An Argentine passport is an official travel document granted exclusively to Argentine citizens. Consequently, the threshold legal question is not the passport itself, but rather the acquisition or confirmation of Argentine nationality. Under Argentine law, citizenship may be obtained through three principal channels: by birth within Argentine territory (jus soli), by descent from an Argentine parent (jus sanguinis), or by naturalization.
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In the case of naturalization, foreign nationals may petition for Argentine citizenship after a continuous residence period of two years within the country. This process is judicial in nature and is filed before the competent federal courts. It is worth emphasizing that Argentine jurisprudence has traditionally interpreted residency requirements with a degree of flexibility, often favoring applicants who can demonstrate genuine ties to the country, lawful means of subsistence, and good moral character.
Once citizenship has been duly recognized—either by birth, descent, or judicial naturalization—the individual becomes entitled to obtain the Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI), which is the foundational identity instrument in Argentina. The DNI is a prerequisite for the issuance of a passport and is administered by the Registro Nacional de las Personas.
Subsequently, the Argentine passport is issued by the same authority, typically through an administrative procedure that is both efficient and standardized. Applicants must present their valid DNI, comply with biometric data collection, and pay the applicable governmental fees. In most cases, the passport is issued within a short timeframe, often within days, depending on the selected processing modality.
