Government increases immigration fees, tightens procedures for temporary visa renewals

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Argentinian immigration authorities at the National Migration Office are introducing changes to various procedures, including a significant increase in immigration fees and greater scrutiny of applicants seeking to renew temporary residence visas.

What does the change mean? The hike in government filing fees was announced Monday in a decree that cited a need to increase fees to cover costs. The changes to procedures for applicants renewing temporary residence visas were not issued in a formal policy, but officers may at their discretion request additional information and evidence, such as recent pay slips demonstrating that the employee is on local payroll.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: The increases in government immigration fees affect all visa types.
• Business impact: The increases in visas fees are significant, ranging from 200 to 400 percent, and will increase the cost of sponsoring foreign workers. Foreign employees should retain their pay slips in case they are asked to submit them when renewing their temporary residence visas.  

Background: The National Migration Office is undergoing staffing changes, and new officers may request additional documentation at their discretion. Immigration authorities are placing greater attention on the types of residences that are approved. Renewal applicants who are unable to present the requested evidence or who have lived in Argentina for less than one year may be required to apply for a new temporary residence.

BAL Analysis: Employers should budget for the increase in government immigration fees, and anticipate some uncertainty and additional discretionary changes to procedures as the National Migration Office tightens oversight of temporary residence approvals. BAL is following the changes and will report additional information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Argentina. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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