Argentina has issued an emergency decree tightening its immigration policies, including those regarding foreigners with criminal convictions and the use of the country’s public health system by non-residents.
President Javier Milei’s office announced the changes on May 14, with presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni detailing the changes at a press conference at the Casa Rosada.
“Since a long time, we have had regulations that invite chaos and abuse by many opportunists who are far from coming to this country honestly to build a prosperous future,” Adorni said.
The presidential statement says that “an emergency decree was issued to make profound changes to the immigration system.”
The decree establishes that no foreigner who has been convicted of a crime will be allowed to enter the country and that those who commit crimes will be deported. The changes also establish the requirement of medical insurance as a condition of entering Argentina.
The changes also include stricter restrictions on obtaining Argentine residency, the end of free medical care for foreigners in public hospitals, and the implementation of a fee for non-resident foreign students.
Adorni said that the country’s immigration policies allowed 1.7 million foreigners to enter illegally over the past 20 years. He added that Argentina’s previous policy “was too permissive with those who enter legally” regarding people convicted of a crime.
Regarding medical care for non-resident foreigners, he said that their free access will be ended “in order to guarantee the sustainability of the public health system,” while “payment for health services will be required for temporary and irregular residents.”
The deputy chief of staff of the Interior, Lisandro Catalán, reported that in 2024, approximately 114 billion Argentine pesos ($12 million) were spent in eight hospitals in the country to care for foreigners.
Adorni added that the country’s universities will be able to charge tuition fees to foreign students who are temporary residents, if they decide to do so on the basis of their autonomous status.
The Argentine government also tightened its requirements for obtaining Argentine citizenship. Foreigners who wish to obtain a citizenship card will have to reside continuously in the country for two years, prove sufficient means of livelihood, and demonstrate that they have no criminal record.
It adds that those who make a significant investment in the country will be eligible for Argentine citizenship.
The changes to the country’s immigration policy will come into effect once they are published in the Official Gazette in the coming days, according to the EFE news agency.
