Your first 90 days in Argentina: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Temporary residencies renew annually and Migraciones runs slow; letting the electronic residencia precaria lapse leaves you irregular — fees and requirements also shifted repeatedly through 2024-25.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
With residency granted (via RADEX), apply for the DNI para extranjeros at RENAPER
No fixed statutory window — the DNI application generates with the residency grant; commonly done at once
Requires the residence disposition and a declared Argentine address for delivery; the electronic residencia precaria certificate covers legal stay while a case is pending.
Get your CUIL / CUIT (via ANSES and ARCA — ARCA is the renamed AFIP)
Payroll, monotributo freelancing, banking and utilities all key off it.
The CUIL generates once the DNI exists; a CUIT for self-employment is registered online with ARCA using the DNI.
Open a bank account
A DNI is effectively required for a standard account; non-resident accounts are rare. Years of FX controls made Wise/Western Union the default bridge — controls have eased since 2025, but the habit persists.
Enrol in healthcare
Public hospitals treat everyone free of charge, resident or not; employees contribute to an obra social, and foreign residents commonly buy a prepaga (OSDE, Swiss Medical) for private-network care.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign license serves visitors only; with a DNI the license is issued by the municipality — CABA requires theory, psychophysical and practical exams — and temporary residents get validity capped to their permit.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Argentina?
Add your email for new Argentina guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Argentina: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Argentina?
With residency granted (via RADEX), apply for the DNI para extranjeros at RENAPER — No fixed statutory window — the DNI application generates with the residency grant; commonly done at once. Requires the residence disposition and a declared Argentine address for delivery; the electronic residencia precaria certificate covers legal stay while a case is pending. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the CUIL / CUIT and do I need one?
CUIL / CUIT (via ANSES and ARCA — ARCA is the renamed AFIP) is Argentina's personal tax/ID number. Payroll, monotributo freelancing, banking and utilities all key off it. The CUIL generates once the DNI exists; a CUIT for self-employment is registered online with ARCA using the DNI.
Can I drive in Argentina on a US license?
A foreign license serves visitors only; with a DNI the license is issued by the municipality — CABA requires theory, psychophysical and practical exams — and temporary residents get validity capped to their permit. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Argentina?
Public hospitals treat everyone free of charge, resident or not; employees contribute to an obra social, and foreign residents commonly buy a prepaga (OSDE, Swiss Medical) for private-network care. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Argentina's system treats foreign residents.