Mention the words ‘student visa’ to a group of foreign undergrads in Argentina and you’ll hear irritated sighs followed by stories of waiting hours in line only to discover one is in the wrong line, has the wrong documents and has wasted hours of their life.
Images of getting lost, having to return repeatedly and an absence of toilet paper in the bathrooms of the immigration building fill the student’s head, discouraging one from even attempting the process.
When it’s easier to hop over to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay every three months to renew the 90-day tourist visa, applying for a student visa doesn’t seem worth the tremendous hassle. At a cost of AR$300 and with a considerable amount of bureaucracy involved, one may begin to wonder why they should even bother with the student visa.
Getting a Student Visa is Important, Despite the Hassle
Officially, the government requires student visas for those studying in Argentina for more than 90 days. But the real reason it’s important for exchange students to follow-through with the student visa paperwork is because student transcripts might not be sent to one’s home university without one.
“If you fail to process your visa, you run the risk of not receiving your transcripts at the end of the semester,” said Alie Church a study abroad consultant in Buenos Aires. Church said some universities refuse to send transcripts without a visa in order to comply with the law and avoid fines.
Though a few more lackadaisical universities don’t strictly enforce the policy, those who want to be sure they will receive credits should go through the hassle to get their student visa. As an added bonus, the student visa serves as proof of residence for cheaper airfare in Argentina, discounted entrance fees for national parks such as Iguazú Falls and facilitates sign-up for programs such as Mejor en Bici.
A standard student visa is valid for six months, but if you’re studying for longer, you can get a visa valid for one year by submitting a background check from your home country. The exact requirements vary depending on one’s nationality and it’s important to check with your country’s embassy for further information. Though guidelines and details are subject to change for students from non-Mercosur (Union of South American) countries, there are three steps to obtaining a student visa.
Step One: Criminal Background Check
Before your mind races to anything illegal you’ve been busted for at home, the background check for a six-month visa only applies to your time spent in Argentina. With that said, in the unlikely event you’ve had a run in with the law in Argentina, it generally can be solved.
“Having a record does not automatically disqualify you from receiving a student visa,” Church said. “However, it does mean that you are subject to any penalties enforced for the crime committed.” Depending on the crime, you can probably pay a fine to solve the problem before beginning the visa process.
For those who aren’t on the ‘Most Wanted’ list , obtaining the police record is relatively easy. You do this by scheduling an appointment at Registro National de Reincidencia to get a police record certificate (certificado de antecedentes penales).
For those in Buenos Aires, schedule the appointment at Piedras 115, located in Microcentro. By mid-morning, the line is out the door, so arrive early and bring something to keep you occupied such as a book to read. You’ll need to bring your passport, a photocopy of the passport, AR$+ and information about your address and parents’ names. Make sure to check exactly what’s required on the website after scheduling the appointment.
When you arrive, check in at the front desk and give them your appointment number. You will be sent to a different box to pay the fee, and then you’ll wait for your name to appear on the monitor. You’ll then be called into an office, asked a few questions and your fingerprints will be taken. The official will give you a website address and a code. After five days, follow the instructions the official gives you to obtain the police report. Print it out for the next step.
Step Two: Spend Some Quality Time at the Immigration Office
This next step will take the most time and work. Pay careful attention to everything you need to avoid having to make a return trip to the immigration office. After completing the background check, make an appointment at the immigration office (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones). Click on ‘residencia tramite 1ra vez para mayor de 16 años.’ The office is located at Antartida Argentina 1355 in Retiro.
What to bring:
1. Original passport
2. Photocopy of every page of the passport
3. Two 4×4 photos on a white background
4. Proof of registration at an Argentine university
5. Argentine Federal police record certificate
6. AR$300 in cash for the migration fee
Suggested optional items:
1. Snacks
2. Tissues in case you need to use the bathroom or catch a cold
3. A book or something to keep you occupied. It’s not recommended to bring a laptop or other expensive electronic gadgets.
Make sure to bring everything listed, otherwise you could be denied a visa or have to keep returning until you have everything required. Church says that in most cases, the process will just take longer if you forget something. If you are missing a document, ask the official specifically what you need to bring for your next visit.
“Unlike in other countries, I feel like there is always a way to fix things here,” Church said. “You might be questioned, asked to pay a fine, have to gather additional documents, etc., but generally, I feel like there is always a way to find a solution. You just have to be very patient and persistent.”
Entering the Migrations office can be like entering a human zoo — expect hoards of people from all over the world, long lines and a good serving of chaos.
Endless lines don’t appear to move and there is no real direction for which line is which. Find the ‘non-Mercosur’ line, which is thankfully much shorter than the other, and be prepared to be shuffled around from box to box and to wait while your official finishes their round of mate before taking your documents.
At the first window, you’ll need your 4×4 photo, passport and your fingerprints will be taken. You probably won’t be able to hear the person on the other side of the glass, so be patient, ask them to repeat and practice lip reading in Spanish.
You’ll then be asked to sit and wait for your name and photo to appear on the monitor. This can take a while, so again bring something to keep you occupied and food to eat. You can purchase food there, but it can be pricey and it has probably been sitting out all day.
When your name is finally called, present all the other documents you have as well as your parents’ names. This step will consist of you going back and forth between sitting and standing at the box and being asked some questions. You will be asked to pay the AR$300 in cash at a different box, then return to finish the process. Once finished, you will receive the preliminary certificate of residence (certificado de residencia precaria).
Step 3: Return to Pickup the Visa
The last step is the easiest and most rewarding. Return to Retiro in 20 days with your preliminary certificate of residence and other documents to pick up the official visa paper.
Your visa is valid for six months, so if studying in Argentina for a longer period, you will have to reapply. Remember that guidelines can change and depend on your nationality, so verify with your embassy or consulate before beginning the process. — by Rachel Aretakis
Ali says
Hi there, I am from iraq, I would like to study in Argentina. could you please tell me the steps. I have finished my high school in 1998 and would like to study medicen. Is it possible to study in English or it has to be Spanish language. Is it ok to apply for the argentinian passport after 2 year? .
Thank you
ande says
Hi Ali, You could study in Argentina. You’d have to get here first! Classes are in Spanish. If you know English you could probably learn Spanish pretty quickly. You can get an Argentine passport via a few different avenues, it will take longer than two years though, as you can apply after living here for two years. If you are serious about it, maybe consider booking an appointment to discuss it here: http://andewanderer.com/consulting/
Chitransh says
Hello I want to study in Argentina I enquired from university they said you have to take Spanish language course first it will be of 4 months so what type of visa I will get for 4 months now the worry for me what-if Argentine embassy rejects my Visa then what will I do?
ande says
You could apply for the student visa straight away. You actually don’t need a student visa to study, many people do so on a tourist visa or while their paperwork is being processed.
Oumaima says
HEY I’m from morocco and i want to study in argentina i would like to tell me the steps and what i must have besides do….
ande says
Hi Oumaima We provide some of that information on this website. If you need more specific help please make an appointment for a personal consultation here: http://andewanderer.com/moving-to-argentina/
efe says
hello, i am from nigeria, i would like to study in argentina. my question is can i come with my daughter?
Ahad says
Hello there, I am Ahad from Pakistan. I want to study business in Argentina. I find it beautiful and would want to move there. I don’t mind taking Spanish classes. It would be a dream come true for me to be able to study and hopefully live in a Spanish speaking country. Could you guide me? Gracias 🙂
ande says
Hi Ahad. Thank you for reading! It would be wonderful if you could move to Argentina to study business. We get a lot of inquiries such as yours. The owner of this website offers consultations for those who need guidance in the steps to take to move to Argentina. Please see http://andewanderer.com/consulting/ to make an appointment.
Mahmood says
Hello
My name is Mahmood from Iraq. I have some inquire regarding the visa processing after getting admission from university.
What is the processing time for the visa?
And how about Apostille of The Hague for my certificate which o got it from India is there an chance to get that done by send them to legalizing or notarizing or an agents to get done. If so can you provide me with name or email address.
Many thanks
fun88 says
Hello, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it
has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, awesome blog!
ande says
Thank you for the head’s up. Yes, Internet Explorer is the bane of web developers! Sorry about that. We recommend Safari, Firefox or Chrome.
Arun says
i am a 21 year old Indian , my name is Arun, presently job related i am in Riyadh, along with working parents, I would like to study MBA frm Argentina, And do i can try for student VISA from Riyadh Argentina Consulate,
And after continuous stay of 3 years in Argentina do i can get Argentina Passport. Pls let me have the full details and what are the requirements of Documentation.
Aisheng Luo says
Hi, there
My name is Aisheng, from China, I am planning go to study in Argentina this year,I want to go to Argentina first by tourist visa first, then apply for the student visa, I am wondering what documents that I need to present while I am in Argetnina to get the student visa as Chinese?
thanks a lot!
ande says
Hi Aisheng. The main thing is you need to enroll as a student and get started on your paperwork — they will tell you what you need, but it is a safe bet that you will need an apostilled copy of your birth certificate. To make sure you have everything in order before leaving, it would be best if you call the Argentina embassy in China to inquire about the documents you need. Do you speak Spanish? Most courses are in Spanish, of course!