Thinking of flying to Argentina to learn Spanish, tango, or a specialization program? Wait up! First, ask yourself the important questions on going for a study abroad adventure: Do you have a guaranteed place in a learning institution in Argentina? Will you need a visa to enter and stay in the country? Can you afford the expenses for your student life? In this article, we will tackle the second crucial question for your studies in Argentina. Before we continue, however, you have to make sure that you are done with applying to a university. Once you hold an admission notice, you can start looking into how to get a student visa for Argentina.

See also: How to Apply for a University in Argentina

Table of Contents

1. Facts about the Student Visa for Argentina
2. Requirements for Student Visa Application
3. Steps in Applying for a Student Visa

Facts about the Student Visa for Argentina

• All international students whose study program in Argentina lasts for more than 90 days or 3 months should obtain a student visa. Otherwise, they will only need a tourist stamp on their passport.
• Some students risk travelling and studying in Argentina without an approved student visa. This is not the recommended way for international students, because it will jeopardize the academic certifications you ought to receive after completing a study program in Argentina. Universities refuse to provide an international student’s academic certificate and transcript of record if they are not a holder of a valid student visa in Argentina. Otherwise, they will face legal concerns and will be asked to pay a fine.
• The requirements and procedures in acquiring a student visa for Argentina will depend on one’s nationality.
• An Argentinian student visa serves as a proof of residence in the country, which can be advantageous for an international student. When you are a student visa holder in Argentina, you can get cheaper plane tickets and discounted rates in tourist spots around the country.
• The student visa in Argentina is applied for after arriving in the country. The process is different from those of other countries, which require an applicant to have a student visa prior to entering their territories and commencing their study programs.
• A student visa in Argentina is only valid for 6 months. Thus, if a student’s study program lasts longer than this period, he needs to re-apply for a new student visa.
• International students who are from the Mercosur area (an economic and political bloc composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela) do not need to apply for a visa to enter Argentina. They will only need a national identity card.

Requirements for Student Visa Application

Student visa applications in Argentina is not as complex as you think. In fact, the ISA (Study Abroad Argentina) requires only a few documents for your application. See our lists below for the document requirements needed for your student visa application in Argentina:

• Valid passport (should be valid for at least 6 months after the completion of your study program in Argentina)
• Argentinian tourist visa stamp on your passport
• Photocopy of each page of your passport
• 2 recent photographs (4×4 size with a white background)
• Proof of enrollment to a university in Argentina
• Criminal background check (obtained from a local police station)
• Visa processing fee (which depends on your nationality, but can be $100 at most)*

*Other nationalities, i.e. those from the United States, Canada, and Australia, should pay a reciprocity fee in order to enter Argentina. This fee is valid for several years.
*The application fee should be paid in cash. Credit card use is not popular in Argentina.
The student visa for Argentina is only valid for 6 months on average. In case your study program lasts for a longer time period, you have to provide the following documents when you renew the visa:

• Police certificate (which shows that you have no criminal record while staying in the country)*
• Birth certificate
• Proof of financial capability
• Proof of language proficiency (Spanish or English)

*All citizens from the Mercosur area will need to provide 2 police certificates: one coming from their home country and another one from Argentina which they can get upon arrival).

Steps in Applying for a Student Visa

Refer to our step-by-step guide on how to get a student visa for Argentina:

1. Apply for a tourist visa in Argentina. Your host university can help you in the process because they will get approval from the “Dirección Nacional de Migraciones”. The tourist visa can be valid for 90 days at most. You will use this visa to enter the country.
2. Upon arrival as a tourist in Argentina, take the necessary steps to replace your tourist visa to a student visa.
3. If your study program will be completed for longer than 6 months, you have to obtain a police certificate for a criminal background check.
4. Schedule an appointment at the immigration office in Argentina (Office address is at Antartida Argentina 1355 in Retiro).
5. Once your documents are approved, an immigration officer will give you a preliminary certificate of residence or the “certificado de residencia precaria”.
6. After 20 days, return to the immigration office to pick up your official student visa document. You only need to show the preliminary certificate of residence previously given to you.
7. After 6 months of studying in Argentina (the maximum validity of the student visa), you have to re-apply for the student visa.
8. When the duration of your study program is more than a year, you have to exit the country before the expiration of your current student visa. After which, you can return to the country and re-apply for a new student visa using the same procedures mentioned above. Should you have a difficulty leaving Argentina, i.e. due to academic reasons, you should coordinate with the ISA for an alternative arrangement.

Once you have obtained a student visa for Argentina, your preparations for a study abroad journey in Latin America are almost complete. We hope you make the best of it. Cheers!