Legal Any risk to constantly overstaying on tourist visa? How many times can you do border runs in Argentina?

[JonJLA]

And even if you're not a legal resident in the US, if you spend most of your time there you are automatically a tax resident. That's how they were planning to use IRS records to find out who's living there (illegally).

I'm sure Argentina would have a similar rule about tax residency. In case the ARCA decides to examine and go after this one day, it won't mean that they will be exempt from taxes just because they didn't get a DNI.

They are so unorganized in Argentina I doubt anyone that is not Argentine has to worry about it! They have a tough enough time getting their own citizens to pay. I wouldn't worry about anything else. I am fortunate that I did my DNI several years ago. I just use my rental income on my property. I don't plan on declaring any of my assets in the USA and not worried about Argentina trying to find out.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Just when I thought I heard it all. I just met an American woman that I met at my yoga class. She has been overstaying for years and finally she got warned when crossing into Argentina from Montevideo last week. They told her this is her last strike and they know she has been living here. She cried and told them she is engaged. (She wasn't). She is doing fake wedding just to get her permanent residency here. You know it's bad when Americans are doing fake marriage to get Argentine residency/citizenship.

Viva la Libertad Carajo!

 

[oil rush]

Just when I thought I heard it all. I just met an American woman that I met at my yoga class. She has been overstaying for years and finally she got warned when crossing into Argentina from Montevideo last week. They told her this is her last strike and they know she has been living here. She cried and told them she is engaged. (She wasn't). She is doing fake wedding just to get her permanent residency here. You know it's bad when Americans are doing fake marriage to get Argentine residency/citizenship.

Viva la Libertad Carajo!

Sign of the times. Americans are looking to migrate to countries that have high quality of life and more affordable than USA. I also heard of several foreigners that did civil unions with locals in exchange for passport here. My friend sent me this.

💍 Love, Law & Living in Argentina: How a Civil Union Can Get You Permanent Residency​

Thinking about planting roots in Argentina with your partner? Good news! If you’re in a committed relationship, there’s a path to permanent residency through a civil union—as long as you meet a few official requirements from the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (Argentina’s immigration authority).

👫 What’s a Civil Union, Anyway?​

A civil union is like saying “we’re together for real” in legal terms—without tying the knot. Argentina’s Civil and Commercial Code recognizes it as a formal registration of cohabitation for couples who aren’t married.

To make it official, you and your partner must:

• Be over 18.
• Not be directly related or siblings (thankfully, pretty standard!).
• Be single (not married or in another civil union).
• Have lived together for at least two years—unless you have kids together, in which case, congrats! Skip the waiting.

📍 You’ll need to register your union at the Civil Registry in your place of residence.

🛂 So, How Do You Turn That Love Into Residency?​

If your partner is Argentine (by birth or naturalization) or a permanent resident, you’re eligible to apply for permanent residency. Here’s what you’ll need to show:

• A certified copy of your registered civil union.
• Your partner’s DNI (that’s their Argentine national ID).
• A police clearance certificate from Argentina and your country of origin (or any place you’ve lived in the past 3 years—if you’re over 16).
• Proof of legal entry into Argentina.
• Proof of residence (yes, you’ll need to show you actually live here).

🖥️ Start the process online through Argentina’s RADEX platform—it’s your digital gateway to immigration paperwork.

📜 Why Bother With the Civil Union?​

Thanks to Resolution 4880/2015 (yep, you can Google that one), Argentina recognizes civil unions as having similar legal clout to marriage when it comes to immigration.


That means once your civil union is registered, your foreign partner can enjoy many of the same residency benefits as a spouse.


So whether you’re here for love, life, or a bit of both—Argentina has a legal pathway to help make your stay a long-term thing. 💖🇦🇷

 

[Johnny]

Sign of the times. Americans are looking to migrate to countries that have high quality of life and more affordable than USA. I also heard of several foreigners that did civil unions with locals in exchange for passport here. My friend sent me this.

💍 Love, Law & Living in Argentina: How a Civil Union Can Get You Permanent Residency​

Thinking about planting roots in Argentina with your partner? Good news! If you’re in a committed relationship, there’s a path to permanent residency through a civil union—as long as you meet a few official requirements from the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (Argentina’s immigration authority).

👫 What’s a Civil Union, Anyway?​

A civil union is like saying “we’re together for real” in legal terms—without tying the knot. Argentina’s Civil and Commercial Code recognizes it as a formal registration of cohabitation for couples who aren’t married.

To make it official, you and your partner must:

• Be over 18.
• Not be directly related or siblings (thankfully, pretty standard!).
• Be single (not married or in another civil union).
• Have lived together for at least two years—unless you have kids together, in which case, congrats! Skip the waiting.

📍 You’ll need to register your union at the Civil Registry in your place of residence.

🛂 So, How Do You Turn That Love Into Residency?​

If your partner is Argentine (by birth or naturalization) or a permanent resident, you’re eligible to apply for permanent residency. Here’s what you’ll need to show:

• A certified copy of your registered civil union.
• Your partner’s DNI (that’s their Argentine national ID).
• A police clearance certificate from Argentina and your country of origin (or any place you’ve lived in the past 3 years—if you’re over 16).
• Proof of legal entry into Argentina.
• Proof of residence (yes, you’ll need to show you actually live here).

🖥️ Start the process online through Argentina’s RADEX platform—it’s your digital gateway to immigration paperwork.

📜 Why Bother With the Civil Union?​

Thanks to Resolution 4880/2015 (yep, you can Google that one), Argentina recognizes civil unions as having similar legal clout to marriage when it comes to immigration.


That means once your civil union is registered, your foreign partner can enjoy many of the same residency benefits as a spouse.


So whether you’re here for love, life, or a bit of both—Argentina has a legal pathway to help make your stay a long-term thing. 💖🇦🇷

I can see people wanting to stay in Argentina. But I am confused. I talked to several people while I was there that has been living in Argentina for an over 10 years and they told me it wasn't necessary to get residency there. They just pay a fee to overstay. Has that changed?

 

[Larry]

I can see people wanting to stay in Argentina. But I am confused. I talked to several people while I was there that has been living in Argentina for an over 10 years and they told me it wasn't necessary to get residency there. They just pay a fee to overstay. Has that changed?

Times they are a changing....

 

[Avocado]

Now all of you people illegally staying in my country get sent back home. You abuse the generosity of my country and now Milei will send you back home. I am start to like Milei. This good change!

 

[Larry]

Now all of you people illegally staying in my country get sent back home. You abuse the generosity of my country and now Milei will send you back home. I am start to like Milei. This good change!

I am glad I have my permanent residency. Did it long ago. Looks like they are finally starting to get serious about all of these permanent tourists and other migrants.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

They are so unorganized in Argentina I doubt anyone that is not Argentine has to worry about it!

i think the most optimistic mindset could be hoping Milei/LLA can just delete all taxes, but i am for sure positioning myself to be subject to taxes in case our Libertarian utopia doesn't actually win the minds of Argentines, and Peronism/populism returns. i would never tell a friend to just assume that ARCA/AFIP won't use artificial intelligence to audit and tax everyone here more effectively. hedge accordingly! but overall i think "don't worry about it" is horrible advice. especially for taxes and immigration stuff.

I already talked to a few that got warned upon exit recently.

Just when I thought I heard it all

like i said was possible a long time ago, i don't think we on this forum should be advising new Expats to do illegal border runs or illegal overstays. i have been saying this for 17 months, and it would be nice to have a little support here from you guys!

they told me it wasn't necessary to get residency there

they are assholes who think they know everything. be careful and mitigate the risks according to your own situation 🙂 this forum is a great resource for sure

I can argue that Argentina is NOT a serious country and probably never will be. With Mercosur there are many people that are poor that can freely live and study here. Doubt they will get serious any time soon.

i'm getting really bored of a handful of people here assuring me (that in an unprecedented age of the first Libertarian and anti-State president/cabinet) that nothing is going to change. some of you here need to have some more humility and stop repeating the same chants from the Peronist past.

Has that changed?

it HAS been changing, despite a couple people here screeching that it hasn't/isn't.

the Grok AI summary of today's border/immigration update:

• Argentina's government, under President Javier Milei, announced a major migration reform on May 14, 2025, aiming to tighten policies for non-residents, as stated by Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni.
• The reform requires non-residents to have permanent residency or citizenship to access free healthcare, addressing the issue of "health tourism" that has strained public resources.
• Non-residents will also need to pay for university education, reversing previous policies that allowed free access to public universities for all foreigners.
• The policy includes stricter border controls and faster deportation processes for undocumented migrants, reflecting a broader shift toward restrictive immigration measures.
• Migrants with criminal records will face immediate expulsion, and re-entry will be barred for those who violate Argentina's democratic system, according to the announcement.
• This reform aligns with Milei's libertarian agenda, which has sparked polarized reactions, with supporters praising the focus on national resources and critics accusing the government of xenophobia.
• Historically, Argentina has been a migrant-friendly nation, with open policies dating back to the 19th century, but recent economic challenges have fueled debates over immigration, as noted in a 2022 Migration Policy Institute report.
• The timing of the announcement coincides with ongoing economic struggles in Argentina, including high inflation and a recent $44 billion IMF debt restructuring deal in 2024, which may be driving the push to limit public spending on non-residents.

the generosity of my country

it wasn't generosity, it was moronic policy that YOU voted for, to have your socialist paradise. reassess how retarded you are. post less. leave us alone here and go join a commie forum where you can recite your prayers to Che Guevara. please please please stop making everyone dumber by typing more.

Looks like they are finally starting to get serious about all of these permanent tourists and other migrants.

oh yeah? so what Milei is doing is making sense to you now, eh? lol, f*ck off.

I have not heard about people that are not getting their overstay granted but maybe they don't post about it. Nothing Milei does has made sense to me.

No one is ever going to go to jail for overstaying. Doesn't matter how long you stayed. The worst that I heard happening is they weren't allowed re-entry back into Argentina for 6 months or so. For border runs I heard the best thing is to get the ferry that arrives back into BA at the end of the day around 5 PM or so when people are changing shifts and want to go home. It's a lot of paperwork and takes time to process someone to return them back to the country they came from. Most workers just want to go home.

maybe you should shut the hell up, for once in your life, and stop telling newcomers things that you pulled out of your ass? just my two Pesos. we really don't hate you communists enough.

in the real world...some of us have been preaching caution, and formulating a backup plan, for a long time. i first warned of changes in December 2023:

Travel Post in thread 'Travel options from Montevideo to Buenos Aires?'

Dec 20, 2023

No Europeans or North Americans will get deported any time soon

this contradicts what this thread was sharing yesterday: https://www.expatsba.com/threads/an...imes-can-you-do-border-runs-in-argentina.537/

"I talked to an expat a few months ago that said his partner got rejected coming back as he overstayed and was doing border runs for years. The customs agent told him it was illegal to do border runs."

"For a good 8 years, I played the perpetual tourist game. I'm from Canada. I didn't have any issues at all and then...

• StatusNomadicus

• 

newcomers/Expats should be smart, and anyone who has actual info on real-world results should post them here. meanwhile, 2025 is looking like a pretty rad year for Argentina. the dumbasses will be Darwin'd and the cautious will be rewarded 😙 i won't hold my breath for the apologies from the stuck-in-the-past douchers here

 

[StatusNomadicus]

as BuySellBA/earlyretirement posted in his new thread:

Thread 'Argentina Immigration Changes Coming Affecting Healthcare insurance requirement, Education and Deportation'

May 14, 2025

According to the presidential spokesperson, the new immigration reform will include the following points:

• Anyone with a criminal conviction who tries to enter Argentina will be denied entry.
• Those caught in the act crossing unauthorized entry points will be immediately expelled.
• Any person who provides false information upon entry will be expelled.
• All foreign nationals convicted of any crime will be deported.
• The time frame for appealing a deportation will be shortened.
• Illegal immigrants and temporary or transitory residents will be required to pay for healthcare...

• BuySellBA
• argentina argentina immigration coming education healthcare immigration insurance
• Replies: 90
• Forum: ExPat Life

• 
• 
• 

...Grok AI summarizes the new DNU executive order as:

• The X post from the Office of the President of Argentina announces a major overhaul of the country's immigration policies, effective May 14, 2025, tightening rules for foreigners seeking residency or citizenship.
• Key changes include mandatory declarations of intent for entry, stricter enforcement of stay durations, and immediate deportation for overstays or violations like unauthorized activities (e.g., enrolling in university without proper documentation).
• Foreigners with criminal records will be barred from entry, and any crime committed in Argentina will result in deportation, while all visitors must now secure private health insurance to avoid illegal status.
• This policy shift aligns with President Javier Milei’s libertarian agenda, which emphasizes minimal state intervention and market-driven migration, as noted in a January 2024 analysis by Latinoamérica 21 [latinoamerica21.com].
• Milei, who took office in December 2023, aims to attract skilled workers while deterring “undesirable” migrants by reducing welfare incentives, a stance consistent with his campaign promises to overhaul Argentina’s economy.
• The reforms address long-standing regional migration dynamics, as Argentina has been a leader in South American migration policy since its 2004 law, influencing countries like Bolivia and Brazil [latinoamerica21.com].
• Critics on X argue the two-year residency requirement for citizenship remains too lenient, with some suggesting a minimum of five years, citing stricter standards in other nations.
• The policy responds to public concerns about immigration’s impact on crime and resource strain, with 2022 census data showing 1.9 million immigrants in Argentina, roughly 4.2% of the population [nomadcapitalist.com].

and twitter translation for Agustin Romo:

"Until yesterday, if a foreigner entered Argentina illegally—in other words, if they claimed to be on vacation and ended up staying, or if they came and went in between, committed crimes, or enrolled in college—you became an Argentine citizen after two years. Starting today, foreigners must declare that they are entering the country and stay for the stated length of stay. If they stay one day longer, they become illegal immigrants, so the two-year period required to obtain citizenship doesn't count, and when caught, they will be deported. It also stops counting if they do anything other than what they declared upon entering, such as enrolling in college. No more entering the country without saying why. If you want to become an Argentine citizen, you have to say so before entering and complete the corresponding process. Otherwise, the two years of permanent residence required will never count. That is, you cannot leave the country for two years if you pass all the filters that will be implemented starting today. Likewise, no one with a criminal record will be allowed to enter the country. Any foreigner who commits even the slightest crime will be deported. All foreigners will have to purchase health insurance before entering the Argentine Republic, or their stay will be an illegal offense. Among other things that I will be explaining today. TMAP [Todo Marcha Acorde al Plan / all going as planned]"

 

[bandashoy]

and twitter translation for Agustin Romo:

"Until yesterday, if a foreigner entered Argentina illegally—in other words, if they claimed to be on vacation and ended up staying, or if they came and went in between, committed crimes, or enrolled in college—you became an Argentine citizen after two years. Starting today, foreigners must declare that they are entering the country and stay for the stated length of stay. If they stay one day longer, they become illegal immigrants, so the two-year period required to obtain citizenship doesn't count, and when caught, they will be deported. It also stops counting if they do anything other than what they declared upon entering, such as enrolling in college. No more entering the country without saying why. If you want to become an Argentine citizen, you have to say so before entering and complete the corresponding process. Otherwise, the two years of permanent residence required will never count. That is, you cannot leave the country for two years if you pass all the filters that will be implemented starting today. Likewise, no one with a criminal record will be allowed to enter the country. Any foreigner who commits even the slightest crime will be deported. All foreigners will have to purchase health insurance before entering the Argentine Republic, or their stay will be an illegal offense. Among other things that I will be explaining today. TMAP [Todo Marcha Acorde al Plan / all going as planned]"

i think the most optimistic mindset could be hoping Milei/LLA can just delete all taxes, but i am for sure positioning myself to be subject to taxes in case our Libertarian utopia doesn't actually win the minds of Argentines, and Peronism/populism returns. i would never tell a friend to just assume that ARCA/AFIP won't use artificial intelligence to audit and tax everyone here more effectively. hedge accordingly! but overall i think "don't worry about it" is horrible advice. especially for taxes and immigration stuff.

AI will be used everywhere! It is very easy now for artificial intelligence to quickly audit all the tax cheats. It won't be that difficult. It will be easy source of lots of back taxes and penalties. Problem here is all of the rich are doing it especially politicians. So fat chance of this happening any time soon. I would just focus on doing stuff right from here on out. Everyone cheated before.

like i said was possible a long time ago, i don't think we on this forum should be advising new Expats to do illegal border runs or illegal overstays. i have been saying this for 17 months, and it would be nice to have a little support here from you guys!

Things are changing. You would have to be blind not to see it. Most people that get warned don't post about it because they don't want to cause more problems for themselves. Majority of people that get warned never post about it. I have been here for years and finally got warned on my last visa run. I agree with you @StatusNomadicus that there is a new sheriff in town! What ever happened or was allowed is different. I am finally working on getting residency and my DNI after my last warning.

maybe you should shut the hell up, for once in your life, and stop telling newcomers things that you pulled out of your ass? just my two Pesos. we really don't hate you communists enough.

I hate commies! Too many in Argentina.

"Until yesterday, if a foreigner entered Argentina illegally—in other words, if they claimed to be on vacation and ended up staying, or if they came and went in between, committed crimes, or enrolled in college—you became an Argentine citizen after two years. Starting today, foreigners must declare that they are entering the country and stay for the stated length of stay. If they stay one day longer, they become illegal immigrants, so the two-year period required to obtain citizenship doesn't count, and when caught, they will be deported. It also stops counting if they do anything other than what they declared upon entering, such as enrolling in college. No more entering the country without saying why. If you want to become an Argentine citizen, you have to say so before entering and complete the corresponding process. Otherwise, the two years of permanent residence required will never count. That is, you cannot leave the country for two years if you pass all the filters that will be implemented starting today. Likewise, no one with a criminal record will be allowed to enter the country. Any foreigner who commits even the slightest crime will be deported. All foreigners will have to purchase health insurance before entering the Argentine Republic, or their stay will be an illegal offense. Among other things that I will be explaining today. TMAP [Todo Marcha Acorde al Plan / all going as planned]"

This is what my new immigration lawyer told me. They said things are different now and going to be new strict rules. One thing is for sure. Immigration lawyers are going to be very busy! The end of permeant tourism and visa runs. You better get legal.

 

[Betsy Ross]

like i said was possible a long time ago, i don't think we on this forum should be advising new Expats to do illegal border runs or illegal overstays. i have been saying this for 17 months, and it would be nice to have a little support here from you guys!

I think you are probably right that the games and rules are changing. They have been too lenient for decades. The party is ending for people that didn't take the time to get legal like me. I for one am glad they are getting stricter.

 

[BosnianIllegal]

"Starting today, foreigners must declare that they are entering the country and stay for the stated length of stay. If they stay one day longer, they become illegal immigrants, so the two-year period required to obtain citizenship doesn't count, and when caught, they will be deported. It also stops counting if they do anything other than what they declared upon entering, such as enrolling in college."

Starting today so someone who's already in the country overstaying should still be able to obtain citizenship after 2 years

 

[earlyretirement]

"Starting today, foreigners must declare that they are entering the country and stay for the stated length of stay. If they stay one day longer, they become illegal immigrants, so the two-year period required to obtain citizenship doesn't count, and when caught, they will be deported. It also stops counting if they do anything other than what they declared upon entering, such as enrolling in college."

Starting today so someone who's already in the country overstaying should still be able to obtain citizenship after 2 years

I wouldn't bank on that. Why not just go the legal route? It's honestly not that tough. The bar is very low compared to other countries around the world.

 

[MikeRoss]

like i said was possible a long time ago, i don't think we on this forum should be advising new Expats to do illegal border runs or illegal overstays. i have been saying this for 17 months, and it would be nice to have a little support here from you guys!

But I don't get it. Are you really the voice of reason? On one hand you are saying don't do harmless border runs and on the other you're saying and advising to only declare 40% of value on real estate purchases. 🤣 Do you realize how ridiculous you come across? I read your other post saying how normal it is to declare 40%. Many long timers that have lived in Argentina for decades are telling you how you are wrong and you argue with them.

Then I read another post where you said there is NO USD inflation for the past year. You are crazy. Read X and all the other expats boards and Facebook forums on BA. Sometimes I am not sure if you really live in Argentina or your posts are fake. Hey I like some of your posts but do you realize how stupid some of your posts come across?

Border runs are harmless and so is overstaying. But I doubt if ARCA busts you lying and only declaring 40% of your house purchase you're going to be ok.

 

[Avocado]

But I don't get it. Are you really the voice of reason? On one hand you are saying don't do harmless border runs and on the other you're saying and advising to only declare 40% of value on real estate purchases. 🤣 Do you realize how ridiculous you come across? I read your other post saying how normal it is to declare 40%. Many long timers that have lived in Argentina for decades are telling you how you are wrong and you argue with them.

Then I read another post where you said there is NO USD inflation for the past year. You are crazy. Read X and all the other expats boards and Facebook forums on BA. Sometimes I am not sure if you really live in Argentina or your posts are fake. Hey I like some of your posts but do you realize how stupid some of your posts come across?

Border runs are harmless and so is overstaying. But I doubt if ARCA busts you lying and only declaring 40% of your house purchase you're going to be ok.

He is idiot. Sometimes I also don't believe he really likes in Argentina. I can't believe an American can really be so stupid. I don't think anyone has really proven that he lives in Argentina. Almost all his posts are wrong saying no inflation here in Argentina. I believe he troll just making fake posts.

Anyway we find out soon. I called my friend at ARCA to ask about American buying house in Mendoza and look who declared 40% of value. Not many American buying in Mendoza so we find out. My friend say he will do check. And if it true will deport. I wonder what happen to the house or what penalty is? Anyone know. Soon we will know. I hope if he real he post what penalty was and deportation process for him.

 

[Bingo]

But I don't get it. Are you really the voice of reason? On one hand you are saying don't do harmless border runs and on the other you're saying and advising to only declare 40% of value on real estate purchases. 🤣 Do you realize how ridiculous you come across? I read your other post saying how normal it is to declare 40%. Many long timers that have lived in Argentina for decades are telling you how you are wrong and you argue with them.

Then I read another post where you said there is NO USD inflation for the past year. You are crazy. Read X and all the other expats boards and Facebook forums on BA. Sometimes I am not sure if you really live in Argentina or your posts are fake. Hey I like some of your posts but do you realize how stupid some of your posts come across?

Border runs are harmless and so is overstaying. But I doubt if ARCA busts you lying and only declaring 40% of your house purchase you're going to be ok.

Is it true that someone is saying there hasn''t been any inflation in dollars the past year? That can't be true. Just go to any restaurant. We have NYC prices in many places here! Actually NYC is cheaper than many places in BA now. I am consistently shocked how expensive food is here in restaurants. Anyone saying no inflation definitely doesn't live in Argentina.

 

[Gringoboy]

Is it true that someone is saying there hasn''t been any inflation in dollars the past year? That can't be true. Just go to any restaurant. We have NYC prices in many places here! Actually NYC is cheaper than many places in BA now. I am consistently shocked how expensive food is here in restaurants. Anyone saying no inflation definitely doesn't live in Argentina.

If someone really claims there has been no inflation in Argentina the past year they need to get deported.

 

[Gringoboy]

"Starting today, foreigners must declare that they are entering the country and stay for the stated length of stay. If they stay one day longer, they become illegal immigrants, so the two-year period required to obtain citizenship doesn't count, and when caught, they will be deported. It also stops counting if they do anything other than what they declared upon entering, such as enrolling in college."

Starting today so someone who's already in the country overstaying should still be able to obtain citizenship after 2 years

No on knows anything about this so it's a waste of time worry now what the final terms and conditions will be next week.

 

[BosnianIllegal]

Yes something i found out while researching this was Macri tried to put in place something almost identicle in 2017, it got held up in the courts for 4 years then Alberto squashed it.

I know Milei is more "dynamic" than Macri but still not time to panic yet

 

[Avocado]

Yes something i found out while researching this was Macri tried to put in place something almost identicle in 2017, it got held up in the courts for 4 years then Alberto squashed it.

I know Milei is more "dynamic" than Macri but still not time to panic yet

I hate Milei but one thing he does not strike me is slow! Things are moving through quickly. I am all for this change getting deadbeat foreigners out of. my country that break the laws. Afuera!