How to get Argentine citizenship through parentage when your father is deceased.

[felipefm]

Hola! A few years ago I found out my father was Argentine through ancestry.co.uk, and I've met my sister since. I'm thinking of applying for Argentine citizenship and I was wondering how to go about it. I'll speak to a lawyer, of course, but if anyone has a similar case or knows of someone who does, it'd be great to have some info. Basically he passed away in 2009, so I never met him. Would I be able to legally establish I am his son through a blood test with my sister or something like that? Much appreciated.

Felipe.

 

[Lanick]

Hola! A few years ago I found out my father was Argentine through ancestry.co.uk, and I've met my sister since. I'm thinking of applying for Argentine citizenship and I was wondering how to go about it. I'll speak to a lawyer, of course, but if anyone has a similar case or knows of someone who does, it'd be great to have some info. Basically he passed away in 2009, so I never met him. Would I be able to legally establish I am his son through a blood test with my sister or something like that? Much appreciated.

Felipe.

If he’s not on your birth certificate then you first have to start a case to establish the paternity. Then you can apply for the citizenship. I don’t want to sound rude at all, I just want to give you the legal perspective. What if he was just a sperm donor who did it for cash without any legal obligations? There are a lot of babies conceived through spermbanks carrying the donors’ DNA and the donors got no legal responsibility. Or what if your sister is not actually his daughter but she thinks she is even though from somebody else? You can make it happen definitely but it won’t be a straightforward thing. And I suggest you don’t waste your money. But if he’s on your birth certificate then it’s easy.

 

[Quilombo]

Hola! A few years ago I found out my father was Argentine through ancestry.co.uk, and I've met my sister since. I'm thinking of applying for Argentine citizenship and I was wondering how to go about it. I'll speak to a lawyer, of course, but if anyone has a similar case or knows of someone who does, it'd be great to have some info. Basically he passed away in 2009, so I never met him. Would I be able to legally establish I am his son through a blood test with my sister or something like that? Much appreciated.

Felipe.

My layman's understanding is yes, you can, but you'd need to get the courts involved if he's not on your birth certificate as Lanick said.

Your sister may be apprehensive though because Argentina has very strong paternal obligation laws, for example, you and your siblings would be entitled to equal shares of his estate, and maybe she'd fear that's your motivation (assuming he had anything). If he didn't have anything (plus the time since his passing), and he's not listed on your birth certificate, you'll have to meet with an Argentine lawyer who specializes in family law.

Once he's recognized as your father legally, then you can apply for what's called Argentino por Opcion. If he's already on your birth certificate, then it's pretty straight forward, you can either do it here or at the consulate closest to you in the UK.