Driving License in Argentina for Expats
Yes, for Up to 1 year from your date of entry into Argentina, driving on a valid foreign licence plus an IDP (tourist status); a tourist stay is typically limited to 90 days, so the one-year cap rarely binds. After that, you must convert to a Argentina license. The official test is only in Spanish, but you can practice in English with AutoviaTest.
Key Facts: Argentina Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- ANSV — Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Vial
- Official Test Language
- Spanish
- Grace Period
- Up to 1 year from your date of entry into Argentina, driving on a valid foreign licence plus an IDP (tourist status); a tourist stay is typically limited to 90 days, so the one-year cap rarely binds
- Processing Time
- First licence: the CABA trámite must be completed within 180 días corridos, with the licence delivered 24–48 hours after passing. Canje: roughly 2 months (Bolivia) to 3 months (Chile) from request to issuance
- Theory Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Practical Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Medical Exam
- Required
- Total Cost
- CABA total ARS 43,040 (March 2026) = licence/BUI ARS 34,200 + CENAT ARS 8,840. Costs differ sharply between CABA, Buenos Aires Province and other municipalities, and are revised upward regularly for inflation
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
Only Spain and Italy have a bilateral licence-exchange (canje) treaty in force with Argentina. Holders of a valid Spanish or Italian licence who are Argentine residents can exchange it without the theory or practical exam — but must still pass the psychophysical (psicofísico) exam and pay the CENAT fee plus the local licence charge. Holders of licences from any other EU/EEA state have no agreement and must complete the full Argentine process at a Centro Emisor de Licencias (CEL): National Road Safety Course, theory exam, mechanical-faults test, practical exam and psychophysical exam.
US/UK Citizens
The United States and the United Kingdom have NO bilateral driving-licence treaty with Argentina. Their nationals who become Argentine residents must complete the full process at their local Centro Emisor de Licencias: the free National Road Safety Course (Curso Nacional de Educación Vial), a theory exam, a mechanical-faults test, a practical driving exam and the psychophysical exam — all in Spanish.
Other Non-EU Citizens
Argentina has bilateral canje treaties in force with only five countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Spain and Italy. Holders of valid licences from those countries, once resident in Argentina, are exempt from the theory and practical exams (psychophysical exam and fees still apply). Nationals of every other country — including all of Mercosur — must complete the full Argentine licensing process from scratch.
Students
While you hold tourist status you may drive on your valid foreign licence (with an International Driving Permit if it is not in Spanish) for up to one year from your date of entry. To obtain an Argentine Licencia Nacional de Conducir you first need residency and a DNI; students who will stay long-term should plan for the full local process unless their country has a canje treaty.
Required Documents
- ✓Valid DNI with a local address (front and back)
- ✓Valid foreign driving licence (front and back)
- ✓CENAT payment receipt (Certificado Nacional de Antecedentes de Tránsito, valid 60 days)
- ✓Psychophysical (psicofísico) exam certificate — vision, hearing, clinical and psychological assessment
- ✓Completion of the free National Road Safety Course (full-process applicants)
- ✓For canje applicants: the foreign licence and home-country ID submitted as a colour PDF to the country-specific ANSV email channel
- ✓Certificado de Legalidad of the foreign licence — lets canje applicants avoid the principiante (beginner) condition
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- The ANSV bilateral-exchange certificate itself is free (gratuito). The cost is the ordinary local licence charge — in CABA the licence/BUI fee is ARS 34,200 (March 2026); it varies by municipality and rises frequently with inflation
- Medical Exam
- Psychophysical exam: variable and often bundled into the trámite; where a private accredited provider is used it is an extra, locally-set charge (not published nationally)
- Translation
- Sworn translation only needed where the foreign licence is not in Spanish (e.g. the Italy canje) — sworn-translator fee, variable
- Total Estimated
- CABA total ARS 43,040 (March 2026) = licence/BUI ARS 34,200 + CENAT ARS 8,840. Costs differ sharply between CABA, Buenos Aires Province and other municipalities, and are revised upward regularly for inflation
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 5
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 5
No Agreement (Full Test Required): Mercosur (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela) is NOT a licence-exchange agreement — it only lets those licence holders drive in Argentina as visitors. Mercosur nationals, and nationals of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and all other countries without a bilateral treaty, must complete the full Argentine process to obtain a resident licence.
Tips for Expats in Argentina
- Mercosur is NOT a licence-exchange agreement — it only lets Mercosur licence holders drive as visitors. Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay licence holders must do the full Argentine process to get a resident licence.
- Bilateral canje (no theory or practical exam) is available with only five countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Spain and Italy — and even then the psychophysical exam and fees still apply.
- Every applicant must pay CENAT (Certificado Nacional de Antecedentes de Tránsito) — a national traffic-record certificate that grants entry to the evaluation process; the slip is generated at boletadepago.seguridadvial.gob.ar and is valid 60 days.
- The Licencia Nacional de Conducir is national in format but issued locally — fees, document lists, exam logistics and turnos all vary by municipality and province.
- Since 2025 the licence is issued digitally in the Mi Argentina app and the physical card no longer carries an expiry date — holders revalidate psychophysical fitness every 5 years (ages 21–65), every 3 years (65+) and annually (70+).
- First-time licence holders get the principiante (beginner) condition for the first 6 months — a beginner sign must be displayed and downtown, highway and semi-highway driving is restricted; a Certificado de Legalidad of a prior foreign licence lets canje applicants skip it.
From a recent expat graduate
A real story from someone who got their licence as a foreigner
“I find the service invaluable. It helped me immensely and I am impressed by the format and content. First class!”I have now passed my driving theory test. The course and information was great and very helpful. The reason I had to take the test is because I am living in Chile which does not recognise the driver licence of my mother country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mercosur citizens (Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay) exchange their licence directly in Argentina?
Which countries can exchange a licence without taking the exams?
Can I take the Argentine driving test in English?
Why do costs and procedures vary so much across Argentina?
What is a DNI and do I need one before applying?
Official sources
Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Vial (ANSV) sets the national standard; the licence is physically issued by the Centro Emisor de Licencias (CEL) of each province or municipality
https://www.argentina.gob.ar/seguridadvial
License Conversion Info
https://www.argentina.gob.ar/seguridadvial/licencianacional/consulta-sobre-los-acuerdos-internacionales-de-licencias-de-conducir