The process in six steps

  1. Obtain eligible residency. Temporary residency leads to a temporary DNI; permanent residency to a permanent DNI.
  2. Check its validity. Regularize it first if expired or within 60 days of expiry.
  3. Book first identification. Use the official service and choose an available office.
  4. Attend the appointment. Bring the appointment and payment receipts when applicable.
  5. Keep the application receipt. It contains the RENAPER tracking ID.
  6. Receive or collect the card. Follow the instructions for your application.

Who is eligible

The official guide for foreign nationals requires valid permanent or temporary residency issued by Migraciones. Transitory residency does not qualify.

If you only have a provisional certificate, compare precaria, temporary and permanent residency.

Check the date before booking. If eligible residency is missing, expired or expires within 60 days, the official instruction is to regularize it first.

Before the DNI · residency pending

If Migraciones has not decided yet

The DNI and residency expediente are separate processes. While waiting, check the residency application with the expediente and date of birth.

DNI Check can check that public form once a day and send the result in Telegram. It does not issue or deliver the DNI.

Track residency

DNI Check is independent and is not affiliated with Migraciones, RENAPER or the Argentine government.

Book first identification

Open Tramitar la primera identificación para extranjeros. Choose a nearby Civil Registry or a RENAPER Documentation Center through Mi Argentina. First identification for foreign nationals is not performed at airports.

What to bring

The official service requires the appointment receipt and proof of payment if already paid. It has separate instructions for minors and legal representatives. Check the live requirements for your age and case.

Current first-DNI fee

The official fee was ARS 20,000 on the checked date. Confirm it in the live RENAPER fee schedule before paying because prices can change.

After the appointment

The official estimate of 15 minutes refers to service at the office, not production or delivery. Keep the constancia de solicitud. Postal delivery normally includes two visits; the later collection point depends on whether the address is in a province or CABA.

RENAPER · official tracking

Track production and delivery

  1. Find the DNI application ID on the receipt.
  2. Open Mi trámite de RENAPER.
  3. Enter the ID and read the status.

The RENAPER ID is not the Migraciones expediente. DNI Check does not query RENAPER.

Track in RENAPER

See the separate guide to DNI production and postal delivery.

The 2026 electronic DNI

RENAPER started issuing a polycarbonate DNI with an embedded chip and updated security features. Existing valid DNI cards do not need immediate replacement.

Common mistakes

  • Treating precaria as granted residency.
  • Applying with residency close to expiry.
  • Using the Migraciones expediente in RENAPER.
  • Reading “15 minutes” as a delivery time.
  • Going to an airport for first identification.

Migraciones and RENAPER are different

Migraciones decides residency; RENAPER issues the DNI. Use the correct identifier and channel for each process.