Pre-Move Paperwork Checklist for UK Families Moving to Argentina

Moving a family from the UK to Argentina involves more paperwork than a single person because every family member needs their own document stack. The good news: every document follows the same process (GRO → FCDO apostille → Argentine translation). The trick is doing it in the right order so nothing expires before your Migraciones appointment.

The master checklist

For related context, see Moving to Argentina from the UK: A Practical Guide.

For every adult

• [ ] UK passport — valid for at least 18 months from departure date. Renew early if needed.
• [ ] Birth certificate — long-form certified copy from GRO, apostilled by FCDO
• [ ] ACRO police certificate — ordered online, apostilled by FCDO
• [ ] Marriage certificate (if married) — certified copy from GRO, apostilled
• [ ] Divorce decree (if applicable) — sealed copy from court, apostilled
• [ ] Medical summary from GP — including current medications with generic names, vaccination history
• [ ] 3-month supply of all prescription medications in original packaging
• [ ] Driving licence — UK licence valid for 90 days in Argentina
• [ ] Academic certificates — degree certificates, professional qualifications, apostilled if for professional use
• [ ] P85 form for HMRC — completed before or immediately after departure
• [ ] National Insurance record — printout from gov.uk showing qualifying years

For each child

• [ ] UK passport — valid for at least 18 months
• [ ] Birth certificate — long-form certified copy from GRO, apostilled
• [ ] School reports — last 2 years of school reports, signed by headteacher. Not formally apostilled but keep the originals.
• [ ] Vaccination record (Red Book) — Argentine schools require a libreta sanitaria; UK vaccination history helps the Argentine paediatrician complete it.
• [ ] Medical summary from GP — any ongoing conditions, allergies, medications
• [ ] Passport consent letter (if only one parent travelling) — signed by the absent parent, ideally notarised. Some airlines and border officials check.

Documents to leave in the UK (copies only)

• [ ] Wills — UK wills remain valid. Make copies for Argentina.
• [ ] UK property deeds — if you own property. Leave originals with solicitor.
• [ ] Insurance policies — keep copies, leave originals.
• [ ] Tax returns — last 4 years, PDF copies.

The apostille chain: correct order

1. Order certified copies from GRO (birth, marriage) — 1-4 working days

2. Order ACRO certificate. 2-10 working days

3. Send all documents to FCDO Legalisation Office. 2-7 working days per batch

4. Receive apostilled originals by courier

Total time: 2-3 weeks if done efficiently. 4-6 weeks if done sequentially.

Cost per document: £12.50-55 (GRO/ACRO) + £30 (FCDO apostille) + courier = approximately £50-90 per document.

For a family of four (2 adults, 2 children): 8-12 documents × £70 average = £560-840 total for UK-side paperwork.

What to do in Argentina (not the UK)

Spanish translations. all apostilled documents need traducción pública by a CTPCBA translator. This is done after arrival in Buenos Aires. Cost: ARS 15,000-40,000 per document. Do not pay for UK translations — they will not be accepted.

Medical certificates. the Argentine certificado médico for Migraciones is done by an Argentine doctor, not a UK GP. Book within the first week of arrival.

School enrolment. done at the Argentine school directly. Bring the UK school reports; formal convalidation (if needed) is processed through the Argentine Ministerio de Educación later.

Timing the apostilles

Argentine Migraciones accepts personal documents up to 6 months old at the time of application. If you apostille in January and your Migraciones appointment is in August, the documents may be rejected.

Rule of thumb: apostille 3-4 months before your expected Migraciones appointment. Not earlier, not later.

For families: book the Migraciones appointment as soon as possible (slots are 4-8 weeks out), then work backwards to time the apostilles.

Common family-specific mistakes

1. Forgetting children's birth certificates. Every child needs their own apostilled birth certificate for residency.

2. Not bringing school records. Argentine schools need them for grade placement.

3. Not carrying the Red Book. Argentine paediatricians need vaccination history to issue the libreta sanitaria.

4. Only one parent travelling. If only one parent takes the children to Argentina, carry a signed consent letter from the other parent. Some airlines and border officials require it.

5. Expired passports for children. Children's passports expire after 5 years. Check validity before booking flights.

6. Apostilling too early. Documents apostilled 7+ months before the Migraciones appointment may expire. Time it carefully.

The packing file

Create a physical document folder for the flight:

• All apostilled originals in a ziplock bag
• Photocopies of every document (5 copies each)
• A USB drive with scanned PDFs of everything
• Cloud backup (Google Drive, Dropbox) with all scans
• Contact details for your Argentine lawyer, accountant, and school

Carry this folder in your hand luggage, not checked bags. If your luggage is lost, you can reconstruct everything from the scans. If the originals are lost, you cannot.

Not legal advice. Document requirements vary by residency category and Migraciones officer. Consult an Argentine immigration lawyer for complex family situations (multiple nationalities, adoption, guardianship).

Worth reading next

• Moving to Argentina from the UK: A Practical Guide
• Getting a CUIL or CDI as a UK Citizen: ANSES in Practice
• Overstaying on a UK Tourist Stamp in Argentina: Consequences and Fixes