Getting a CUIL or CDI as a UK Citizen: ANSES in Practice

Anywhere in Argentina you need to sign a contract (a flat, a phone, a bank account) someone asks for your CUIL (Código Único de Identificación Laboral). Without it, you are almost invisible to Argentine administration. For a British expat, getting a CUIL is usually the second trip outside the hotel, right after buying a local SIM card.

CUIL vs CDI: which one do you need?

For related context, see Overstaying on a UK Tourist Stamp in Argentina: Consequences and Fixes.

Argentina has two tax identification numbers for individuals and the difference matters.

CUIL — for people who work, receive income or intend to become residents. Issued by ANSES (Administración Nacional de la Seguridad Social). This is what 95% of British expats need.

CDI (Clave de Identificación). for non-workers who still need a tax ID for specific reasons. Issued by AFIP (the Argentine tax authority). Example: a UK retiree on a tourist extension who wants to open a brokerage account but is not taking up residency yet.

If you are moving to Argentina with the intention of living there more than a few months (even on a tourist extension) go for the CUIL. It is the number that unlocks everything day to day.

What you need to get a CUIL

• Your UK passport (original plus a photocopy of the front page and the entry stamp)
• Evidence of Argentine address — a simple printout of your Airbnb receipt, a rental contract, or a utility bill if you already have one
• No Argentine DNI required at this stage

That last point surprises many British arrivals. You do not need residency paperwork, you do not need a CUIT, and you do not need a job offer. You just need to be physically in Argentina with a passport and an address.

The ANSES trip

ANSES has dozens of offices across Buenos Aires. The closest one to you is usually found on Google Maps by searching "ANSES" plus your barrio. Go early (queues form from 8 am) and bring a book.

At the desk, you say: "Necesito hacer un trámite de CUIL para extranjero." (*I need to do a CUIL process for a foreigner.*) They will hand you a form, check your documents, and either process it immediately or give you an appointment for the next day.

Most ANSES offices emit the CUIL the same morning. Some issue a paper slip; others email you a PDF. Either way, the number is yours from that point on: a 11-digit string, usually in the format XX-XXXXXXXX-X.

What you can do with a CUIL

Once you hold a CUIL, you can:

• Open a fintech bank account (Mercado Pago, Ualá, Brubank) within 24 hours, with tarjeta prepaid issued
• Sign a long-term rental contract in your own name
• Buy a mobile phone plan on postpaid contract
• Register with a prepaga (private health insurance) — see our healthcare guide for which to pick
• Buy a SUBE transport card already registered to your name
• Get a monotributo (freelancer tax status) once you also have residency and CUIT

What you cannot yet do with a CUIL alone:

• Work legally for an Argentine employer (needs DNI + CUIL combined)
• Vote in Argentine elections (residents after 2 years)
• Open a traditional bank account (most banks insist on DNI)
• Purchase property (needs CUIT)
• Access public healthcare as a resident (you already can as a visitor, but not registered)

From CUIL to DNI

The CUIL is the gateway document. Your next step, once your residency is formally granted, is the DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad). When RENAPER issues your DNI, your CUIL automatically becomes linked to your new identity number.

This linkage is invisible to you but important administratively. It means your bank account, your prepaga, your SUBE card all transfer seamlessly from "foreigner with CUIL" to "Argentine resident with DNI" without needing to re-register anything.

Common British questions

"Can I get a CUIL on my UK passport even on a 90-day tourist stamp?"

Yes. ANSES does not ask about your visa status when you apply. You say you are living in Argentina, you show an address, you get the number. If you are on a tourist extension, you can still hold the CUIL.

"Is there a fee?"

No. The trámite is free. Watch out for anyone offering "fast-track CUIL processing" for a fee. it is a scam, not a service.

"What if my Spanish is not good enough for the ANSES visit?"

The forms are simple and the vocabulary is manageable. Use Google Translate on your phone for anything tricky. ANSES staff deal with foreigners regularly and are usually patient. If you are nervous, bring a Spanish-speaking friend, but it is genuinely not necessary.

"Can I apply from abroad before I arrive?"

No. The CUIL process requires physical presence at an ANSES office in Argentina. Plan it for your first week.

Not legal advice. ANSES procedures vary slightly between provinces and the rules can change. Verify current requirements at your local ANSES office before your visit.

Worth reading next

• Overstaying on a UK Tourist Stamp in Argentina: Consequences and Fixes
• UK Power of Attorney for Argentina: When You Need One and How to Get It Right
• UK Divorce Certificate Apostille for Argentina: When You Need It and How to Get It