How to get the Precaria in Argentina in 2025: a step-by-step guide for migrants

What the Precaria is and why you need it

The Precaria is a temporary identity document issued by Argentina's immigration authority once you have filed an application for temporary residency (residencia temporaria). It lets you stay in the country and work legally while you wait for your permanent document, the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad).

Why the Precaria matters

The Precaria opens the door to a number of essentials:

• Staying in Argentina legally.
• Working on the books.
• Opening a bank account.
• Obtaining a tax number (CUIL).
• Renting a home and signing contracts.

How long the Precaria is valid

The Precaria is valid for 90 days and can be renewed if your DNI is taking longer than expected. Plan to file for renewal 10 days before it expires.

How to get the Precaria: a step-by-step guide

1. Gather your documents

To file your application, you will need the following:

• A passport or other valid identity document.
• A birth or marriage certificate (legalized or apostilled).
• A criminal-record check from your country of residence covering the past three years (legalized or apostilled).
• A criminal-record check from Argentina (obtained through the RADEX system).
• Proof of address in Argentina (a police certificate, a utility bill, and so on).
• A 4×4 cm photograph (color, on a white background).

Any document in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator and legalized.

2. File the application through RADEX

The temporary-residency application is submitted online through the RADEX platform:

• Register in RADEX using a valid email address.
• Complete the form with your personal details and upload scanned copies of the required documents.
• Pay the corresponding fees for the residency permit, the DNI, and the criminal-record checks.
• Wait for confirmation and for an interview date at the immigration office to be assigned.

3. Visit the immigration office

On your appointed day, go to the immigration office to:

• Present the original documents.
• Provide your biometric data (photograph and fingerprints).
• Receive the paper Precaria with its QR code.

What you can do with the Precaria

Once you hold the Precaria, you can:

• Stay in Argentina legally.
• Take up formal employment.
• Open bank accounts.
• Obtain a tax number (CUIL).
• Sign leases and other legal documents.

Keep a close eye on the expiry date and apply for renewal in good time.

How to renew the Precaria

Renewing the Precaria is done online through RADEX:

• Log in to your RADEX account.
• Select the option to renew the Precaria.
• Upload the required documents and pay the fees.
• Wait for the renewal to be confirmed.

File for renewal 10 days before your current Precaria expires.

Frequently asked questions

Can you leave Argentina with a Precaria?

Yes, though it is advisable to carry all the necessary documents and your identity papers.

Can you work with a Precaria?

Yes, the Precaria allows you to take up formal employment in Argentina.

How long does the Precaria take to process?

Processing times vary, but it usually takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Applying in 2026: what matters

Residence applications are filed through the Argentine migration service's remote filing system. According to the service's guide of March 2026, the following rules apply:

• you can only apply online while in Argentina: the system checks that you entered legally and may ask for your entry stamp;
• the whole family can be included in one application, in which case children under 18 do not pay the migration fee;
• three fees are paid: the migration fee, the identity card fee and the Argentine criminal record certificate fee; card payments are credited at once, cash payments after five business days;
• a priority appointment is available for an extra fee;
• copies of documents are uploaded to the system, phone photos are fine, and originals are brought to the in-person appointment.

The precaria is issued electronically once the documents are accepted.

Requirements for foreign documents

Documents issued abroad must carry an apostille or be legalised at the Argentine consulate in the issuing country. Documents not in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator registered in Argentina, with the translation certified by the translators' association. The Argentine criminal record certificate is requested directly in the filing system, with no separate visit needed. Apostilles and translations take about two weeks, so it is best to prepare documents before moving.

What the precaria gives you and what it does not

The precaria is valid for up to 90 consecutive days and is renewed while the application is under review. It lets you live in the country, work and study, and formally also leave Argentina and come back. In practice we advise not to travel before you receive your card: you could miss a request from the migration service or your appointment.

Keep in mind that the precaria only confirms you are in the country legally while your case is pending. It does not guarantee approval of the main application.

Online renewal: 2026 deadlines

Renewal is requested online with the case number shown in the top left corner of the certificate and your date of birth. The request can be made no earlier than 15 days before expiry, and the new certificate is downloaded from the same system within 10 business days. If the precaria was issued by a different unit of the migration service, it is renewed by email to that unit. Missing the deadline leaves you in the country without a valid document, so put the expiry date in your calendar straight away.

How long residence takes and how Murblz helps

In our experience it takes 3-5 months from filing to the residence card, and the precaria has to be renewed throughout. Murblz specialists choose the basis for residence, check documents before filing, arrange apostilles and sworn translations, track renewal deadlines and accompany you to the appointment. Programmes are covered on the Argentina residence permit and digital nomad visa pages, and other documents in our article on documents for living in Argentina. The first consultation is free.

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