Bank account opening without DNI in 2025

[Ashton]

Hey everyone, is there anyone here who can share a branch or, even better, the contact info of an agent who can help open a bank account for foreigners with just a Precaria and CUIL?
I know this has been asked a ton of times, but things change over time, and we're not in 2020 or 2021 anymore...
Has anyone done this recently? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[BA Bound]

I have tried with a CDI only and I tried many branches but they told me I needed a DNI.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Hey everyone, is there anyone here who can share a branch or, even better, the contact info of an agent who can help open a bank account for foreigners with just a Precaria and CUIL?
I know this has been asked a ton of times, but things change over time, and we're not in 2020 or 2021 anymore...
Has anyone done this recently? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

I believe that @StatusNomadicus opened a bank account but I don't believe he did it in BA.

 

[timoty]

It’s not that recent, but ICBC allowed me to open an account with just a Precaria, CUIL, passport, and proof of address. I always thought these were the only requirements for a bank account, but I’m sure some banks also ask for a DNI. I also tried opening a digital bank account, it only takes a few minutes. I use Brubank, which is a reliable one. It's fully authorized by the Argentine Central Bank, so it’s very trustworthy.

 

[Billy Goat]

It’s not that recent, but ICBC allowed me to open an account with just a Precaria, CUIL, passport, and proof of address. I always thought these were the only requirements for a bank account, but I’m sure some banks also ask for a DNI. I also tried opening a digital bank account, it only takes a few minutes. I use Brubank, which is a reliable one. It's fully authorized by the Argentine Central Bank, so it’s very trustworthy.

Do you have a contact or manager at ICBC that you worked with?

 

[timoty]

Do you have a contact or manager at ICBC that you worked with?

When you start the inquiry at ICBC, they assign you an agent. You need to go to a branch and speak with someone at the front desk, explain what you need, and they will assign an agent to guide you through the process.

 

[Chuck]

I just did this a few days ago at Banco Nación. Any branch should be able to do it, you just need a Precaria, passport, CUIL, and a receipt showing your address (or you can do it with a police address certificate or something like that). I went, explained what I needed, and they referred me to an agent just like Timothy said, after a few days, I already had my bank account. It was pretty simple.

 

[Ashton]

I did it! Huge thanks to everyone for your help! I went to Banco Patagonia in Abastos and was finally able to open the account. I'm really happy I was able to get it done!

Banco Patagonia sucursal Abasto · Av. Corrientes 3200, C1193 Abasto, Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentinien

★★★☆☆ · Bank

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Bingo]

Anyone else been successful at opening a bank account without DNI? I tried and all say no.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Anyone else been successful at opening a bank account without DNI? I tried and all say no.

I heard much depends on the particular branch the manager and the mood they are in for the day. Some friends that were able to open one subsequently got their account closed because they had no local income. Some report even having DNI they run into issues. So there is no uniform rule and different branches have different rules. General rule of thumb is to have DNI or precaria.

They have moved to the digital system where many things are getting tracked to biometrics of your face and banking. Many like Mercado Libre, MODO and others ask to scan your face and compare it to database from the government. Rules just change from year to year.

 

[Cali Baby]

Anyone else been successful at opening a bank account without DNI? I tried and all say no.

I got my temporary residency card and went to many banks and they haven't wanted to open an account. This banking here is terrible! I have an appointment this week to talk to Lorena at ARCA suggested here. Someone said she can help.

 

[Canada Goose]

FWIW I tried opening a bank account at a few different places with just my CDI and all of them shot me down. Said I had to have a DNI.

 

[Johnny]

FWIW I tried opening a bank account at a few different places with just my CDI and all of them shot me down. Said I had to have a DNI.

I had the same experience. 🙁

 

[atbm_etrigal]

Is it necessary to register biometrics to get a CDI?

 

[Colin]

Is it necessary to register biometrics to get a CDI?

No I didn't have to. I just had to give a copy of my passport but I don't think they do anything with that. I used an Escribano that just had me sign and I gave a copy of my passport but I think that was for her. No fingerprints were taken.

 

[Johnny]

Is it necessary to register biometrics to get a CDI?

No. My wife and I did our CDI remotely. I used @BuySellBA and they handled everything. They emailed me a power of attorney for their lawyer to get it for us. We just had to sign and notarize some papers and get Apostille seal from Secretary of State of California. Then we DHL'd them to Argentina. No fingerprints were taken but we gave a copy of our passport but I think that was to match it up with us. Our passport numbers were on the POA. But for DNI they do biometrics.

 

[JonJLA]

Is it necessary to register biometrics to get a CDI?

My experience was the same as Johnny. However, when I sold my apartment in Palermo at the title deed signing they DID take my fingerprint. I had to provide it at the closing taken by the lawyer for the buyer. I'm not sure what they used it for but they did take fingerprint.

 

[atbm_etrigal]

No fingerprints were taken.

Thank you. What about photos?

 

[JonJLA]

Thank you. What about photos?

They made me send a color passport photo. First I sent black and white and then they said it had to be a color photo. I am not sure if that photo is presented anywhere. If so, it could be linked but I didn't get the sense the Argentine government got that. But I am not sure why it had to be a color photo.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Thank you. What about photos?

I had to also provide a color passport photo when I got my CDI. I do have my DNI and it is all biometrics. In fact, once in a while my Mercado Libre account will ask me for my face scan and they compare it against the database. It is all heading this way.

I would guess that migraciones can track it back to you as you enter Argentina with your passport and it goes into a database. So with your name, DOB, country of origin they can easily probably trace it to you.

What is the concern?