Argentine Nationality by Option

The Consulate may process the acquisition of Argentine nationality “by option” for foreign nationals of any age who reside within the Consulate’s jurisdiction (regardless of where they were born) and who are the sons/daughters of a native Argentine citizen (that is, the child of someone born in Argentina). The Consulate cannot process Argentine nationality on the basis of marriage.

In the explanation below, we will refer to the foreign person who will acquire Argentine nationality by option as the “optant”.

Documents required to initiate the nationality by option procedure for optants who were born within the jurisdiction of this Consulate General:

• Original foreign birth record of the optant, with the Hague Apostille from the State where the birth took place and translated into Spanish. This original will be kept on file at the Consulate (therefore, if you need another copy, you must request it from the issuing authority of the birth certificate). This original must have been issued within the last 6 months.
• Original birth record of the native Argentine mother or father who will transmit citizenship to the optant. Please note that a birth certificate is not accepted, only a birth record. This original, which will be returned, must have been issued within the last 6 months. Digital records, downloaded as PDFs from digitized Argentine Civil Registries, are considered originals.
• If the optant is over 18 years of age, they must additionally have a photocopy of the optant’s U.S. or foreign passport (on the day of the appointment, the original must be presented).
• If the optant is over 15 years of age and has a photo ID (passport, driver’s license or State ID), this document must also be presented in original.
• If the optant is a married woman and her passport bears her husband’s surname, a copy of the marriage certificate legalized with the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish.
• Photocopy of the National Identity Document (DNI) of the native Argentine parent who will transmit nationality, and photocopy of the identity document of the other parent (on the day of the appointment, the original DNI must be presented).
• If the optant is under 18 years of age, a photocopy of the updated DNI (ID-card format) of the Argentine father/mother or of the optant’s guardians. If both parents are Argentine, copies of both updated DNIs are required. If one of the parents is not Argentine, a copy of that parent’s passport or identity document of their nationality (on the day of the appointment, the originals must be presented).
• Contact details of the optant: full name, full address, telephone numbers, and email address.
• On the day of the appointment, both the optant and the parents/guardians must bring their original identity documents/passports.

Documents required to initiate the nationality by option procedure for optants who were not born within the jurisdiction of this Consulate General:

• Original foreign birth record of the optant, with the Hague Apostille or the corresponding legalization from the place where the birth occurred and translated by a professional translator. This original will be kept on file at the Consulate (therefore, if you need another copy, you must request it from the issuing authority of the birth certificate). This original must have been issued within the last 6 months*.
• Original birth record of the native Argentine mother or father who will transmit citizenship to the optant. Please note that a birth certificate is not accepted, only a birth record. This original, which will be returned, must have been issued within the last 6 months. Digital records, downloaded as PDFs from digitized Argentine Civil Registries, are considered originals.
• The following documents may be sent as copies, provided that they are notarized copies bearing the Hague Apostille (or they may be presented in original at the Consulate, where certified copies will be made):
  • If the optant is over 18 years of age: one copy of the optant’s U.S. or foreign passport.
  • If the optant is over 15 years of age and has a photo ID (passport, driver’s license or State ID): one copy of that document.
  • If the optant is a married woman and her passport bears her husband’s surname: one copy of the marriage certificate legalized with the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish.
  • Copy of the DNI of the native Argentine parent who will transmit nationality, and photocopy of the identity document of the other parent.
  • If the optant is under 18 years of age, photocopy of the updated DNI (ID-card format) of the Argentine father/mother or of the optant’s guardians. If both parents are Argentine, copies of both updated DNIs are required. If one of the parents is not Argentine, a copy of that parent’s passport or identity document of their nationality.
• Contact details of the optant: full name, full address, telephone numbers, and email address.

* If, for reasons of force majeure, you cannot obtain an updated birth record, please contact the Consulate’s Nationality Options Department at notarial_catla@mrecic.gob.ar.

How to initiate the procedure

1. Gather the documentation required according to the optant’s age and send scanned copies by email to notarial_catla@mrecic.gob.ar, using the subject line: “Opción de nacionalidad” followed by the optant’s first name and surname.
2. Once the documentation has been reviewed, you will be given an appointment to present the original documents at this Consulate.
3. If you do not reside in Georgia, you may choose to send the documentation by postal mail, once this Consulate has confirmed that the documentation previously sent by email is complete.
4. Once the complete documentation has been received by this Consulate, you will be given an appointment to complete the nationality by option procedure.
5. On the day of the nationality by option appointment, the optant must come in person to the Consulate . If the optant under 18 years of age he/she must come accompanied by both parents carrying their original Identity documents (DNI or passports in case of Argentine citizens, passports or other ID for foreign nationals). 
6. The cost of the nationality by option procedure is 135 USD, consisting of a fee of 40 USD for the registration of the birth record, plus a fee of 80 USD for the notarial act for the nationality option, and the cost of the DNI (15 USD).

Procedure for payment of the fee:

On the day of your appointment at the Consulate, you will have two payment options:

1. Electronic payment (a 3.25% service provider surcharge applies): by credit or debit card, or via payment link.
2. Bank deposit: in person at Ameris Bank ( location here), after first going to the Consulate where you will be given the payment slip.

Please note that the bank is located about 5 minutes away by car. Payments by check are not accepted.

Note regarding names in the documentation:

If you are expecting the birth of a son or daughter, please pay special attention when filling out the fields related to birth data for the issuance of the birth certificate by U.S. authorities, so that the parents’ names match exactly the names that appear on their Argentine DNIs.

If there are any discrepancies between the data recorded on the optant’s birth record and the parents’ identity documents and/or the Argentine parent’s birth record, you must rectify the optant’s foreign birth record so that the names and surnames match exactly those on the parents’ identity documents (DNIs, passports).

Other clarifications regarding the procedure:

• The optant’s DNI may take approximately 6 to 8 weeks to arrive at this Consulate. With that document, the passport can then be requested. 
• On the day of your appointment, the entire procedure may take between 3 and 4 hours.
• The Hague Apostille is a simplified method of international legalization of documents. Physically, it consists of a sheet that is attached to the documents and which the competent authority stamps on a copy of the public document. In the U.S., it is requested from the Secretary of State corresponding to the State in which the document originated. You can consult the competent authority for each State in the U.S. HERE.
• Certificates or attestations of birth for Argentine parents are not accepted, only birth records. You may request a new birth record from the civil registry corresponding to the place of birth. You can consult the competent authority HERE.
• Only having at least one native Argentine parent grants the right to apply for nationality through the Consulate. Marriage to an Argentine citizen, by contrast, does not grant this right.
• Absent parent or parent unable to attend: To process Argentine nationality by option for a minor, both parents must be present and give their consent. If one of them has passed away, the surviving parent must present the deceased parent’s death certificate.
• Divorced parents: If the parents are divorced and only one of them has parental responsibility (patria potestad) or sole custody of the minor, granted by a U.S. court ruling, the Consulate is not authorized to process Argentine nationality by option. In such cases, the interested party may choose one of the following solutions:
  • The other parent appears on the day the option is signed and gives their consent.
  • Hire a lawyer in Argentina to obtain recognition by an Argentine judge of the U.S. court ruling. This process is known as exequatur and concludes with a judgment signed by an Argentine judge.

For any questions, please send an email to the Consulate’s Nationality Options Department at notarial_catla@mrecic.gob.ar, indicating “Opción de nacionalidad” in the subject line.