10-year Police Clearance Certificates now required for residence visa applications

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Argentina now requires foreign nationals to obtain 10-year Police Clearance Certificates for residence visa applications.

What does the change mean? Residence visa applicants are now required to obtain 10-year police clearance certificates from all countries in which they resided for at least one year during the last ten year period.

• Effective date: March 18. The change was published in the official gazette on March 6.
• Visas/permits affected: Temporary and permanent residence visas.
• Who is affected: Employees applying for work and residence visas to Argentina.
• Impact on processing times: The new requirement may lengthen processing times as the required police clearance certificates will cover a longer period of time.

Background: Previously, residence visa applicants had to provide police clearance from all of the countries in which they have lived in the last three years, as well as their country of nationality (legalized or apostilled) and/or country of origin. Due to the recent change, applicants are now required to provide police clearance certificates from the countries in which they have resided for more than one year over the last ten years. The National Directorate of Migration (DNI) has stated that the new rule is based on reciprocity as Argentina offers 10-year police certificates to other countries.

Analysis & Comments:  Companies should expect that employees applying for residence visas will need to request and obtain 10-year police clearance certificates from the countries in which they have resided over the last ten years in addition to a police clearance certificate from the country of origin and/or country of nationality.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.