How to get a DNI in Argentina for foreigners

Many foreigners that want to settle in Argentina will be required to get a residency and then they will be able to get a DNI.

The entity in charge of emitting the DNI is ‘El Registro Nacional de las Personas’ (RENAPER).

What is a DNI number in Argentina?

DNI stands for Documento Nacional de Identidad. In Argentina this ID is a requirement for all citizens, they are required to get one when they are newborn babies and then update the IDs when the kids are 5 to 8, when they turn 14, then again at 21.

A DNI number is a requirement for Argentines living in the country or abroad and for foreigners living in the country.

What is the DNI used for?

This DNI number is used for many things, when buying stuff and paying with a card, for bank transactions, and for public health services.

Locals use it for buying tickets for museums and tourist attractions since there are different prices for locals and tourists.

How to get a DNI number online?

If you have residency in Argentina you will need:

Temporary or permanent residence issued by the National Direction of Migration.
In case of theft or loss, present the corresponding report (it is not an exclusive requirement).

You can check the official website here, choose the DNI para extranjeros option, and start the process.

You can also apply for the DNI in the traditional way:

At RENAPER offices.
City of Buenos Aires: Centro de Documentación Rápida de la Dirección Nacional de Migraciones: Hipólito Yrigoyen 952
In the interior of the country: Civil Registries or in the authorized Delegations of the National Direction of Migration in the interior of the country. In this case, consult in detail the type of procedure you have to carry out.

If you do not have the residency, you must apply for the first DNI together with the residency application (permanent or temporary) at the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.

To get the residency, follow these guidelines:

✔️ The Migrations Department system will register you as a user with your email account. From that account, you will start the process to obtain your permanent, temporary, transitory residence.

✔️ To apply for residence online you must be within the territory of the Argentine Republic. The system will request and verify the proof of entry to the country and/or stamped in the passport.

✔️ You will also be able to submit your whole family group in the same process so that your children under 18 will not pay the immigration fee.

✔️ It is very important that you provide an email address that you check periodically because it is there where Migrations will send you the details of the course of your procedure and the date of your personal appointment at the immigration office.

✔️ You will be able to obtain a preferential appointment by paying an additional amount of $20,000 (ARS).

✔️ You will need all the documentation required according to the type of residency you are applying for. During the process, you will have to attach images of this documentation. If they are not scanned, they can be photos taken with a cell phone. The system will guide you through uploading them.

✔️ The Argentine Criminal Record certificate is integrated into this application, so you do not have to process it in any agency or in any other platform other than this one.

✔️ The payment can be made in cash or by credit card. If you are going to pay in cash, you must know that the residency and criminal record certificates are paid at Provincia NET or Banco Nación and the DNI at Banco Provincia or Provincia Net.

✔️ Remember that the accreditation of the card payment is immediate and in cash, it will take five working days. Your online procedure will be faster if you pay by credit card.

On this website, you’ll find the first steps to start your residency application. Bear in mind that the government websites are in Spanish.

Here there’s a map with all the Migrations delegations in Argentina if you don’t have a residency.

How much is the DNI number?

Permanent Residency Extra MERCOSUR 6 UMSM
Temporary Residency Extra MERCOSUR 6 UMSM
Transit Residency Extra MERCOSUR 4 UMSM

UMSM = Unidad de Medida de Servicios Migratorios

Current Value 1 UMSM= $1000 (ARS)

To see the updated prices, check here.

How to get a DNI from the USA?

If you don’t have a residency in the country it is not possible to get a DNI number to prove that you are living in Argentina at the time of your application.

If you wish you can contact the Argentine embassies in the USA, here’s a list:

EMBAJADA DE ARGENTINA EN ESTADOS UNIDOS, WASHINGTON D. C.
Address	1600 New Hampshire Ave., NW (PO Box: 20009)
Phone number	00 1 202 238 6400
Email	eeeuu@cancilleria.gob.ar
CONSULADO DE ARGENTINA EN ESTADOS UNIDOS, CHICAGO
Address	205 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 4208/4209
Phone number	00 1 312 819 2616
Email	cchic@cancilleria.gob.ar
CONSULADO DE ARGENTINA EN ESTADOS UNIDOS, NUEVA YORK
Address	12 West 56 Street, New York 10019, United States
Phone number	+1 212 603 0400 / +1 212 603 0403
Email	cnyor@cancilleria.gob.ar
CONSULADO DE ARGENTINA EN ESTADOS UNIDOS, LOS ÁNGELES
Address	5055 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 210, Los Angeles, California 90036, United States
Phone number	00 1 (323) 954 9155
Email	clang@cancilleria.gob.ar