2 Year requirement to stay inside Argentina and not leave to get Citizenship - Has anyone got permission to leave?

[brandon]

I know that the laws were changed last year in May but has anyone got permission to leave the country for any reason? My lawyer told me that I must stay for 2 uninterrupted years to naturalize in Argentina and become a Citizen. But that is impossible for many of us that have family outside of Argentina or even go on vacations.

I have a sister that is getting married and I go back and forth as my parents can't fly. Is there any way around this? This law seems crazy. Anyone have any experience with getting a waiver or permission to leave and still not break the 2 year clock?

 

[Jerome]

A friend of mine applied for citizenship 2 months before that announcement. I think anyone already in process of applying was ok but new applications are SOL. Seems like a silly rule but seems like they are sticking to it for new applications.

 

[Wally]

A friend of mine applied for citizenship 2 months before that announcement. I think anyone already in process of applying was ok but new applications are SOL. Seems like a silly rule but seems like they are sticking to it for new applications.

Good timing!

I know that the laws were changed last year in May but has anyone got permission to leave the country for any reason? My lawyer told me that I must stay for 2 uninterrupted years to naturalize in Argentina and become a Citizen. But that is impossible for many of us that have family outside of Argentina or even go on vacations.

I have a sister that is getting married and I go back and forth as my parents can't fly. Is there any way around this? This law seems crazy. Anyone have any experience with getting a waiver or permission to leave and still not break the 2 year clock?

No there isn't any way you can get around this. Milei's party wanted to crack down on people getting Citizenship here and this was one way to do it. It was too easy before but they figure most people that aren't too serious would leave for vacation, etc.

Argentina’s updated citizenship law (Ley 346, as modified by DNU 366/2025) says:

• You must have resided “en forma continua y legal” for 2 years, and
• “Continuous” means you stayed in Argentina the entire period “without having made any departure abroad.”

So under the current text, even a short trip (wedding, family emergency, vacation) breaks the 2-year clock.

There isn't any waiver or mechanism built in to leave because it was written into the law. It literally says in the law "sin saber realized ninguna salida".

An American friend of mine had to go back for a funeral. Her dad died and she had to reset the clock and start another 2 years. She doesn't think it's really feasible to not leave for 2 years as her mom is elderly. They also made it difficult for permanent residents that already have a DNI. Before you could go 2 years without visiting Argentina and still keep your DNI. Now if you leave more than 1 year your permanent resident DNI is cancelled.

 

[Bettina]

Good timing!


No there isn't any way you can get around this. Milei's party wanted to crack down on people getting Citizenship here and this was one way to do it. It was too easy before but they figure most people that aren't too serious would leave for vacation, etc.

Argentina’s updated citizenship law (Ley 346, as modified by DNU 366/2025) says:

• You must have resided “en forma continua y legal” for 2 years, and
• “Continuous” means you stayed in Argentina the entire period “without having made any departure abroad.”

So under the current text, even a short trip (wedding, family emergency, vacation) breaks the 2-year clock.

There isn't any waiver or mechanism built in to leave because it was written into the law. It literally says in the law "sin saber realized ninguna salida".

An American friend of mine had to go back for a funeral. Her dad died and she had to reset the clock and start another 2 years. She doesn't think it's really feasible to not leave for 2 years as her mom is elderly. They also made it difficult for permanent residents that already have a DNI. Before you could go 2 years without visiting Argentina and still keep your DNI. Now if you leave more than 1 year your permanent resident DNI is cancelled.

Yes this matches my friend's recent experience. She had to start the clock again after starting. She also had a death in the family.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Yep no exceptions.