Argentine Citizenship — Born in Argentina
Argentina
Citizenship
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See if you're a match →This citizenship pathway is for people who may already be citizens because they were born in Argentina or in another qualifying birth situation connected to Argentina. It generally turns on birthplace, birth date, and the parents' citizenship or immigration status at the time.
- Type
- Citizenship by birth
- Who it covers
- People born in Argentina or another qualifying birth situation
- Core records
- Birth records plus parents' status at the time
- What to know
- Usually a strong right if the facts and records line up
Summary
Argentina follows pure jus soli — anyone born on Argentine soil is an Argentine citizen by birth, regardless of the parents' nationality, visa status, or whether they were tourists at the time. The rule sits in Article 75, clause 12 of the Constitution and is implemented through Ley 346 of 1869, the oldest citizenship statute still in force in the region.
If you were born in Argentina and never followed up on the paperwork, you're still Argentine. You just need to retrieve your birth record from the Registro Civil of the province where you were born and use it to request a Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI) and passport. Argentina permits dual citizenship without restriction.
Eligibility
You already hold Argentine citizenship by birth if:
- You were born on Argentine territory (including Argentine-registered ships and aircraft).
- You have not formally renounced Argentine citizenship.
- Your parents were not serving foreign diplomats on mission in Argentina at the time of your birth (the only constitutional exception).
Your parents' nationality, their immigration status, and where you've lived since all do not affect your claim.
What This Route Allows
This route can help confirm or document citizenship in Argentina when the citizenship-creating facts named above are proven. For many people in this category, the main work is evidence: civil records, family-link records, prior citizenship records, and any registration or restoration paperwork needed to show the claim.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a shortcut around documentation. Even when the citizenship claim is based on a right, you still need records that prove each required fact and family link.
Next Steps
- Locate your Argentine birth record. Every province has its own Registro Civil — for Buenos Aires City the Registro Civil y Capacidad de las Personas de la CABA handles it. If the original is lost, the provincial registry can issue a certified copy (partida de nacimiento) by mail or in person.
- Apostille the certificate if you're abroad. The Argentine apostille is handled by the provincial registry for provincial records or by the Ministerio del Interior for federally issued records.
- Apply for a DNI. The Documento Nacional de Identidad is Argentina's national ID. Argentines abroad apply through the nearest Argentine consulate; residents apply through RENAPER (the national registry of persons).
- Apply for an Argentine passport. Requires your DNI and a recent photo. A standard 10-year passport runs about ARS 20,000–35,000 in 2026 (roughly $20–$35 at current rates). Consular issuance takes 4–8 weeks.
- Register your foreign citizenship if you want both on file. Not required, but some consulates let you note your second nationality in the DNI record.
Sources
- Constitución de la Nación Argentina, Article 75 — constitutional basis for jus soli.
- Ley 346 de Ciudadanía — the 1869 citizenship law still in force.
- RENAPER — Registro Nacional de las Personas — DNI and passport issuance.
- Argentina.gob.ar — Legalizar o apostillar un documento — apostille and legalization service.