Many clients come to Life in Argentina after consulting other lawyers and firms, asking us about the possibility of obtaining Argentine citizenship by simply enrolling in a spanish course or taking wine or tango classes. At first glance, Argentine citizenship might seem very easy to acquire: living in the country for two years while taking a course would seemingly suffice to achieve something that takes far more effort in other jurisdictions.
Based on these interactions with clients and some inquiries we receive daily through Reddit, we’ve noticed that for many months many law firms took advantage of this “window of opportunity,” but with Milei’s new decree, that’s no longer an option. These firms didn’t have the correct information on the matter, but they took the risk by selling their clients and interested parties that this was the fastest route to obtaining citizenship.
When we at Life in Argentina saw this trend emerging, we decided to contact the Direccion Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) to verify if this was actually a viable option. We received a very clear response (we have attached the official reply from them).
Its written response was clear: time spent in Argentina under transitory residence (residencia transitoria) does not count toward the residence requirement for a citizenship application before DNM. The authority stated that a minimum of two years under temporary or permanent residence (residencia temporaria or permanente) is required. We have included DNM’s written response below.
Read DNM’s official response (PDF)
That difference is the starting point for understanding whether a course can support your citizenship plans. Temporary and transitory residence are separate legal categories, and treating them as interchangeable can have significant consequences.
Why the Residence Category Matters
In English, “temporary residence” is often used loosely to describe any permission to stay in a country for a limited period. In Argentina, however, residencia temporaria and residencia transitoria have different legal meanings. Both can authorize a lawful stay, but they do not have the same consequences for a citizenship application.
This is where the promise of citizenship through a course becomes problematic. Someone may enroll, obtain transitory residence, and remain legally in Argentina, believing that they are accumulating the two years needed to apply. According to the clarification we received from DNM, that time does not count toward the citizenship residence requirement. Permission to remain in the country and qualifying residence for naturalization are separate questions.
So..which student residence categories count toward citizenship?
No. Argentina’s immigration framework distinguishes between qualifying studies that support temporary student residence and educational activities that fall under transitory residence.
Official guidance places courses outside the formal education system within the transitory student category. This can apply even when the course is offered by an officially recognized educational institution. A university’s name on an enrollment certificate, for example, does not by itself establish that the particular course qualifies its students for temporary residence.
The relevant question is therefore more specific than “Can I get residency by studying Spanish?” You need to establish which category the particular program supports. The course’s subject, its marketing materials, or a general reference to a “student visa” cannot answer that question on their own.
This also means that it would be incorrect to say that studying in Argentina cannot lead to citizenship. Qualifying temporary student residence can count toward the residence requirement. The problem arises when a course leading to transitory residence is presented as though it offers the same path.
Can you get Argentine citizenship after two years?
Decree 366/2025 amended the ordinary residence-based naturalization route under Argentina’s citizenship law. The amended text requires applicants to be at least 18 years old and to have resided legally and continuously in Argentina during the two years immediately preceding their application. It defines continuous residence as remaining in the country throughout that period without any departures abroad.
For someone planning to apply, the residence category is therefore only part of the assessment. Travel history and continuity of lawful residence also matter. Holding a residence permit does not, by itself, establish that every citizenship requirement has been met.
There is another distinction that should be made explicit: being eligible to apply after two years is not the same as receiving citizenship in two years. An application must still be submitted, supported by the required documentation, and assessed. Migraciones’ published guidance also requires a DNI, evidence of a lawful occupation or means of support, and an Argentine criminal record certificate. A course enrollment cannot guarantee the outcome of that process.
Can you still apply through the federal courts?
People researching citizenship often find accounts from applicants who went through the federal courts under the earlier framework. Those experiences need to be read in their legal and procedural context.
Decree 366/2025 assigned new naturalization applications to DNM and provided that applications already pending when the decree took effect would continue under the previous rules. DNM also referred to that distinction in its response to our inquiry. An account of a successful court application under the earlier framework is therefore not sufficient evidence that the same approach is available to a new applicant today.
The response we received also stated that implementing regulations were pending at the time. That part of the correspondence should be understood as a statement about the position when it was issued. Migraciones now publishes instructions for initiating naturalization applications through RaDEX, so applicants should check the procedure applicable when they intend to file.
What should you check if you already have residence through a course?
If you enrolled in a course because you were told it would support a citizenship application, start by reviewing your immigration documents. The decision granting your residence should identify the category you received. Ask your adviser to explain that category, its legal basis, and how it affects your proposed citizenship timeline.
It is also important to distinguish an approved residence from a residencia precaria, the provisional authorization that may be issued while a residence application is being processed. The amended immigration law expressly states that precaria is not valid residence for the acquisition of nationality through naturalization. Simply having started a residence application should therefore not be treated as confirmation that qualifying time is accumulating.
If your approved category is transitory, that does not necessarily mean you have no future path to citizenship. It means your plan needs to be reassessed against a residence category for which you genuinely qualify. You should not assume that obtaining temporary residence later will make the earlier period under transitory residence count retroactively.
What should you ask before paying for a citizenship plan?
A clear proposal should explain which residence category you will apply for, why you qualify, and how that category relates to the citizenship requirements. If a course is part of the proposal, you should receive an explanation of the specific program’s immigration classification before committing to tuition and legal fees.
At Life in Argentina, we contacted DNM because this distinction has practical consequences for people building a life here. Someone choosing where to live, what to study, and how to spend the next two years deserves to know whether the proposed route supports their longer-term plans.
If you have been offered residence through a course, or already hold student residence and want to understand what it means for a future citizenship application, contact us at contact@lifeinargentina.com. We can review your documents and explain how your current status fits into the available options.