Tourist Visa Extension Process in Argentina
- nomadoggo5
- Feb 15, 2024
- 5 min read
I have officially been in Argentina for 3 months! In Argentina, you can extend your tourist visa for an additional 3 months, allowing a total stay of 6 months in the country. However, this extension is only permitted once per year. Many sources suggest overstaying and paying fines upon departure, or doing a quick border jump to Montevideo. While these tactics may have worked for others, I'm choosing not to follow this advice for several reasons:
Importing/exporting my dog every 3 months to extend my stay is expensive and logistically challenging.
With a new president in office since December, there's uncertainty regarding future policies. Taking risks like border jumping may lead to unforeseen consequences, especially with potential changes in regulations. This may never happen, but the presidency is so new that it is possible border hopping and overstaying won't be "permitted" any more.
I'm working towards residency and eventual citizenship. I want to demonstrate to the authorities that I've followed the rules diligently. Citizenship applications require a 2-year uninterrupted stay in Argentina, and I'm unsure if a day trip to Montevideo would reset this requirement.
Therefore, I've decided to take the conservative route and abide by the regulations. I'll document my journey towards residency/citizenship, adhering to the proper procedures unless circumstances change.
I am going to try and explain where I found my information, how I prepared for the process, and then what actually happened.
First off, I got the information directly from the Argentine government website:
Here are the main takeaways from the website, but definitely read through it yourself before going there.
Tourist: A foreigner who enters the country for the purpose of rest or recreation, with an authorized stay period of up to three (3) months, extendable for another similar period.
It can be done at the National Immigration Directorate, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., building 4 extension sector, or at immigration delegations and offices in the interior of the country.
Requests for extension of residence, as well as the request to change immigration category or subcategory, must be made within sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the temporary residence and within ten (10) days prior to the expiration of the temporary residence
Requirements:
Valid passport or valid Identity Card, Identity Card, National Identity Document or Immigration Card (DEC CMC No. 37/14) (MERCOSUR and associated countries).
Renewal rate.
Current temporary residence *
*If the period of permanence has expired, such residence cannot be extended . In order to leave the national territory, you must request an exit permit .
Here are the fees for what you are applying for as of 14Feb2023:
Items that I took with me to Migraciones:
My valid passport
I printed off my initial entry tourist visa that showed my name and all the info about how I got here, my entry date, and when this visa expires.
$4,000ARS cash for the fee
The place you want to go is called – Dirección Nacional De Migraciones and the address is: Av. Antártida Argentina 1355, C1104 Buenos Aires
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED...
I arrived and walked in the building at 11:10am. I talked to a lady standing by the door and I said “I need the Prórroga to extend my tourist visa”. Make sure you say you need to see Prórroga, this will save some time! She directed me to the right side of the stairs where I waited in line for 10 mins give or take. A gentleman was sifting through people in the line making sure they were where they needed to be. I showed him my passport and the paper I printed off with my initial visa info. He asked how long until my visa expired I said about 8 days. He handed me back my items and directed me to stay in the line. Once I got to the front of the line there was a giant illuminated number on the wall “think about the lovely DMV”. Once it flashed I went to the desk – desk number 2 at Confirmación de Turnos. I handed over the same items: passport and piece of paper. He handed me back the piece of paper immediately and asked when my visa expires, again I said “8 days”. He then handed my passport to a gentleman at desk #1 and told me to sit down until I’m called. Also, I’ll take this opportunity to say my boyfriend came here on his passport and during the 3 months he got a renewed passport from the embassy here so he brought both passports, because his initial visa stamp was on his old passport. They did not care.
At this point, note that you will be without your passport briefly while you wait and they do not care about anything other than your current passport. So, don’t bother printing anything else off.
We sat and waited for about 10-15 mins and the guy at desk 1 called us over, gave us our passports and a ticket. He told us to sit back down and wait until our number is called and then we will see the folks at the Prórrogas Turistas desk. It is directly across from this desk and is marked with privacy/photo back drop with a green “T”.
We waited for about 30 mins. Once we were called we gave the guy our passports and he did computer things for a few and then asked the following:
Soltera or casada? (single or married)
What degree or how many years of school have you completed? What field of study?
Address locally, including the 4 digit zip code
Email
Phone number – they prefer an Argentina number. He put my boyfriend’s Argentina number down for me also, he wouldn’t even take my US number. But obviously if that isn’t an option I’m sure they will put down whatever number you have. This is just an observation I wanted to note.
After you answer the following he has you sign to papers, snaps a new photo of you, and re-takes your fingerprints. Once all of this is done he gives you a paper and sends you to the caja (register) to pay the fee and tells you to return to his desk when you’re done. So, you go through the walkway, take a right, walk all the way down past the desks and its on the left. NOTE: its CASH ONLY, but it is only $4,000ARS so not much! They take your paper and money, then hand you back the paper and 2 receipts.
Return to the Prórrogas Turistas desk and hand him the paper and receipt. He hands you back your passport along with a paper with a handwritten number on it. He will explain that this is the number associated with you and that that afternoon and the next morning to check the migraciones website, type the number in and it will show your new visa info.
The whole process took us 1 hour and 20 mins. It was actually super smooth and everyone was friendly and helpful.
WE DID IT!
