Proof of income when you are applying for Residency in Argentina

[Georgetown]

I’m currently on my third tourist visa (including one that I overstayed by about 1.5 years), and my intention is to move to Argentina permanently to be with my partner, who is Argentine. I am a gay male which shouldn't make a difference as I heard that same sex marriages are legal here.

Our long-term plan has always been to get married and regularize my status through that route. First residency, and eventually citizenship. However, as I’ve started looking more seriously into the process, I’ve realized that proof of financial means seems to come up repeatedly as a requirement.

Can I apply for temporary residency by having my partner sponsor me? My boyfriend earns more than enough to support both of us, so in theory, he could sponsor me, and I might be able to renew temporary residency under that arrangement. That part feels manageable.

What concerns me more is the transition to permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

At the moment, I have around $15,000 USD in savings. I also do some marketing online informally, which cover my basic living expenses, but the income is not officially declared. I don’t have a university degree or a formal career background that would allow me to generate stable income in Argentina in the future. Even if I significantly increased my client base, I might earn the equivalent of several times the minimum wage — but it still wouldn’t be officially documented income. Payments are currently made to an account that isn’t even in my name. (It's a long story).

As you can imagine, this complicates things. While I might qualify for temporary residency through marriage and sponsorship, I worry about getting “stuck” here indefinitely without being able to demonstrate sufficient solvency for permanent residency or citizenship. Stability is important to me, and I don’t want to find myself in a situation where I’m constantly renewing temporary status without a clear path forward.


I’m therefore trying to understand a few things more clearly:

• What level of income actually qualifies as “solvencia” in practice?
• How strictly is financial proof enforced?
• Are there significant differences in financial requirements between residency and citizenship?
• Has anyone navigated a similar situation?

I would truly appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience or practical insights. I’m trying to approach this realistically and responsibly, and I want to understand what I should be preparing for.

Thank you!

 

[Finance Prof]

There is no such thing as "sponsorship" in Argentina. You would need to get married legally here with your partner. That is the easiest path forward. You can get temporary residency for 1 year. You can then renew it after that for 2 more years. After the third year you can convert it and apply for permanent residency as long as you are still married.

That is going to make it much easier for you. It doesn't sound like you would qualify at all if you have no verifiable income. There is no income requirement if you're marrying a local citizen. No other way around it.

 

[Avocado]

I’m currently on my third tourist visa (including one that I overstayed by about 1.5 years), and my intention is to move to Argentina permanently to be with my partner, who is Argentine. I am a gay male which shouldn't make a difference as I heard that same sex marriages are legal here.

Our long-term plan has always been to get married and regularize my status through that route. First residency, and eventually citizenship. However, as I’ve started looking more seriously into the process, I’ve realized that proof of financial means seems to come up repeatedly as a requirement.

Can I apply for temporary residency by having my partner sponsor me? My boyfriend earns more than enough to support both of us, so in theory, he could sponsor me, and I might be able to renew temporary residency under that arrangement. That part feels manageable.

What concerns me more is the transition to permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

At the moment, I have around $15,000 USD in savings. I also do some marketing online informally, which cover my basic living expenses, but the income is not officially declared. I don’t have a university degree or a formal career background that would allow me to generate stable income in Argentina in the future. Even if I significantly increased my client base, I might earn the equivalent of several times the minimum wage — but it still wouldn’t be officially documented income. Payments are currently made to an account that isn’t even in my name. (It's a long story).

As you can imagine, this complicates things. While I might qualify for temporary residency through marriage and sponsorship, I worry about getting “stuck” here indefinitely without being able to demonstrate sufficient solvency for permanent residency or citizenship. Stability is important to me, and I don’t want to find myself in a situation where I’m constantly renewing temporary status without a clear path forward.


I’m therefore trying to understand a few things more clearly:

• What level of income actually qualifies as “solvencia” in practice?
• How strictly is financial proof enforced?
• Are there significant differences in financial requirements between residency and citizenship?
• Has anyone navigated a similar situation?

I would truly appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience or practical insights. I’m trying to approach this realistically and responsibly, and I want to understand what I should be preparing for.

Thank you!

You have been here illegal for 1.5 years? Get legal. If you can't even get income to a bank in your own name that tells us everything.

 

[Wally]

There is no such thing as "sponsorship" in Argentina. You would need to get married legally here with your partner. That is the easiest path forward. You can get temporary residency for 1 year. You can then renew it after that for 2 more years. After the third year you can convert it and apply for permanent residency as long as you are still married.

That is going to make it much easier for you. It doesn't sound like you would qualify at all if you have no verifiable income. There is no income requirement if you're marrying a local citizen. No other way around it.

Yes this is the only path forward for you. It is all fairly easy if you marry a local. That is what I did but I could have qualified with the rentista as I own a few properties in the USA. Just remember that before you are applying for citizenship you can't leave the country for 2 years prior to that. This may or may not change in the future but they changed the law last year.

If you are illegal you may want to get legal because they are starting to crack down on illegal immigrants here. They are finally cracking down on overstays. If you have to leave the country they may not let you back in for 6 months.

 

[Bingo]

You have been here illegal for 1.5 years? Get legal. If you can't even get income to a bank in your own name that tells us everything.

I am also curious why you can't get income to your own name and bank? This sounds wierd.

You might want to set up a monitributo which is like contract status for yourself where you self declare income. But I think you have to have a DNI first so it's the chicken and the egg. You should probably get married quickly if you are here illegally so long.

 

[VINO]

But I doubt you would want to get married just to stay in Argentina. That creates another can of worms and problems. Just saying....

 

[Georgetown]

But I doubt you would want to get married just to stay in Argentina. That creates another can of worms and problems. Just saying....

I definitely do not want to get married now. I am not sure if they would rather deport a gringo would they? I heard they are only going after dark skinned Latinos from poor countries. I'm American. I met many people that have overstayed. In fact, you can just pay a fee to overstay can't you? I haven't paid it yet but I was told before it is better to overstay and just pay before you leave. Is that not true anymore?

Ok, I will look into this monitributo thing. Can I do that now? I could take the income I am making doing digital marketing and pay taxes here on that income? Are you all sure there is no sponsorship. What are people referring when they say they had a sponsor? I assumed it meant someone was going to support me financially.

 

[Betsy Ross]

I definitely do not want to get married now. I am not sure if they would rather deport a gringo would they? I heard they are only going after dark skinned Latinos from poor countries. I'm American. I met many people that have overstayed. In fact, you can just pay a fee to overstay can't you? I haven't paid it yet but I was told before it is better to overstay and just pay before you leave. Is that not true anymore?

Ok, I will look into this monitributo thing. Can I do that now? I could take the income I am making doing digital marketing and pay taxes here on that income? Are you all sure there is no sponsorship. What are people referring when they say they had a sponsor? I assumed it meant someone was going to support me financially.

There is no sponsorship. You are probably getting confused because some people when they say "sponsor" mean that they have a local Argentine company/employer that is sponsoring them to work and get a paycheck. It's a specific type of situation where they are hiring them officially and they are using that.

Another category you might want to try it student visa but I think you have to apply before you enter Argentina. But they may still ask you to show how you will support yourself while living here.

You should get legal as things are changing. You may want to read this older thread that has some recent experiences in it.

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

Dec 19, 2023

I hate to admit this on a public forum but like many expats, I admit it. I'm a perma-tourist. I am American and fell in love with Argentina about 6 years ago. I don't have the money to go through the legal process to get my DNI. I would totally get it as there is no downside for me as I don't own any assets in the USA or anywhere else.

I previously came a few years before covid-19 and I used covid as an excuse to stay here. Argentina I don't think cared and they knew I was trapped here. But now I can't use that excuse. I was going back and forth with Uruguay but the last time I...

• overstayed
• border run overstayed perma-tourist permanent tourist tourist tourist visa visa visa run
• Replies: 253
• Forum: ExPat Life

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[VINO]

I think even with student visa they ask to show that you can support yourself. A friend applied for a student visa and was asked how they would support themselves. Maybe in this situation your partner could say he was sponsoring you but this would be the only way.

I definitely do not want to get married now. I am not sure if they would rather deport a gringo would they? I heard they are only going after dark skinned Latinos from poor countries. I'm American. I met many people that have overstayed. In fact, you can just pay a fee to overstay can't you? I haven't paid it yet but I was told before it is better to overstay and just pay before you leave. Is that not true anymore?

Ok, I will look into this monitributo thing. Can I do that now? I could take the income I am making doing digital marketing and pay taxes here on that income? Are you all sure there is no sponsorship. What are people referring when they say they had a sponsor? I assumed it meant someone was going to support me financially.

You can't sign up for the monitobuto without having legal residency first. So you have to get legal first.

 

[oil rush]

I’m currently on my third tourist visa (including one that I overstayed by about 1.5 years), and my intention is to move to Argentina permanently to be with my partner, who is Argentine. I am a gay male which shouldn't make a difference as I heard that same sex marriages are legal here.

Our long-term plan has always been to get married and regularize my status through that route. First residency, and eventually citizenship. However, as I’ve started looking more seriously into the process, I’ve realized that proof of financial means seems to come up repeatedly as a requirement.

Can I apply for temporary residency by having my partner sponsor me? My boyfriend earns more than enough to support both of us, so in theory, he could sponsor me, and I might be able to renew temporary residency under that arrangement. That part feels manageable.

What concerns me more is the transition to permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

At the moment, I have around $15,000 USD in savings. I also do some marketing online informally, which cover my basic living expenses, but the income is not officially declared. I don’t have a university degree or a formal career background that would allow me to generate stable income in Argentina in the future. Even if I significantly increased my client base, I might earn the equivalent of several times the minimum wage — but it still wouldn’t be officially documented income. Payments are currently made to an account that isn’t even in my name. (It's a long story).

As you can imagine, this complicates things. While I might qualify for temporary residency through marriage and sponsorship, I worry about getting “stuck” here indefinitely without being able to demonstrate sufficient solvency for permanent residency or citizenship. Stability is important to me, and I don’t want to find myself in a situation where I’m constantly renewing temporary status without a clear path forward.


I’m therefore trying to understand a few things more clearly:

• What level of income actually qualifies as “solvencia” in practice?
• How strictly is financial proof enforced?
• Are there significant differences in financial requirements between residency and citizenship?
• Has anyone navigated a similar situation?

I would truly appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience or practical insights. I’m trying to approach this realistically and responsibly, and I want to understand what I should be preparing for.

Thank you!

Doesn't sound like you have any proof of income. Only shot is getting hitched.

 

[ElQueso]

There is no such thing as "sponsorship" in Argentina. You would need to get married legally here with your partner. That is the easiest path forward. You can get temporary residency for 1 year. You can then renew it after that for 2 more years. After the third year you can convert it and apply for permanent residency as long as you are still married.

That is going to make it much easier for you. It doesn't sound like you would qualify at all if you have no verifiable income. There is no income requirement if you're marrying a local citizen. No other way around it.

You are getting good info. I believe the only way you don't have to show income or financial means is when you are applying for temporary residency via civil union. It is really your best shot and very easy. You don't have to get "married". Friends of mine just did a civil union. It's called a "union civil conjugal".

 

[Grant]

But in the grand scheme of things isn't a civil union the same as getting married?

 

[Bettina]

But in the grand scheme of things isn't a civil union the same as getting married?

They aren't the same thing. With marriage you get spousal pension rights, automatic inheritance rights, automatic marital property regime, joint tax advantages, automatic parental recognition.

Civil Union / Unión Convivencial​

This is for couples who live together but don’t want to marry.

Requirements:

• At least 2 years of cohabitation
• Register at the Civil Registry

What it gives you:​

• Some property protections
• Recognition as a couple
• Some limited inheritance protections (not automatic like marriage)
• Some social security rights (depends on proof)
• Ability to make certain agreements about assets

But:

❌ It does NOT automatically grant inheritance like marriage

❌ Immigration benefits are weaker

❌ Pension rights are not as automatic

❌ It does not create the same legal family status