Passport from Argentina | Renewal and Usage

Argentina is a lovely place to live and a great home base for international travel. In fact, many Argentine citizens travel a lot and desire to see as much of the world as they can. In order to leave their country and enter another one, Argentines need to have a valid passport from their home country. Here’s what they need to know to get one and use it well.

What is an Argentine Passport?

A passport issued by Argentina is simply a document that identifies a person as a citizen of that country and indicates that they have permission to travel abroad. Holding an ARG passport may also entitle the bearer to certain rights and privileges. For instance, some countries let Argentines enter without a visa or permit them to get one onsite.

What Does a Passport from Argentina Look Like?

A passport from Argentina is a small purple booklet with embossed gold lettering and designs on the front and back. It is designed to be easy to transport yet durable. 

•  Argentine passports have the official seal of Argentina on the front cover, plus the words “Mercosur Republica Argentina Passaporte”.
• They also have a small symbol indicating the location of the biometric chip to make scanning the passport easier
• The back cover depicts a map of Argentina, with the country and its territory in Antarctica highlighted. This is embossed in the same gold as the front cover.
• Inside the passport, there’s a short message that identifies the bearer as an Argentine and requests permission from other countries for them to be allowed entry.
• After that comes the identification page of the passport. This contains the traveler’s picture, as well as their name, birth date, place of birth, and other essential information.
• Travelers should sign their passports on the page facing that one, on the line, or in the space indicated. This shows that they agree with the information in the document. 
• Beyond that, there are empty pages that can be stamped as the traveler enters and leaves other countries. Visas may also be stamped into the passport on these pages.
• At the end of the passport, there is a place for extra notes about the document or the person carrying it. There is also information about caring for and using the passport.

Finally, there is the final end paper and, eventually, the back cover. This and many of the pages have scenes or people that are important to Argentina printed faintly on the background.

What Can a Person Use an Argentine Passport For?

Passports from Argentina can be used in many ways, but are most commonly used for leaving the country and entering another one. They prove identity and citizenship. In fact, a passport from Argentina can be used as official identification at any time that is necessary. However, it’s generally recommended that people not carry passports around.

This helps prevent loss and theft, which is a hassle and which can lead to identity theft. It also means people don’t have to keep reapplying for passports and clogging the system. Passports can also help people when they need aid overseas. Argentines should be able to show their passport at the Argentine embassy to get the aid they need.

This aid can take many forms, from financial help to medical help to help in case of an emergency. After all, the embassy is there to help its citizens! Finally, having a traveler’s passport number can help locate them in case of an emergency. Travelers should always leave this information with their family and friends.

Getting a Passport from ARG

Citizens of Argentina should find it relatively easy to get a passport. As long as they collect the correct documentation, they should be able to get the document without any problems. They will need to get an appointment at their nearest Civil Registry office. There, they will present their package of documents to apply for their passport.

This package starts with their passport application. This is easy to fill out and should not take long as it only involves providing the government with some basic information. They will also need to present their birth certificate, their National Identity Document, and, if they are married, their marriage license. Each one will also need 2 recent passport photographs.

Several National Identity Documents may be acceptable. If they don’t have a National Identity Document, they can use their civic booklet (women) or their military enrollment booklet (men). They will also need to be ready to pay any necessary fees for processing their passport. This varies based on their age and the type of passport they are trying to get and can change, too. 

Naturalized Argentine citizens will also need to present their Citizenship Certificate. People under 18 need to have permission from both parents in order to get a passport. Most passports will be received by mail within 15 days of application. For an extra fee, a passport can be processed in 48 hours.

Argentina does have an ultrafast passport. It is only available at Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires for people who can show same-day international tickets. It has added extra fees, but can be processed within 15 minutes. These are great options when someone is leaving the country because of an urgent emergency overseas.

Renewing an Argentine Passport

The process for renewing an ARG passport is very similar to the process of getting one in the first place. The differences are minor, but they are important.

The biggest difference is that the applicant needs to submit their expiring or expired passport along with their data packet. This must be the original passport and not a photocopy. In addition, people seeking to renew an Argentine passport need to submit three photos of themselves, not two. These must all meet the government’s passport photo requirements.

Renewing a passport from Argentina is slightly cheaper than getting one for the first time. However, these fees are subject to change at any time. Argentine passports may also be extended. This occurs when a person lives overseas and wants to add 5 years to their passport’s validity.

The application process is identical to those above, except that the person indicates they are seeking an extension instead of a renewal. Extended passports are only good until the person returns to Argentina. At that point, the document is no longer valid and the person needs to renew it or apply for a new one.

What Happens if a Passport from Argentina is Lost or Stolen?

It’s easy to panic if a passport gets lost or stolen. After all, without it, travelers can feel like there’s no way for them to prove that they are who they say they are.

If this happens, travelers should start by reporting the theft to local law enforcement authorities. They will get an official police report, which they can submit when applying for a replacement. Once they have this, they will need to contact the nearest embassy or consulate. They will need to complete the passport application process again.

Along with their application packet, they should submit a copy of the police report indicating that the passport is missing. They may also need to write out an explanation of what happened. People who need to travel urgently may be able to get emergency travel documents. These usually only allow them to return home to Argentina.

Once they are there, they can complete the passport application process again. Note that emergency documents generally do not permit ongoing travel. Travelers are encouraged to protect their passports against loss and theft. They should keep the document in a safe place and have a safe way to transport passports while traveling. 

Some travelers choose to keep their passports close to hand, in a thin bag they wear under their clothing. This helps them avoid pickpockets and also helps them have access to it when they need it. Others may choose to store passports in inside pockets or other out-of-the-way locations.

Preventing passport theft also helps prevent identity theft, which is a big problem around the world.

What Kinds of Passports Can Travelers Get from Argentina?

Argentina offers four types of passports, though most travelers will get the same kind: ordinary passports. These are the ones with the purple covers, described above. This is the standard passport from ARG. It is what citizens usually get when they are traveling for business, pleasure, seeing friends and family, or other reasons.

People who are high-ranking in Argentina’s government or who are traveling on high-ranking diplomatic missions will get blue diplomatic passports. These passports should only be used when on official business and entitle the bearer to diplomatic immunity while they are overseas. 

Other officials will get official passports, which are also blue. These don’t provide diplomatic immunity but do indicate that the person is working on behalf of the Argentine government. Stateless people who are either married to Argentine citizens or adopted by them as children may be able to get a special passport.

This allows them to enter or leave the country in certain circumstances, such as emergencies. It may or may not permit business or leisure travel, depending on the person and the situation.

ARG and Biometric Passport

All new passports issued in Argentina are biometric passports. This means that they have a computer chip embedded in the front cover. This chip contains identifying information for the bearer of the passport. It can be scanned anytime the passport is used to make sure people are who they say they are.

Most of the time, these chips contain the same information that is listed on the identification page of the passport. This includes the traveler’s name, date of birth, etc. Sometimes, these biometric chips will contain other data, such as fingerprints and retina scans. If these are available they will be stored on the chip.

Occasionally, countries will not issue a visa if they do not have this information available. This permits them to verify their identity for sure every time the person enters or leaves the country.

Validity Rules and Passports from Argentina

Argentine passports issued to adults (those over 18) are valid for 10 years, while those issued to children are valid for 5 years. After that, they will need to be replaced or renewed.

Passport holders - even children - need to sign their passport before it is valid. There is a place to do this in the passport and doing so indicates that the information in the document is true. Passports from Argentina are not valid if they are damaged. This can include water damage, tearing, and more. 

It also includes a biometric chip. This must be scannable when necessary, or the passport is rendered invalid and should be replaced before travel commences. Most countries want all passports, including those from Argentina, to have at least 6 months of validity left on them when the bearer enters the country. Otherwise, replacement is necessary.

How Powerful is an Argentine Passport?

Argentina’s passport is listed as 20th in the world, making it a desirable passport to have. This rating may vary based on who is doing the rating, though overall the passport is strong. People who hold Argentine passports only have to go through a formal visa process in 41 nations around the world. They can get a visa online for visiting 17 more.

Argentines are offered electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) in 4 countries, can get a visa on arrival in 38 countries, and do not need a visa at all in 129 more.

All of this means that it is relatively easy for people from Argentina to travel anywhere they want. They do need to make sure they know the rules for entering a country before they arrive there.

Dual Citizenship and ARG

Having dual citizenship means that a person qualifies and identifies as a citizen of more than one country. Some countries permit dual citizenship, while others do not.

Argentina generally permits dual citizenship. However, they require that anyone claiming Argentine citizenship only identify as an Argentine citizen while they are in the country. It also requires anyone holding Argentine citizenship to use their passport from that country when entering and leaving it. They may not use their other passport while in Argentina.

In addition, Argentina does not allow people to renounce their Argentine citizenship. It can only be revoked as a punishment for certain crimes. Instead, Argentine citizens may add additional citizenships on top of that one.

Conclusion

Argentine citizens who want to travel will need to get a passport. Now that they understand what it is and how to use it, they can apply for one as soon as they are ready to do so.  Once they have their passport in hand, they can plan international trips. They should be able to see and experience whatever they want to in the world.