How to get a criminal record certificate in Argentina (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales): a 2025 guide for foreigners

The Argentine criminal record certificate: why you need it

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (CAP) is an official document confirming whether or not a person has a criminal record in Argentina. It is required for a range of legal and administrative procedures, including:

• Applying for temporary or permanent residency (residencia temporaria / permanente).
• Obtaining Argentine citizenship.
• Formal employment.
• Submitting documents to the immigration authorities of other countries (Canada or the United States, for example).
• Obtaining licences and permits.

The certificate is valid for 5 business days from the date of issue, so it is important to factor this window into your timing when you plan to file documents.

How to obtain the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales in Argentina

1. Applying online through the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia

To begin, submit an application online on the official website of the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia.

Choose the application method that suits you, depending on which of the following you have:

• A Mi Argentina account.
• A Banelco card in your name.
• An AFIP tax key (clave fiscal) at security level 2 or higher.
• An ANSES social security key.
• If none of the above applies to you, select the option to apply in person.

Complete the online form, providing:

• Personal details (first name, surname, date of birth).
• Identity document details (passport or DNI / Precaria).
• Contact information (address, telephone, email).
• Information about your parents.

Select the service type according to how quickly you need it:

• 1 hour (express) - 8,500 ARS.
• 6 hours - 4,800 ARS.
• 24 hours - 2,400 ARS.
• 5 business days - 1,000 ARS.

Pay the fee using one of the following methods:

• Through PagoMisCuentas or Red Link.
• Using a VEP (Volante Electrónico de Pago) via AFIP.
• Through the BNA+ or Cuenta DNI mobile apps.
• In person at Provincia NET branches (available only for the 5-day and 24-hour options).

Once your payment is confirmed, you will receive an email with a confirmation and a link to download the certificate as a PDF.

2. Applying in person at a Registro Nacional de Reincidencia office

If you are unable to apply online, you can go in person to one of the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia offices. Book an appointment through the online system and prepare the following documents:

• The original and a copy of your passport or DNI.
• A completed and signed application.
• Proof of payment of the fee.

On the appointed day, visit the office you selected and submit all the required documents. Once your application has been processed, you will receive an email with a link to download the certificate.

What foreigners without a DNI should know

If you do not have an Argentine DNI, you can still obtain a criminal record certificate. In that case you will need:

• The original and a copy of your passport.
• A completed application.
• Proof of payment of the fee.

The application procedure is the same as the steps described above.

Frequently asked questions

Can I obtain the certificate while outside Argentina?

Yes. You can apply online and receive the certificate electronically.

Does the certificate need an apostille for use abroad?

Yes. If you plan to use the certificate in another country, it is advisable to have it apostilled.

Can the certificate be used for applications to Canada or the United States?

Yes, but you must indicate on the application that the certificate is intended for submission to the relevant immigration authorities.

2026 update: how to get a criminal record certificate

The certificate is issued by the National Criminal Records Registry under Argentina's Ministry of Justice. It is needed for residence, often by employers, for some licences and for citizenship.

The fees are payments to the state and are indexed regularly. If the certificate is for use abroad, it is apostilled at Argentina's foreign ministry.

Common mistakes

• Trying to get the certificate in the app without an identity card: a foreigner with a passport goes in person.
• Getting it too early: the migration service and employers expect a recent one.
• Forgetting certificates from countries where you lived before: for residence they are needed with an apostille and a sworn translation.

The order of getting other documents is in our article on documents for living in Argentina in 2026.

Certificates for Argentine residence

For residence the migration service asks not only for the Argentine certificate, if you have already lived in the country, but also for certificates from the countries where you have lived in recent years. Foreign certificates need an apostille and a sworn translation. When applying in person, the Argentine certificate is issued against a passport by appointment.

Applying in person: the steps

1. Booking an appointment on the registry website.
2. Paying the fee: standard or urgent within 1 hour.
3. A visit with your passport and fingerprinting.
4. Receiving the certificate electronically; an apostille for use abroad.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a criminal record certificate in Argentina?

Up to $5 for 6 hours to 5 working days and about $10 within 1 hour; fees are indexed.

Can a foreigner without an identity card get the certificate?

Yes, in person at a registry office with a passport and an appointment.

Does the Argentine certificate need an apostille?

Only if used abroad; the apostille is placed by Argentina's foreign ministry.

The certificate and Argentine citizenship

Under the citizenship law you can apply for naturalisation after 2 years of living in the country, and one condition is having no criminal record. So the national registry certificate is also taken for the citizenship file, a recent one close to the filing date. More on the Argentine citizenship page.

What does the criminal record certificate show?

Whether the person has entries in Argentina's national criminal records registry; foreign records are covered by certificates from other countries.

Can the certificate be issued urgently?

Yes, within 1 hour at a higher fee, about $10.

Where to get the certificate without an Argentine identity card?

Only in person at a national registry office with your passport, booked in advance.

Who issues the criminal record certificate in Argentina?

The National Criminal Records Registry under Argentina's Ministry of Justice.

FAQ