Nationality by Option (Law No. 346)

Argentine citizenship by descent, known as Nacionalidad por Opción (Nationality by Option), is a constitutional right for the children of native-born Argentines. The process is administrative and involves signing a formal "Act of Option" to claim your citizenship. You can complete this process either at an Argentine consulate in your home country or while visiting Argentina.

Applying at a Consulate (Outside Argentina)

1. Identify your Jurisdiction: You must apply at the consulate that has authority over your place of residence. Common locations include Miami, Atlanta, or London.
2. Document Preparation: Gather all required documents. Any foreign (non-Argentine) documents must be Apostilled or legalized. If they are not in Spanish, they must be translated by a Traductor Público Nacional (Certified Public Translator) in Argentina and legalized by the Colegio de Traductores.
3. Initial Review: Most consulates require you to email scanned copies of all documents for a pre-approval check before they will grant you an appointment.
4. The Appointment: Once your documents are verified, you will attend an in-person appointment to sign the Acta de Opción (Act of Option). If the applicant is a minor (under 18), both parents must attend to sign.
5. ID Issuance: After signing, the consulate will process your new Argentine Birth Certificate and your Documento Nacional de Identidad or DNI (National ID). You can usually apply for your Argentine Passport during this same visit.

Applying in Argentina

1. Entry: Enter Argentina as a tourist using your current valid passport.
2. RENAPER Application: Visit the Registro Nacional de las Personas (National Registry of Persons) to submit your documentation and "opt" for citizenship.
3. Judicial Route: In rare, complex cases involving older laws or unclear lineage, you may be directed to a Juicio de Ciudadanía (Citizenship Trial) in federal court, though the administrative route at RENAPER is standard for direct children of natives.

Total Estimated Government Fees: Approximately $125 – $280 USD.

Note: This total does not include costs for obtaining original birth certificates, Apostilles, or professional translation services by a certified translator in Argentina.

• Consular Review: It typically takes 1 to 3 months to have your documents reviewed and your in-person appointment scheduled.
• Document Issuance: After you sign the Act of Option, your DNI and Argentine Birth Certificate usually take 4 to 8 weeks to be produced and delivered to the consulate.
• Total Timeline: You should expect the entire process to take between 3 to 6 months from your first contact with the consulate until you receive your physical ID.
• Document Validity: Argentine birth certificates (Partidas Digitales) used for the application should be recently issued, typically within the last 6 to 12 months. You can request fresh digital copies through the official government portal.