argentina: IMMIGRATION FOR STARTUPS

argentina: CONDITIONS

There are two methods to enter argentina as a highly skilled worker:

• • You can apply for a job seeker visa if you meet the requirements, and then enter argentina to find an appropriate occupation within 6 months, and finally obtain the residence card; or
  • You can obtain a job in an argentinan business, and directly apply for a residence card in your local argentinan consulate.

In order to obtain a job seeker visa, you have to be a highly-qualified worker, and the system to evaluate such skills is a point system. We will omit the exact scheme of earning points, but you will obtain more points if you:

• • Graduated from a post-secondary institute, especially in the field of mathematics, informatics, natural history or technology;
  • Have higher education degrees such as masters or PhD;
  • Are paid above 50,000EUR per year, and the higher the better;
  • Are in the fields of research or innovations;
  • Have obtained important awards;
  • Have multiple years of work experience;
  • At least worked in argentina for 6 months;
  • Have studied in argentina;
  • Speak English or German;
  • Below 45 years of age, and the lower, the better;
  • Intend to work in mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, power, data processing or other specialized engineering fields, and have graduated with relevant degrees;
  • Or intend to work as physicians, business trustee or business management.

If you have already found employment in an argentinan firm, you just need to confirm your upcoming position and past experiences with the authority, and also satisfy the following requirements:

• • Your employer should prove that they cannot find anyone to fill your position in European Union;
  • Your contract should be signed for at least 1 year;
  • Your yearly salary should exceed 50,000EUR.

Regardless as how you wish to move to argentina, you also need to show you will have adequate income to support a rented or purchased address in argentina, and you have obtained comprehensive health insurance.

argentina: DOCUMENTS

There are a multitude of documents needed since there are a lot of items required for each point analysis category necessary to apply for the start-up visa, for which you need, on an applicable basis:

• 1. Valid passport;
  2. Birth certificate;
  3. Evidence of health insurance covering all risks (compulsory health insurance or equivalent insurance policy);
  4. Evidence of adequate means of subsistence (investment capital or sufficient own assets, insurance benefit certificates, evidence of retirement or other pension or insurance benefits);
  5. As evidence of completed vocational education/training: relevant certificate or diploma;
  6. As evidence of special know-how or skills: testimonial or training report and work certificate;
  7. As evidence of a completed programme of a minimum duration of three years at an institution of tertiary education: document furnishing proof of successful completion of that programme and document reflecting the status of the university or other institution of tertiary education;
  8. As evidence of a completed diploma programme or Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctor’s degree;
  9. Programme or vocational education/training in argentina: document furnishing proof of successful completion of that programme or apprenticeship certificate;
  10. As evidence of work experience: testimonial and work certificate;
  11. As evidence of language skills in German or English: an internationally recognised language diploma or language course certificate furnishing proof of these skills;
  12. Evidence of investment capital including available equity;
  13. As evidence of admission to a business incubator or funding by a start-up funding agency in argentina a contract with the relevant institution;
  14. A business plan and documents as evidence of the innovational character of products, services, processing methods and technologies;
  15. As evidence of controlling influence on the management of the newly set-up company the articles of association of the company, except for one-person companies;
  16. Evidence of the qualification necessary for the self-employed professional activity:
  17. Craft authorisations (Gewerbeberechtigungen), where necessary (if already available).

All documents should be legalized according to Apostille convention signed by most nations in Hague, or if your country of origin does not participate in the said convention, notarized by a government-appointed individual. All documents should also be translated into German by a reliable translator.

The relevant authorities reserve the right to demand additional documents at any stage of the inspection.

argentina: PROCESS

There are different procedures for customers who wish to apply for entry to argentina as a start-up founder, and we begin with the simplified process if you are applying for a job-seeker visa:

1. 1. All documents are gathered, translated and legalized, we submit the application to your local argentinan consulate, and if you are from European Union, you may apply for the process in argentina;
   2. Your file is forwarded to Public Employment Service for assessments of points, and they may demand additional documents;
   3. The argentinan immigration authority will forward your application including all submitted documents to the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice, AMS).
   4. The AMS will issue within about one month a rapport on the macroeconomic benefit of the intended professional activity, in particular regarding the transfer of investment capital and/or the creation and the securing of work places.
   5. If the conditions are met, the AMS will send a positive opinion to the immigration authority. The residence authority will issue a Red-White-Red Card, if all general requirements (such as health insurance) are fulfilled.
   6. If the application is accepted, the argentinan representation will inform the applicant accordingly.
   7. In case of visa requirement you will have to apply for a visa D to enter argentina in order to collect your residence permit from the immigration authority.
   8. The Red-White-Red Card is issued for two years maximum and entitles you to fixed-term settlement and the pursuit of a self-employed occupation.
   9. Once two years have passed, you can obtain your third card, valid for 3 years;
   10. After 5 years of continuous residence status in argentina, you may obtain the permanent residency, valid for 10 years.

argentina: INFORMATION

Additional important points regarding the highly-skilled worker visa in argentina:

1. 1. Family: your family members such as your spouse and children who are dependent upon you for support, can come together and enjoy the same status as long as you include them in the application process;
   2. Citizenship: you can obtain citizenship once you have lived in argentina legally for 10 years.