My Experience Getting the Rentista Visa in 2025

[Yuyo]

Thanks for sharing the process.
Question on the apostille items; did the time limit for background checks ever come up?
I've seen some sites say the background check needs to be apostilled and provided within 3 months of the check issue date but it seemed inconsistent.

 

[Buenas Ondas]

Thanks for sharing the process.
Question on the apostille items; did the time limit for background checks ever come up?
I've seen some sites say the background check needs to be apostilled and provided within 3 months of the check issue date but it seemed inconsistent.

So my understanding (and might be wrong/misremembering so worth doublechecking) is that your background check from your country (FBI or similar) has to be current (3 months sounds right) with your exit date from your issuing country. Assuming you don't leave Argentina in between, I think the assumption is that you couldn't have committed any additional crimes in your country of origin.

So my FBI background check was from December '24. I entered Argentina in January '25. I submitted my RadEx application in June '25. No issues there.

In Oct. '25 they did ask me to get an antecedentes penales Argentina "considering the time that had passed" while the visa was processing. I think this was kinda 'retribution' to some emails I'd sent to nudge the process along and pushback on an unreasonable request. However, that was pretty straightforward. The online form for that in Cordoba didn't actually book a turno, so be mindful you might need 2x trips (one to book your turno and another to actually get your certificate). But beyond that, it was pretty straightforward--they run your fingerprints and then issue the antecedentes penales a few days later.

Should add for anyone reading: If you only have time to apostille 1x document from your country, that'd be the one I'd prioritize. I had mine before coming from Argentina but I've heard it's a PITA to navigate remotely (at least from the U.S).

 

[Buenas Ondas]

• Unclear Requirements: On the gov't website, you can go to 3 different pages and read 3 different things in regards to requirements. Then, on here, everyone's under the impression that the rentista has to be passive/investment income. In my case, that would've meant creating a trust with U.S. lawyers and spending a lot of time and money. Instead, I just needed 5x the minimum salary for 12ish months and to prove the legality of funds which was wayyyy more achievable.

I'd like to ask, for example, if I rent out my property to my friend's company, and they pay me $2000 USD every month through their company account, would this meet their requirements? Do they need to check my financial history, for instance, do I need to show a consistent income of $2000 USD for the past six months for the immigration office to approve my application?

Sorry, I missed this. My guess would be you probably have to prove the existence of that rental agreement and then receipts of receiving that payments (all apostilled & translated). But that's definitely something where a quick consultation with a lawyer is your best bet. Chances are, they could tell you exactly what documents you need in that kind of instance.

Additionally, when you upload your documents on RadEx initially, you'll want to establish your 'argument' in a cover letter detailing what everything is and how it fits requirements. That was something I totally leaned into my lawyer for.

But your case definitely is a better fit for the posted rentista requirements than mine was. In my case, I just had the total funds for 12ish months in a lump sum in a bank account and proof that it was generated legally.

 

[malthus101]

Hello

So... it took you 11 months just to get the rentista visa? And then it would take another two years of permanent living in Argentina before you would be able to aply for citizenship? Is that correct? So closer to 3 years in total?

Thanks.

 

[malthus101]

Oh and also - I too don't have passive income like dividends into an account so was hoping there would be another way to do it! (I can afford to support myself for the 2 years without needing to get a job in Argentina) kind of the point of the requirement, so it's good to know there is another way!

But, how much did you need to transfer into an Argentinian bank account to meet their standard? Like how much in cold, hard dollar terms? Thanks!

 

[Buenas Ondas]

Hello

So... it took you 11 months just to get the rentista visa? And then it would take another two years of permanent living in Argentina before you would be able to aply for citizenship? Is that correct? So closer to 3 years in total?

Thanks.

From the time I submitted on RadEx, it was 6 months. The 5 months before that was me saving money and gathering documentation.

Then, 2 years from approval (and 2x renewals) to apply for citizenship (3 years for permanent residence).

Oh and also - I too don't have passive income like dividends into an account so was hoping there would be another way to do it! (I can afford to support myself for the 2 years without needing to get a job in Argentina) kind of the point of the requirement, so it's good to know there is another way!

But, how much did you need to transfer into an Argentinian bank account to meet their standard? Like how much in cold, hard dollar terms? Thanks!

Yeah, I was in the same situation.

The ‘standard’ changes based on the salario mínimo. But basically it’s minimum monthly salary multiplied by 5 multiplied by 12 months.

For me, at the time that was around $15,000. But you’ll want to have a little padding to strengthen your argument. So I submitted with a little over $20,000.

Then you’ll need that amount (or more to account for rises in the minimum salary) each year you renew your visa.

 

[BossaAnna]

I absolutely recommend Paula also. She is great.

Thank you for such a great explanation.

 

[BossaAnna]

From the time I submitted on RadEx, it was 6 months. The 5 months before that was me saving money and gathering documentation.

Then, 2 years from approval (and 2x renewals) to apply for citizenship (3 years for permanent residence).


Yeah, I was in the same situation.

The ‘standard’ changes based on the salario mínimo. But basically it’s minimum monthly salary multiplied by 5 multiplied by 12 months.

For me, at the time that was around $15,000. But you’ll want to have a little padding to strengthen your argument. So I submitted with a little over $20,000.

Then you’ll need that amount (or more to account for rises in the minimum salary) each year you renew your visa.

The 15,000$ is in US$, yes?

 

[mageesa]

Sounds like the "special account" method works better than actually renting a property out. I'm still in limbo after more than six months, plus the added hassle of leases and deeds getting updates and translation. It's the hard way. They haven't even looked at my file, and I don't blame them because it's a rats nest of documents.

 

[malthus101]

From the time I submitted on RadEx, it was 6 months. The 5 months before that was me saving money and gathering documentation.

Then, 2 years from approval (and 2x renewals) to apply for citizenship (3 years for permanent residence).


Yeah, I was in the same situation.

The ‘standard’ changes based on the salario mínimo. But basically it’s minimum monthly salary multiplied by 5 multiplied by 12 months.

For me, at the time that was around $15,000. But you’ll want to have a little padding to strengthen your argument. So I submitted with a little over $20,000.

Then you’ll need that amount (or more to account for rises in the minimum salary) each year you renew your visa.

Alright, so really best case scenario is 2.5 years if everything runs smoothly.

What is RadEx?

Thanks.

PS - you said best to stay around BA whilst doing the process. But once the 6 months is done and you have been approved, is it OK then to leave BA and live elsewhere in Argentina? I thought I might check out some other provinces (perhaps)