Moving With Your Partner to Buenos Aires: Legal Residency, Marriage, and Life Together

Whether you’re planning a romantic new chapter or relocating for better opportunities, Buenos Aires is one of the best cities in Latin America for couples to build a life together. With a low cost of living, vibrant culture, and welcoming immigration policies, it’s no wonder more and more international couples are choosing the Argentine capital as their home.

If you’re considering moving to Buenos Aires with your partner, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about legal residency, marriage, and life as a couple in Argentina.

Why Buenos Aires Is Ideal for Couples

Buenos Aires offers a unique combination of affordability, lifestyle, and inclusivity. Couples from all over the world are drawn to the city’s walkable neighborhoods, lively café culture, and strong sense of community. Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, recently married, or exploring life together in a new country, the city makes settling in remarkably simple.

For many couples, the appeal lies in:

A strong expat and digital nomad community
Affordable rent and healthcare
Access to free or low-cost higher education
Inclusive laws that recognize both heterosexual and same-sex couples

Legal Residency When Moving With a Partner

If one partner is already eligible for legal residency in Argentina, for example, through work, study, ancestry, or long-term stay, the other may qualify as a dependent or can apply through family reunification.

In many cases, simply proving your relationship is enough to start the residency process. This can include:

A civil marriage certificate
A certified domestic partnership (unión convivencial)
Documentation showing cohabitation and shared life (like joint bank accounts or rental contracts)

Residency pathways often include:

Temporary residency (valid for 1–3 years, renewable)
Permanent residency (granted after 2 years of legal residence)

Citizenship (available after 2 years of uninterrupted legal residence, even without permanent residency)

Getting Married in Argentina as a Foreigner

You do not need to be a resident or citizen to get married in Argentina; even tourists can legally marry. If you’re moving to Buenos Aires with a fiancé or long-time partner, marriage is a straightforward option that can simplify immigration processes.

Requirements to Get Married in Argentina:

Valid passports
Birth certificates (apostilled and translated by a certified translator in Argentina)
A certificate stating you’re legally single (also apostilled and translated)
Local witnesses (usually 2)
A short waiting period (some provinces require an appointment a few days in advance)

Once married, your spouse can apply for residency as a family member, which typically has a faster approval timeline.

Argentina recognizes same-sex marriages as well, making it one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the region.

Domestic Partnerships and Uniones Convivenciales

If you’re not ready to marry but still want to formalize your relationship in Argentina, you can register a unión convivencial (civil union), which is legally recognized for purposes like:

Residency applications
Healthcare coverage
Inheritance rights

To apply, both partners must:

Be over 18
Live together in Argentina (and prove cohabitation)
Register with the Registro Civil in your jurisdiction

This option is increasingly popular among expats who prefer a flexible, non-marital legal recognition of their relationship, and it’s fully accepted by immigration authorities for family-based residency.

Life in Buenos Aires as a Couple

Buenos Aires is a city made for couples. Whether you’re into tango nights, park picnics, or late-night helado runs, the city blends old-world charm with modern comforts. As a couple, you’ll likely enjoy:

Exploring diverse neighborhoods like Palermo, Recoleta, and Villa Crespo
Eating out affordably at parrillas, pizzerías, and trendy cafés
Access to free public events like concerts, theater, and street fairs
Low-cost fitness options like dance classes, yoga, and group sports

Renting an apartment as a couple is also cost-effective. A furnished 1-bedroom in a central barrio may cost $350–600 USD/month, depending on amenities.

Life in Buenos Aires as a Couple

Exploring diverse neighborhoods like Palermo, Recoleta, and Villa Crespo
Eating out affordably at parrillas, pizzerías, and trendy cafés
Access to free public events like concerts, theater, and street fairs
Low-cost fitness options like dance classes, yoga, and group sports

Renting an apartment as a couple is also cost-effective. A furnished 1-bedroom in a central barrio may cost $350–600 USD/month, depending on amenities.

Healthcare and Benefits for Couples

Once one partner has legal residency, the other is often eligible for public healthcare through family affiliation. Even without residency, public hospitals will still treat you, and private insurance is available at affordable rates for couples, often with discounts for dual coverage.

Argentina’s system allows partners to:

Visit general physicians and specialists
Access reproductive and mental health services
Receive free care in emergencies or pregnancy

How to Apply for Residency as a Couple

This is what you need to do:

Gather required documents, including marriage or civil union certificate, apostilled and translated.
Get a criminal background check from your home country (also apostilled).
Enter Argentina legally, then make an appointment with Migraciones.
Apply online or in person for residency under “familiar de residente”.
Wait for approval, then receive your DNI (national ID) as a temporary resident.

Having a local lawyer or gestor can help speed up the process, especially when navigating translation or paperwork.

Ready To Move in Together?

Moving to Buenos Aires with your partner can be one of the most exciting and smooth experiences for an international couple. Whether you’re looking to start a new life, get married, or just try something different together, the city offers a rare combination of legal openness, lifestyle quality, and human warmth.

And with a path to citizenship after just two years of residency, it’s more than just a destination, it’s a chance to build a real future together.