Family Reunification Visa for UK Citizens with Argentine Spouses

If you are married to an Argentine citizen (or to someone with Argentine permanent residency), the family reunification visa (radicación por vínculo familiar) is your clearest and fastest path to Argentine residency. The category is well-established, the requirements are standardised, and Migraciones prioritises family cases over other residency categories.

Who qualifies

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

The family reunification visa applies to:

• Spouses of Argentine citizens or permanent residents
• Registered partners (unión convivencial) of Argentine citizens
• Parents of Argentine citizens
• Minor children of Argentine citizens or residents

For British citizens married to Argentines, the spousal route is by far the most common.

Documents you need

All documents from the UK must be apostilled (FCDO Legalisation) and translated (CTPCBA translator in Buenos Aires).

1. UK marriage certificate — certified copy from GRO, apostilled. See our marriage certificate guide.

2. Your UK birth certificate. long-form certified copy from GRO, apostilled. See our birth certificate guide.

3. ACRO police certificate. apostilled. See our ACRO guide.

4. Your Argentine spouse's DNI. original and copy

5. Your passport — original and copy of all stamped pages

6. Medical certificate. from an Argentine doctor (certificado médico para Migraciones)

7. Proof of address. utility bill or rental contract showing the shared address

8. Migraciones application forms. completed online through RADEX

9. Payment of Migraciones fee — approximately USD 200-300

The process

1. Gather UK documents (ACRO, birth cert, marriage cert). budget 3-4 weeks

2. Apostille all UK documents via FCDO. budget 1-2 weeks

3. Arrive in Argentina on your 90-day tourist stamp

4. Get Spanish translations done by CTPCBA translator. budget 1 week

5. Book a Migraciones appointment online at RADEX (migraciones.gov.ar) — slots are 4-8 weeks out

6. Both spouses attend the appointment together with all documents

7. Receive your precaria (temporary legal status) immediately at the appointment

8. Wait for approval. typically 2-4 months

9. Receive your DNI with temporary residency status

The precaria is important: from the day Migraciones issues it, you are legally resident, can work, can sign leases, and can access healthcare. even before the final approval.

Processing time

Family reunification is typically the fastest residency category at Migraciones:

• Average: 2-4 months from application to approval
• Fastest: 6-8 weeks (if documents are perfect and Migraciones has capacity)
• Slowest: 6 months (if additional document requests or Migraciones backlogs)

Compare this to Rentista (3-6 months), Digital Nomad (2-4 months), and Work Visa (3-6 months).

The marriage question

Argentine Migraciones accepts:

• UK-registered marriages (civil marriages performed in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland)
• UK civil partnerships (recognised as equivalent to marriage for immigration purposes)
• Same-sex marriages (Argentina legalised same-sex marriage in 2010; UK marriages are fully recognised)

If you married abroad in a third country, that marriage certificate must be apostilled by the issuing country, not the UK.

Unión convivencial: Argentine law also recognises long-term unmarried cohabitation (2+ years) as a basis for family reunification. Documentation is more complex (joint utility bills, shared lease, affidavits from witnesses) but the route exists.

After approval

Once your temporary residency is granted:

• Duration: 1 year initially, renewable
• Work authorisation: full — you can work for Argentine employers
• Healthcare: you can enrol in prepaga as a resident
• Banking: full access to traditional bank accounts
• After 2-3 years: apply for permanent residency
• After 2 years of continuous residence: eligible to apply for Argentine citizenship (see our citizenship guide)

Common issues

1. Name discrepancy between passport and marriage certificate. If you changed your name on marriage, bring documentation showing the change.

2. Marriage certificate validity. Must be apostilled within 6 months of the appointment. Do not apostille too early.

3. Shared address proof. Migraciones wants evidence you live together. A lease in both names is ideal. If only in one name, add a utility bill showing the other's name at the same address.

4. Spouse's residency status. If your Argentine spouse has permanent residency (not citizenship), they must demonstrate their own residency is current and valid.

Not legal advice. Family reunification is well-established but individual cases vary. For complex situations (previous divorces, children from other relationships, mixed nationality families), consult an Argentine immigration lawyer.

Worth reading next

• Overstaying on a UK Tourist Stamp in Argentina: Consequences and Fixes
• Renewing a UK Passport from Argentina: The Process That Actually Works
• Getting a CUIL or CDI as a UK Citizen: ANSES in Practice