DNI Photo

If you have ever seen the Argentina DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) you will realize that their photos area taken at an angle.

Ojo! The requirements for the photos to submit for the DNI are distinct from the photos that you submit for residency. The residency photos are taken head on with a white background. A DNI photo is a blue background with your head turned to the side. Remember that both eyes must be visible and you should not be smiling. When you get the photos taken you should tell the person that it for the DNI. You can get the photos taken at just about any photo processing store. I paid 15 pesos to get them done in Recoleta in September 2009. I probably overpaid but I was in a hurry. They process the photos while you wait, it only takes about 5 minutes (assuming you don´t have to wait in line!).

FYI - you can actually get the DNI photo taken in the Registro Nacional de Personas (25 de Mayo 155) when you go to start your paperwork for only 5 pesos but I didn´t want to take the chance that it could be closed on the day of my turno, or that their camera was broken, etc so I paid extra for peace of mind. There are also people selling photo services and photocopies right outside the door of the Registro Nacional de Personas.

The photo above is an example of a correct DNI photo I took off of google image.

General Tip: Photocopy Everything !!

General tip when dealing with Argentine bureaucracy -- make photocopies of everything! Not just one copy but several copies just in case they ask you for 2 copies of a certain paper you do not want to have to wait in the line in Immigrations for the photocopier (it is usually about 2 blocks long!).

News: Can now make appointments at Migraciones

***BIG News***

Immigrations just announced that you can set up appointments by telephone instead of standing in line all day and all night in order to renew your tourist visa, renew residency, start the residency process, ect. Lately, migrations has been a total quilombo with people in line for literally days in order to take care of immigration issues.

Call 5222-7117 between 8am-4pm.
Immigrations website: www.migraciones.gov.ar/

Here´s the link for the article in Clarín which discusses the changes:
http://www.clarin.com/diario/2009/04/15/um/m-01897714.htm

Step 1: Do your homework and evaluate your situation

The first thing to do before starting the long process of residency in Argentina is to do some preliminary background research. This involves talking to other expats that hold the same passport(s) that you do, searching google, and checking out the expat forums (I like www.baexpats.com), and of course -- use this blog!

It is important to think about how long you think you will really be in Argentina. The process is long and frustrating so you need to be committed to idea of staying here to really make it worth it.

For example, if you plan to be here short-term to teach English maybe just getting the CUIT as a monotributista is an OK solution and it would not be necessary to seek residency. You can be a tourist in Argentina for a LONG time before anyone starts asking questions and trip to migraciones every 3 months and Uruguay every 6 months is not that difficult.

However, there are many advantages to a CUIL and DNI. For me, I want the ability to have a "real job" and be paid legally. Without papers you will likely have to work "en negro" which means you are paid "under the table", tax-free and in cash.

Alright now that you have decided you want residency let´s keep moving forward on how to initiate the process.

Why this blog was created

I decided to start blogging my progress as I am trying to get a visa here in Argentina. It is a long and inefficient process and from talking to other Americans they all seem to stress the importance of networking and getting information from multiple sources. This blog was created to hopefully help others untangle the process and most of all to let others know that you are not the only frustrated one!