Argentine citizenship by descent: who qualifies, the law, and what it takes

Q: Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a parent?

Likely. A child of a native-born Argentine can opt for Argentine citizenship at the consulate, at any age.

Q: Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a grandparent?

Possible. Only children of native-born Argentines may opt, but a parent who opts becomes an Argentine by option, not native-born, so it generally stops there. It depends on where your parent was born.

Q: Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a great-grandparent?

Possible. Only children of native-born Argentines may opt, but a parent who opts becomes an Argentine by option, not native-born, so it generally stops there. It depends on where your parent was born.

Through a parentLIKELYOption (Art. 1(2))Through a grandparentPOSSIBLEOption, generation by generation Through a great-grandparentPOSSIBLEOption, generation by generation

Ways to apply: Option for children of native Argentines (Art. 1(2))
Dual citizenship: Kept, however you apply

Each answer assumes none of your ancestors became a citizen of another country before their child was born. Below is what changes each answer.

On this page

01Who qualifies
02Dates that matter
03Through your mother
04Keeping your citizenship
05Ways to apply
06The documents
07What it takes
08Where the records live
09Law changes
10Other options
11Sources

Who qualifies, generation by generation

LIKELY

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a parent?

Option (Art. 1(2))

A child of a native-born Argentine can opt for Argentine citizenship at the consulate, at any age.

Children of native Argentines who, having been born abroad, opt for the citizenship of origin are Argentines. Law 346 on Citizenship and Naturalisation, Art. 1(2): children of native Argentines born abroad who opt for Argentine citizenship, Art. 1(2)
The option is open at any age, even if the Argentine parent has died, in person at the consulate for your residence or in Argentina. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: option of Argentine nationality for children of native Argentines born abroad

POSSIBLE

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a grandparent?

Option, generation by generation

Only children of native-born Argentines may opt, but a parent who opts becomes an Argentine by option, not native-born, so it generally stops there. It depends on where your parent was born.

What would settle itWhether your parent was born in Argentina. If so, you can opt; if your parent was born abroad to an Argentine, the option is theirs, not yours.

The option is for children of native Argentines; a person who acquires citizenship by option is not native-born for this purpose. Law 346 on Citizenship and Naturalisation, Art. 1(2): children of native Argentines born abroad who opt for Argentine citizenship, Art. 1(2)
Children born abroad to Argentines who are native, naturalized or by option are recognised as permanent residents of Argentina: a right to live there, not citizenship. Decree of Necessity and Urgency 366/2025, amending Migration Law 25.871 Art. 22, Art. 22 of Law 25.871, as substituted

POSSIBLE

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a great-grandparent?

Option, generation by generation

Only children of native-born Argentines may opt, but a parent who opts becomes an Argentine by option, not native-born, so it generally stops there. It depends on where your parent was born.

What would settle itWhether your parent was born in Argentina. If so, you can opt; if your parent was born abroad to an Argentine, the option is theirs, not yours.

The option is for children of native Argentines; a person who acquires citizenship by option is not native-born for this purpose. Law 346 on Citizenship and Naturalisation, Art. 1(2): children of native Argentines born abroad who opt for Argentine citizenship, Art. 1(2)
Children born abroad to Argentines who are native, naturalized or by option are recognised as permanent residents of Argentina: a right to live there, not citizenship. Decree of Necessity and Urgency 366/2025, amending Migration Law 25.871 Art. 22, Art. 22 of Law 25.871, as substituted

The dates that matter

No date named in Argentina’s rule decides who qualifies. The answers above turn on the family’s facts, not on when anyone was born or left.

Claiming through your mother or grandmother

Argentina’s rule gives the same answer whether the line runs through a mother or a father.

Dual citizenship with your home country

You keep your citizenship.

On every open route, the rule lets a citizen of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina or South Africa keep that citizenship.

Holding this citizenship alongside another is addressed by the law cited; check the current position before relying on it. Law 346 on Citizenship and Naturalisation, Art. 1(2): children of native Argentines born abroad who opt for Argentine citizenship

Every way to apply, and the law behind it

Option (Art. 1(2))

Open to you through a parent

LIKELY
Through a parent

The law

Children of native Argentines who, having been born abroad, opt for the citizenship of origin are Argentines. Law 346 on Citizenship and Naturalisation, Art. 1(2): children of native Argentines born abroad who opt for Argentine citizenship, Art. 1(2)
The option is open at any age, even if the Argentine parent has died, in person at the consulate for your residence or in Argentina. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: option of Argentine nationality for children of native Argentines born abroad

Option, generation by generation

Open to you through a grandparent or a great-grandparent

POSSIBLE
Through a grandparent

The law

The option is for children of native Argentines; a person who acquires citizenship by option is not native-born for this purpose. Law 346 on Citizenship and Naturalisation, Art. 1(2): children of native Argentines born abroad who opt for Argentine citizenship, Art. 1(2)
Children born abroad to Argentines who are native, naturalized or by option are recognised as permanent residents of Argentina: a right to live there, not citizenship. Decree of Necessity and Urgency 366/2025, amending Migration Law 25.871 Art. 22, Art. 22 of Law 25.871, as substituted

What would settle an unsure case

Whether your parent was born in Argentina. If so, you can opt; if your parent was born abroad to an Argentine, the option is theirs, not yours.

The documents, as the rule lists them

Option (Art. 1(2))

Through a parent

Your parent’s Argentine birth certificate
Your birth certificate, apostilled and translated
Your parents’ marriage certificate

Option, generation by generation

Through a grandparent or great-grandparent

Your ancestor’s Argentine birth certificate
Birth records for each generation

Most countries also want proof that your ancestor didn’t become a citizen somewhere else before their child was born: the naturalization record with its date, or a letter saying there isn’t one.

What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides

Option (Art. 1(2))

Time: A few weeks to a few months: a consulate appointment for a minor, or a federal judge’s proceeding for an adult exercising the option.
Cost: About $200–400: certified and apostilled U.S. records, translations, and consulate fees.
The hard part: Proving your parent was born in Argentina, not just Argentine by descent. If your parent was born abroad, the option is theirs to have exercised, not yours.
Who decides: The Argentine consulate for your address (minors), or a federal judge in Argentina after proving parentage (adults).
The first record: Your parent’s Argentine birth certificate (partida de nacimiento), from The Registro Civil of the province where they were born. Contact the provincial Registro Civil with your parent’s name, birthdate and city; most answer by email or an online request in a few weeks. argentina.gob.ar

How it’s filed

Where: The offered Argentine consulate for your residence district: New York or Houston; Miami; Chicago; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Washington, DC office list
How: In person; you appear in person
Form: New York adult nationality-option information form and consular option act
Appointments: New York civil-registration email appointment. When the original documents are ready, email ryf@mrecic.gov.ar with subject Solicitud de Opción por la Nacionalidad Argentina. Requests are handled in receipt order and all communication is by email. The adult attends personally for at least two hours. Houston accepts the reviewed originals in person without appointment or by tracked post; it assigns the option appointment after review. Option inquiries: ciudadaniahouston@mrecic.gov.ar. The Houston local instructions require birth records issued within six months and professional Spanish translation; use the Houston mapped officer-information sheet.
Fee: About $135
Decision: 3–6 months
Your records: Apostilled, and translated. A simple Spanish translation of the birth certificate and apostille is accepted. New York birth certificates need the County Clerk seal before the state apostille.

Your consulate

Every office in the United States (7)

Consulado General y Centro de Promoción de Argentina en Nueva York

Serves Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont

How: In person; you appear in person
Address: 12 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019
Pay: 135 USD, by debit card or money order made out to “Consulado Argentino en Nueva York”; no personal checks.

Who qualifies, generation by generation

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a parent?

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a grandparent?

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a great-grandparent?

The dates that matter

Claiming through your mother or grandmother

Dual citizenship with your home country

Every way to apply, and the law behind it

The law

The law

What would settle an unsure case

The documents, as the rule lists them

Option (Art. 1(2))

Option, generation by generation

What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides

Option (Art. 1(2))

How it’s filed

Option, generation by generation

How it’s filed

Where each record lives, and how to ask for it

Translations

The passport

Recent and pending changes

If descent doesn’t reach you

Every source on this page

Check your family for Argentina.

Who qualifies, generation by generation

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a parent?

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a grandparent?

Can you claim Argentine citizenship through a great-grandparent?

The dates that matter

Claiming through your mother or grandmother

Dual citizenship with your home country

Every way to apply, and the law behind it

The law

The law

What would settle an unsure case

The documents, as the rule lists them

Option (Art. 1(2))

Option, generation by generation

What it takes: time, cost, the hard part, who decides

Option (Art. 1(2))

How it’s filed

Option, generation by generation

How it’s filed

Where each record lives, and how to ask for it

Translations

The passport

Recent and pending changes

If descent doesn’t reach you

Every source on this page

Check your family for Argentina.