How to get a Certificado de Domicilio in Argentina: a step-by-step guide for foreigners

The Certificado de Domicilio is an official document that confirms your residential address in Argentina. You will need it for most legal and administrative procedures, including obtaining a temporary ID (Precaria), a tax number (CUIL), opening a bank account, getting a driver's licence, and applying for residency.

Why do you need a Certificado de Domicilio?

This document is required to:

• obtain a Precaria and temporary residency;
• get a CUIL, your unique tax identification number;
• open an account at an Argentine bank;
• register with ANSES (the national social security administration);
• apply for a driver's licence;
• sign rental agreements and other legal contracts;
• submit applications to various government agencies.

Without a Certificado de Domicilio, most official procedures in Argentina simply cannot be started.

How to get a Certificado de Domicilio: a step-by-step guide

1. Prepare the required documents

To submit your application you will need:

• your passport (original and a copy);
• a rental contract, a booking confirmation from a platform such as Airbnb, or a written statement from your landlord;
• utility bills (if available) showing your name and address.

In some cases the police ask for additional documents proving that you live at the address in the application.

2. Visit your local police station (Comisaría)

Find the police station (Comisaría) nearest to your home and go there in person. There you will be asked to fill in an application for the Certificado de Domicilio. State the purpose of the document on the form, for example "para ANSES" or "para migraciones".

After you submit the application, there are three outcomes:

• address check: an officer visits your home to confirm that you live there;
• same-day issuance: in some cases the document is handed over immediately after you apply;
• request for more documents: the police ask for utility bills showing your name and address.

How long the certificate takes depends on the region and how busy the police are - between one and three days.

3. Receive your Certificado de Domicilio

Once your residence at the address in the application is confirmed, you receive the Certificado de Domicilio, the official document proving your address in Argentina. It is valid for 30 days, so use it for the procedures you need straight away.

Getting a Certificado de Domicilio in Buenos Aires

If you live in the City of Buenos Aires and have no DNI, you can apply for the Certificado de Domicilio through the online miBA platform.

To do so you will need to:

• create an account on the miBA platform;
• complete the online application and choose a date and time for your appointment;
• attend the appointment together with two witnesses (not relatives) who hold an Argentine DNI and live in Argentina.

The procedure is free and is designed for foreign nationals living in Buenos Aires without a DNI.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a hostel or hotel address to get a Certificado de Domicilio?

Yes, you can. In that case provide your booking confirmation and warn the front desk about the police officer's visit to verify your stay.

How long is the Certificado de Domicilio valid?

The document is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.

Can I get a Certificado de Domicilio without a rental contract?

Yes. In some cases a written statement from your landlord or a utility bill showing your name and address is enough.

What changed in 2025-2026: the certificate online

Since November 2025 residents of the City of Buenos Aires can obtain the certificate of address themselves online and download it immediately, without visiting a police station. The certificate is issued on the basis of a sworn statement, and both Argentine citizens and foreigners without an Argentine national ID can request it. You log in with a city account, and the online certificate is free. It is valid for 30 days, so it is best obtained shortly before filing the documents it is needed for.

City or province of Buenos Aires: where to apply

The City of Buenos Aires and the province of the same name are different jurisdictions. In the city the certificate is issued by the city's online service or a police station; in the province the address statement is filed online through the provincial civil registry. If you rent outside the city limits, check which jurisdiction the address belongs to before you start.

How to get the certificate online, step by step

1. Create and verify a city account.
2. Find the certificate of address service on the city portal.
3. Fill in the form: personal details, a passport for a foreigner without a national ID, the exact address.
4. Sign the statement and download the certificate.
5. Check the deadline: the certificate is valid for 30 days.

Common mistakes

• Getting the certificate too early, so it has expired by the time you apply for residence.
• The address on the certificate does not match the lease or the utility bill.
• Applying in the city when the address is in the province.

Murblz specialists put together the residence file so that every certificate is valid on the filing date. More on residence itself is on our Argentina residence page.

FAQ