A guide to moving to Argentina

British passport holders can enter Argentina without a visa for up to 90 days as a tourist. For a permanent move you’ll need a temporary residency visa – the most common categories are salaried employment, independent work (rentista), or the digital nomad visa for remote workers employed outside Argentina. Processing typically takes 3–6 months, so it’s worth starting this well before your removal date.

Used personal effects are generally imported duty-free under Argentina’s Transfer of Residence relief, provided you’ve owned and used the items for at least 6 months and can demonstrate prior UK residency. You also need to have been legally resident in Argentina for at least 6 months for full relief to apply, so the timing of your shipment relative to your residency start date matters. New items, or anything bought shortly before the move, may be assessed for duty separately.

A shared container (groupage) shipment typically takes 16–20 weeks door-to-door once customs clearance is included, while a dedicated full container load (FCL) is somewhat faster at 14–18 weeks. Customs clearance in Argentina, including the mandatory port X-ray inspection, can add 2–4 weeks beyond the standard transit window. Build in a buffer rather than planning around the fastest-case estimate.

It’s legally possible but rarely economical. Import duty runs to around 35% of the vehicle’s declared value, which on a typical family car adds several thousand pounds before registration and roadworthiness inspection costs. Most UK movers sell their car before leaving and buy locally in Argentina, where the used car market is well supplied – it’s usually only worth shipping a vehicle with genuine sentimental or collector value.

You’ll need an ISO-standard microchip, an up-to-date rabies vaccination, an official health certificate issued by a UK Official Veterinarian via APHA within 10 days of travel, and an import permit from SENASA, Argentina’s agricultural health authority. There’s no mandatory quarantine for cats and dogs from the UK provided the paperwork is in order. Allow 6–8 weeks to complete the process, and ask your move manager to refer you to a specialist pet relocator, since this runs on a separate track from your household shipment.

Narcotics, counterfeit goods, and agricultural products or plant material are prohibited outright. Firearms, ammunition, and personal medication require specific permits or prescription documentation. Audio-visual equipment must be individually declared with make and model, since it’s the most common trigger for physical inspection after the mandatory port X-ray. If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, declare it – undeclared items cause far more delay than declared items that turn out to be fine.