it at automated e-gates.

Page count

34 pages in the model issued since February 2026, up from 32 pages in the earlier booklet; no larger booklet for frequent travellers is offered.

Languages

The data page is printed in Spanish and English, so border officers outside Latin America can read the holder's details without translation.

Adult validity

10 years for applicants aged 18 and over. Older booklets stay valid until their printed expiry date, so the 2026 redesign does not force anyone to renew early.

Child validity (under 16)

5 years for all minors under 18, a rule in place since 2019 because children's faces change quickly and photo matching becomes unreliable.

Dual citizenship

Allowed. A native-born Argentine cannot give up Argentine nationality, and naturalised citizens are not asked to renounce a prior one under Law 346.

Issuing authority

(Registro Nacional de las Personas, the National Registry of Persons), an agency of the Ministry of the Interior that also issues the national identity card.

History

Argentina introduced the chip passport in 2012 and a new model with a polycarbonate (hard plastic) data page in February 2026, making the booklet harder to forge.

Argentina Passport Visa-Free Destinations by Region

Regional Mobility

Economic Mobility Score: 84.92%Country GDP: 0.683%
Visa Exceptions
Europe is the strongest region, with Schengen and the UK visa-free. The Americas score is high across South America, but the United States and Canada still require a visa.

Popular Destinations at a Glance

An Argentine passport opens 169 destinations in 2026 without a visa arranged in advance. For most holders the headline wins are Spain, Italy and the rest of the , the United Kingdom, Japan and the whole of South America. The biggest gaps sit in North America: the United States and Canada still require a visa for most travellers. Rules change often, so check the destination's official site before every trip.

Americas

South America is where this passport works hardest. Inside MERCOSUR (the Southern Common Market) and its associated states, Argentines can cross into Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador with only their (Documento Nacional de Identidad, the national identity card). Mexico and most of Central America and the Caribbean admit them without a visa. The United States is the main exception: a visa is required, although the two governments signed a statement of intent in July 2025 to bring Argentina back into the US (United States) Visa Waiver Program, with ministers hoping for 2027. Canada also requires a visa, except for air travellers who held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or hold a valid US visa; they can use the simpler (electronic Travel Authorization).

Europe

Europe is close to fully open. Argentines spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Area (the borderless travel zone covering most of Europe) without a visa. Since October 2025 the (Entry/Exit System) records fingerprints and a photo at the first Schengen border crossing instead of a passport stamp. (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), a paid online pre-travel check, is not yet in force. The United Kingdom admits Argentines without a visa, but since January 2025 travellers must hold a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before departure. Ireland and the Balkan states outside the Schengen Area are also visa-free for short stays. Russia admits Argentines without a visa for up to 90 days.

Asia-Pacific

Asia is a mixed picture that has improved recently. Japan, Singapore and Malaysia admit Argentines without a visa, and South Korea does the same once travellers complete the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) online. Mainland China has let Argentines stay up to 30 days without a visa since June 2025, a policy currently extended to 31 December 2026. New Zealand waives the visa but asks for an (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before boarding. Australia requires an online visitor visa, and India requires an e-Visa obtained before travel.

Middle East

The Gulf is easier for Argentines than for most Latin Americans. The (United Arab Emirates) has admitted them without a visa since 2017, and Qatar since 2018. Israel waives the visa but requires the (Israel Electronic Travel Authorization) online form before departure. Turkey admits Argentines without a visa for short stays. Saudi Arabia is the main exception in the region, so travellers should apply for the correct visa in advance.

Africa

Access across Africa is moderate. South Africa and Morocco admit Argentines without a visa for short tourist stays, and Egypt offers an electronic visa or a visa on arrival. Kenya now asks every visitor to complete an online ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before travel. Several West and Central African countries, Nigeria among them, require a visa arranged in advance, so it pays to check each country before booking.

Offshore Jurisdictions

Island jurisdictions favoured for business and holidays are mostly open. Jamaica and most Eastern Caribbean islands admit Argentines without a visa, and Fiji has done so since 2018. In the Pacific and Indian Ocean, short tourist stays are common without a prior visa, though length of stay varies by island. Business travellers who plan to open companies or bank accounts should check entry and residence rules separately, since a tourist entry does not authorise work.

Where a Visa Is Still Required

  • United States — a visa is required until Argentina's planned return to the Visa Waiver Program takes effect.
  • Canada — a visitor visa is required, unless the traveller flies in and qualifies for the eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) through a recent Canadian visa or a valid US visa.
  • Australia — an online visitor visa must be granted before travel.
  • India — an e-Visa must be approved before departure.
  • Saudi Arabia and parts of Africa, including Nigeria — a visa arranged in advance is needed; confirm the current rule for each trip.

How to Get a Argentina Passport

1

Obtain Legal Residence

Foreigners usually reach an Argentine passport through residence first. The (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, the National Migration Directorate) grants temporary residence permits in several categories. The most common for international families are rentista, for people with passive income, and pensionado, for people with a pension.

Both categories require about five times the national minimum wage in monthly income, roughly US$1,300 in October 2026. Nationals of MERCOSUR (the Southern Common Market) countries can apply on nationality alone. Applicants start online and then attend an appointment with apostilled documents translated into Spanish.

Temporary residents must also carry health insurance since the 2025 migration reform. Permanent residence becomes available after three years of temporary residence, or two years for MERCOSUR nationals.

2

Complete Two Years of Continuous Residence

Argentina's citizenship law asks for two years of continuous legal residence before an application. This is one of the shortest ordinary qualifying periods in the world.

A decree issued in May 2025 tightened the meaning of continuous: the applicant must not leave the country during those two years. Even a short trip abroad can restart the count, so many applicants plan their travel carefully.

Applicants must be at least 18 and keep a clean criminal record. Keeping proof of address, income and a steady tax record during these two years makes the next step easier.

3

Apply for the Citizenship Certificate

Naturalisation was traditionally decided by a federal judge. The 2025 decree moved the decision to the (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones), but in June 2026 two federal appeals chambers ruled that change unconstitutional, and the question is still being litigated.

In practice, applicants should take advice on which route their case should follow before filing. Typical documents include an apostilled birth certificate, a valid passport and residence identity card, a criminal-record certificate and proof of address and income.

There is no written language test in the law, but officials and judges have historically checked basic Spanish. Once approved, the applicant receives the carta de ciudadanía (citizenship certificate) and takes an oath of loyalty to the Constitution.

4

Apply for the Passport at RENAPER

A new citizen first updates the national identity card and then applies for the passport through (Registro Nacional de las Personas, the National Registry of Persons). Appointments are booked online at documentation centres across the country, and Argentines abroad apply at a consulate.

Since March 2026 the regular passport costs 100,000 (about US$66). An express passport, ready within 96 working hours, costs ARS 200,000 (about US$132). The same-day service costs ARS 330,000 (about US$218) and is offered at major airports, including Ezeiza in Buenos Aires.

Adult passports are valid for 10 years and children's for 5 years. Every passport issued since February 2026 follows the new model with a hard plastic data page.

Argentina grants citizenship by birth to anyone born on its territory, whatever the parents' nationality or immigration status, except children of foreign diplomats serving in Argentina. This rule, written into Law 346 since 1869, was not changed by the 2025 migration reform. Children born in Argentina to foreign residents therefore become Argentine at birth and can hold an Argentine passport from infancy.

Children born abroad to a native-born Argentine parent can also become citizens through the option of nationality. While the child is under 18, the parents file the request at an Argentine consulate, or before a federal judge if the family lives in Argentina. From age 18, the person files it themselves before a federal judge. The law does not set out a route for grandchildren, so more distant ancestry is not a reliable basis for a claim.

A separate citizenship-by-investment route was announced by the Ministry of Economy on 2 October 2026. It would grant citizenship without prior residence in exchange for a US$350,000 non-refundable contribution to the National Treasury or a US$800,000 government bond. As of mid-October 2026 its rules, fees and application portal had not been published, and the decree behind it faces court challenges. Applicants should treat it as announced, not available.

Marriage to an Argentine does not create a shortcut to citizenship. A foreign spouse follows the residence route and still needs two years of continuous legal residence before applying.

Comparison of Argentina Passport With Other Top Passports

Passport

Rank

Visa-free

Key edge

Singapore Passport

#1

192

Strongest passport in 2026 — the global mobility benchmark

Spain/Italy Passports

#4

185

European passports many Argentines hold through Spanish or Italian ancestry

Uruguay Passport

#22

156

South American neighbour with a similar residence-then-citizenship model

St. Kitts and Nevis Passport

#23

156

Caribbean investor-citizenship passport for comparison with Argentina's announced program

United States Passport

#10

179

Large economy that still requires a visa from Argentine travellers

The Argentine passport is easiest to judge against three groups: the strongest passports in the world, the European passports many Argentines can claim through ancestry, and its South American and Caribbean neighbours.

Versus the strongest passports.Versus the strongest passports. The top-ranked passport in 2026 reaches 192 destinations, against 169 for Argentina. The gap shows up mainly in North America and parts of Asia, where Argentines still need visas. In Europe and Latin America the practical difference is small.

Versus European ancestry passports. Spanish and Italian passports reach 185 destinations and give the right to live and work across the European Union. Argentina has long-standing dual nationality conventions with Spain and Italy, so many Argentines hold one of these passports as a second document rather than a replacement.

Versus its regional and investment peers. Versus its regional and investment peers. Argentina ranks ahead of Uruguay (156 destinations) and Panama (148), and above Caribbean citizenship-by-investment passports such as St. Kitts and Nevis (156). Its main difference from those programs is the route in: two years of residence rather than a payment, at least until the announced investment program opens.

Pros and Cons of the Argentine Passport

Pros7 strengths
Cons7 frictions
  • 01Mobility
    Strongest Passport in South America
    Ranked #16 worldwide in 2026 with 169 destinations, tied with Chile as the best in South America and Argentina's best result to date.
    #16 globally
  • 02Mobility
    Visa-Free Europe
    Up to 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen Area without a visa, plus visa-free visits to the United Kingdom after a short online travel authorisation.
    Schengen + UK
  • 03Eligibility
    Short Naturalisation Track
    Foreigners can apply for citizenship after two years of continuous legal residence, one of the shortest ordinary routes in the world.
    2 years
  • 04Rights
    No Renunciation Required
    Naturalised citizens keep their prior nationality under Argentine law, and native-born Argentines cannot lose theirs.
    Dual allowed
  • 05Mobility
    MERCOSUR Travel With an ID Card
    Citizens cross into neighbouring MERCOSUR countries and associated states with only the national identity card.
    ID-card travel
  • 06Document
    New Secure Document
    The model issued since February 2026 has a laser-engraved hard plastic data page and 34 pages.
    2026 booklet
  • 07Descent
    Citizenship by Birth on the Soil
    Every child born in Argentina is Argentine at birth, whatever the parents' nationality or status.
    Jus soli
  • 01Mobility
    Visa Needed for the United States
    A visa is still required for the United States; the planned return to the Visa Waiver Program is not yet in force.
    US visa
  • 02Mobility
    Visa Needed for Canada
    Canada requires a visitor visa unless the traveller flies in and qualifies for the simpler electronic authorisation.
    Canada visa
  • 03Eligibility
    Strict Continuity Rule
    Under the 2025 rules the two years of residence must be unbroken; leaving the country can restart the count.
    No departures
  • 04Standing
    Naturalisation Rules Being Litigated
    Courts ruled against the 2025 transfer of naturalisation to the migration authority in June 2026, so the procedure is not settled.
    In court
  • 05Eligibility
    Investment Route Only Announced
    The US$350,000 citizenship-by-investment program has no published rules, fees or portal as of October 2026.
    Not yet open
  • 06Tax
    Residents Taxed on Worldwide Income
    Living in Argentina for 12 months makes a person tax resident and liable on worldwide income at up to 35%.
    Worldwide tax
  • 07Support
    Spanish-Language Procedures
    Residence, citizenship and passport procedures run in Spanish, with appointment queues at the migration authority.
    Spanish only

Dual Citizenship and the Argentine Passport

Argentina accepts dual and multiple citizenship. Argentine courts have held that a native-born Argentine cannot renounce Argentine nationality, and naturalisation under Law 346 does not require new citizens to give up a prior nationality. Whether a newcomer keeps their original passport therefore depends on the law of their home country, not on Argentina.

The practical rule at borders. Argentine citizens must enter and leave Argentina as Argentines, using the Argentine passport or national identity card. Abroad, a dual citizen can use whichever passport gives easier entry, which is why many Argentines travel to Europe on a Spanish or Italian passport and to South America on their Argentine one.

Treaties with Spain and Italy. Argentina signed dual nationality conventions with Spain in 1969 and Italy in 1971. These agreements shaped how millions of descendants of European immigrants hold both nationalities, and they explain why Argentina has one of the largest populations of European Union passport holders outside Europe.

Tax and military duties. Holding a second passport does not change where a person pays tax. Argentina taxes residents on worldwide income once they have lived in the country for 12 months or hold permanent residence, so a dual citizen living abroad is usually taxed by their country of residence instead. Argentina ended compulsory military service in 1994, so dual citizens are not called up.

Final Assessment

The Argentine passport is a strong, practical document: #16 worldwide in 2026, 169 destinations, visa-free Europe and the United Kingdom, and travel across most of South America with only an identity card. The booklet was rebuilt in 2026 with modern security features.

For people who already live in Argentina, the passport is a natural next step after residence: two years of unbroken legal stay, a citizenship certificate and a appointment. For people who cannot live in the country for two years, the announced investment route may become an option, but only once its rules are published and the court cases around the 2025 decree are settled.

Its limits are clear. The United States and Canada still require visas, the two-year naturalisation track now demands unbroken presence and is being argued in court, and the investment route announced in October 2026 is not yet open. For families willing to live in Argentina for two years, it remains one of the fastest ordinary routes to a second passport anywhere.

Anyone planning around this passport should watch three dates: the start of (the European Union's online pre-travel authorisation) checks for Europe, Argentina's return to the US Visa Waiver Program, and the Supreme Court's ruling on the 2025 naturalisation reform.

Argentina Passport FAQ

Can Argentines travel to Europe without a visa?

Yes. Argentine citizens can spend up to 90 days in any 180 days in the Schengen Area without a visa, for tourism or business. Since October 2025, the EES (Entry/Exit System) records fingerprints and a photo at the first border crossing instead of a passport stamp, while the paid ETIAS pre-travel check is not yet in force. The United Kingdom is also visa-free, but travellers need a UK ETA before departure.

Is the Argentine passport the strongest in Latin America?

Not quite. In the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, Argentina ranks 16th in the world with 169 visa-free destinations, third in South America after Chile (14th, 174) and Brazil (15th, 170). It sits well ahead of Mexico and Uruguay (both 23rd, 155) and Panama (29th, 146). Argentina shares 16th place with Andorra, which matches its best global result to date.

How many countries can Argentine passport holders visit without a visa?

Argentine citizens can enter 169 destinations without a visa arranged in advance or with a visa on arrival, placing the passport 16th in the world in the October 2026 edition of the main global ranking and third in South America after Chile and Brazil. Access includes the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Japan and almost all of Latin America.

Do Argentines need a visa for the United States?

Yes, a visa is still required. The United States and Argentina signed a statement of intent in July 2025 on Argentina rejoining the US Visa Waiver Program, but it is not in force. Canada also requires a visa, except for air travellers who held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or hold a valid US visa.

How long is the Argentine passport valid?

Ten years for adults and five years for minors. The model issued since February 2026 has 34 pages and a hard plastic data page, and older passports stay valid until their printed expiry date.

How much does an Argentine passport cost in 2026?

Since March 2026 the regular passport costs ARS 100,000 (about US$66), the express passport ARS 200,000 (about US$132) and the same-day airport service ARS 330,000 (about US$218). Passports are issued by RENAPER (Registro Nacional de las Personas), the National Registry of Persons.

Does Argentina allow dual citizenship?

Yes. A native-born Argentine cannot give up Argentine nationality, and naturalised citizens are not asked to renounce a prior one under Law 346. Argentina also has dual nationality conventions with Spain (1969) and Italy (1971).

How can a foreigner get an Argentine passport?

The usual route is two years of continuous legal residence, then a citizenship certificate, then a national identity card and passport from RENAPER. Children born in Argentina are Argentine at birth, and children born abroad to a native-born Argentine parent can opt for Argentine nationality.

Related Information

Verified by

Sarah
AI Research Assistant
at WorldPath

Official Data Sources & Methodology

Passport mobility metrics and visa regulations are validated against International Civil Aviation Organization standards (ICAO Doc 9303), issuing-government publications and consular statutory orders.