Moving to Argentina
from the UK
British citizens can stay 90 days without a visa and extend once for another 90 days at Migraciones, Argentina's immigration office. To live there you need temporary residence: one year, renewable, with a Migraciones fee of ARS 100,000, and permanent residence after three years. Retirees and people with income from abroad usually apply as pensionado or rentista, showing monthly income of five times the minimum wage (ARS 1,956,000 a month in October 2026); neither allows local work. A single person spends about US$1,300–1,900 a month in Buenos Aires, and the UK has no healthcare agreement with Argentina, so budget for private cover.
The move, step by step
- Moving to Argentina from the UK: Steps, Costs and TimelineBritish passport holders can enter for 90 days visa-free. See the residence routes, UK paperwork, September 2026 fees, shipping rules and first-year costs.
- Argentina visa for UK citizens: 90 days free, then residenceBritish citizens can visit Argentina visa-free for 90 days and extend once. Living there calls for a residence category, supporting documents and a Migraciones filing.
- Documents needed to move to Argentina: a UK family checklist in orderFor a UK family moving to Argentina: which certificates each person needs, when to apostille them and what a family of four can expect to pay.
- UK Tax When Moving to Argentina: What HMRC Still TaxesMoving to Argentina does not end UK tax on the day you fly. HMRC tests residence for each 6 April–5 April tax year; a qualifying split year can change how overseas income is taxed, while UK rent and property disposals may still need reporting.
- Sending money from the UK to Argentina: bank, card or cashFor a peso payment to an Argentine bank, compare the final ARS in a live GBP-to-ARS quote. Wise asks for the recipient's 22-digit CBU and 11-digit CUIT/CUIL; a card or cash pickup serves a different need.
- Healthcare in Argentina for Expats from the UK: Cover and CostsThe NHS and GHIC will not cover your life in Argentina. Public emergency care is free, while a local prepaga costs roughly US$130–870 a month at age 30 by tier (September 2026).
- Renting in Buenos Aires as a Foreigner: Contracts and CostsA British passport can identify you on a Buenos Aires lease, but a long-term landlord usually wants income evidence and a guarantee. A central one-bedroom averages about US$750 monthly before building charges (September 2026); the contract sets the rent currency and adjustments.
- Best Areas in Buenos Aires for British Expats: Where to LivePalermo makes a flexible first base, Belgrano brings families closer to city schools, and Recoleta puts private hospitals within reach. Compare the actual journey before committing: a central one-bedroom averaged about US$750 a month in September 2026, before building charges.
Browse by topic
- Visas & Moving28 guidesHow to get legal residency, what documents you need from the UK, and what to do in your first weeks.
- Money & Banking25 guidesOpening bank accounts, moving money, the exchange rate, and what HMRC needs to know.
- Where to Live9 guidesBuenos Aires neighbourhoods, life outside the capital, and finding your feet.
- Daily Life19 guidesHealthcare, schools, remote work, safety, and building a life that works.
- Property16 guidesRenting, buying, due diligence, and why you should almost certainly rent first.
Choosing a first flat? Search furnished rentals on PlataPlace: brokerage and owner listings in one search, each showing its source and when it was last seen.
Common questions
- Do UK citizens need a visa for Argentina?
- A full British citizen passport can be used for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. Work, study and longer stays require the appropriate Argentine permission.
- Can I extend a 90-day visit?
- Yes, once. Apply at Migraciones before your 90 days end to get another 90 days.
- How long is the digital-nomad route?
- 180 days, extendable once for another 180. It covers remote work for foreign employers or clients only, gives no DNI (Argentine ID card) and does not count toward permanent residence.
- What happens to my NHS cover?
- You lose automatic free NHS hospital care once you move abroad permanently, and Argentina has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Emergency care in Argentine public hospitals is free; private cover (a prepaga) costs from about US$130 a month at age 30.
- Do I need to tell HMRC I'm leaving?
- Yes. Use form P85, or the residence pages of your Self Assessment return if you file one. The Statutory Residence Test decides when you stop being UK tax resident.
- Do UK documents need an apostille?
- Yes, for a residence application. UK birth, marriage and criminal-record certificates need an apostille from the Foreign Office Legalisation Office, then a Spanish translation by an Argentine sworn translator.
Need a lawyer for your residence file?
We recommend Lucero Legal, an immigration law firm in Buenos Aires that works in English with British clients.