Reference

Glossary of Terms

The Argentine and U.S. terms you will meet, in plain English with the Spanish term where useful.

Citizenship by Investment Agency: Body under Argentina's Ministry of Economy created by Decree 524/2025 to evaluate investment applications and report to the DNM.
Apostille: Certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention that authenticates a public document for use abroad. U.S. state documents are apostilled by the issuing state's Secretary of State; federal documents by the U.S. Department of State.
Official Gazette: Argentina's official publication where laws and decrees take legal effect.
CDI: Tax identification code issued by ARCA (formerly AFIP) to people without a CUIT/CUIL, for example to buy property or open certain accounts.
Citizenship by option: Route by which children of Argentine citizens born abroad can become Argentine.
CPACF: Bar association for lawyers practicing in Buenos Aires City. Provinces have their own colleges. Membership can be verified by name and registration (tomo y folio).
CUIT / CUIL: Argentine tax (CUIT) and labor (CUIL) identification numbers, normally obtained once you have a DNI.
DNM: National immigration authority; under the reformed framework it decides naturalization applications.
DNI: Argentine national ID card, issued by RENAPER. Used to enter and leave Argentina and in Mercosur countries.
Dual nationality: Holding two citizenships at once. Permitted by U.S. law and by Argentine law for naturalized citizens.
FBAR: FinCEN Form 114: U.S. report of foreign financial accounts when their aggregate value exceeds USD 10,000 during the year.
FATCA / Form 8938: U.S. law requiring reporting of specified foreign financial assets above thresholds, filed with the tax return.
Due diligence / KYC: Identity, background and source-of-funds checks applied to every applicant.
Naturalization: Acquisition of citizenship by a foreigner. Formerly a federal court procedure (juicio de carta de ciudadanía); now administrative before the DNM.
Power of attorney: Document authorizing an Argentine lawyer to act for you. Signed at an Argentine consulate, or before a U.S. notary with apostille and translation.
RENAPER: National registry of persons; issues DNI and passports.
Source of funds: Evidence showing the lawful origin of the money invested: tax returns, sale contracts, bank statements, inheritance records.
Tax residence: Status that makes a person taxable on worldwide income in a country. The U.S. bases it on citizenship; Argentina mainly on actual residence.
Certified public translator: Argentine sworn translator whose translations are legalized by the professional college. Foreign documents are translated after the apostille.
UIF: Argentina's financial intelligence unit, setting anti-money-laundering standards.

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