The Rentista (passive income) and Pensionado (pension) visas broadly require around US$1,300 to US$2,000 a month of qualifying income; they start as one-year temporary residence, are renewable, and can lead to permanent residency.
A few things to line up early:
Visa rules change often — treat this as a starting point and confirm the latest official requirements before you plan.
Remember: buying a home and gaining the right to live there are usually separate steps. See how ownership works in Argentina, and what it costs to live there in our cost-of-retiring guide.
Once resident (broadly 183 days or a permanent-residence permit), Argentina taxes worldwide income at progressive rates up to 35%, so a foreign pension can fall into the local net. Double-tax treaties and foreign-tax credits often reduce the bill, and those under the residency threshold are not taxed on a foreign pension — take advice.
Argentina has free universal public hospitals and well-regarded, affordable private clinics; most expats take private 'prepaga' insurance, though premiums have risen sharply since deregulation and vary widely by age and plan. Buenos Aires and Mendoza have the strongest facilities. Generally safe, though petty theft and pickpocketing call for street-sense in Buenos Aires; Spanish is essential with some English in the capital, and driving is on the right.
Buenos Aires for European-style grandeur and its Recoleta and Palermo barrios, Mendoza for wine country and mountain air, Cordoba for a central university city, and Bariloche for Patagonian lakes and scenery.
Thinking seriously about Argentina?
Two honest Brits, a private call, and straight answers — see if a freehold home abroad is a fit for you.
See if you qualify →