Retirement Visa Lawyer in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Retirement visa lawyer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for retirees with a pension from abroad. Elias Kier Joffe and his team of English-speaking attorneys help you get pensionado residency, renew it and, when the time comes, apply for permanent residency.
Since 1940
Headquartered in Buenos Aires
Featured in
The New York Times & BBC News
English-speaking lawyers
From your first document to your DNI
WATCH THIS 1-MINUTE VIDEO
then book your
50-MINUTE VIDEO CALL
With attorney Elias Kier Joffe. The USD 100 fee is credited toward our legal fees if you hire us.
Retirement visa (pensionado)
English-Speaking Retirement Visa Attorneys in Buenos Aires, Argentina
What the Retirement Visa Is
The retirement visa, called pensionado in Spanish, is a temporary residence for people who receive a regular pension from abroad, paid by a government, an international organization or a private company. You can retire in Argentina, bring your spouse and renew your residency while you meet the requirements. It’s one of several paths we handle as immigration lawyers in Argentina.
How Much Pension You Need
Your monthly pension must be at least five times Argentina’s minimum wage (salario mínimo, vital y móvil). At the end of 2026, that’s roughly USD 1,300 a month, but the amount changes as the minimum wage is updated, so we confirm the exact figure when you apply. We review your pension documents before you apply, so you know where you stand.
We Start From Home and We’re With You When You Arrive
Residency is filed in person in Argentina, but most of the work happens before you get on the plane. While you’re still at home, we review your pension, build your document plan and get your apostilles and translations in order. When you arrive, we’re with you at the immigration office, through your appointment and fingerprints, until your residency is approved.
From Pensionado to Permanent Residency
After three years of temporary residency, you can apply for permanent residency. We handle your renewals and plan each step, so you can enjoy your retirement without worrying about paperwork.
One Point of Contact for Legal, Tax and Notarial Matters
We are a one-stop legal solution. Our team includes lawyers, accountants, Argentine notaries (escribanos) and certified translators, all under one roof and coordinated by attorney Elias Kier Joffe. When needed, we also work directly with your own lawyers and accountants back home, for example to check the tax impact of your move in your country.
Our retirement visa services include:
✓ Checking whether your pension qualifies before you apply.
✓ Reviewing your pension certificates and payment history.
✓ Document plan, apostilles and certified translations.
✓ Filing your application and going with you to the immigration office.
✓ Including your spouse in your application.
✓ Renewals of your temporary residency.
✓ Moving on to permanent residency.
✓ Our own lawyers, accountants, notaries and certified translators, working with your advisors back home when needed.
Simple process
How Our Immigration Law Firm in Argentina Handles Your Retirement Visa
1
Book your video consultation
In a 50-minute video consultation, Elias Kier Joffe reviews your pension, family and plans, and tells you if the retirement visa fits you. The USD 100 fee is credited toward our legal fees if you hire us.
2
You get your documents ready at home
We give you a clear list and help you get your pension certificates, birth and marriage certificates and background checks apostilled and translated.
3
We’re with you in Argentina
When you arrive, we file your application and go with you to the immigration office for your appointment and fingerprints.
4
We follow it to the end
We answer any request from the immigration office, keep you updated in English and help you with your DNI, renewals and, later, permanent residency.
Who you’ll work with
Meet Your Argentine Retirement Visa Lawyer, Elias Kier Joffe
Hi, I’m Elias Kier Joffe. My grandfather founded this firm in Buenos Aires in 1940, and I’m the third generation leading it.
I know what you’re facing, because my own family lived it. All my great-grandparents, on both my father’s and my mother’s side, came to Argentina as immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and Poland. They arrived in a new country, with a new language and very little else, and built a life here. I’m the result of their courage. Today, my job is to make that same journey easier for you.
I oversee every case personally, and I’ll always tell you the truth about your case, even when it’s not what you want to hear.
You’ll always know who’s looking after your case: me.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if I’m not retired yet?
The retirement visa requires that you already receive a regular pension. If you live on other income from abroad, such as rentals or investments, the passive income visa (rentista) may fit you better.
Do I need to be in Argentina to apply?
Yes, residency is filed in person in Argentina. But we start from home: we get your documents, apostilles and translations ready before you travel, and we’re with you at the immigration office when you arrive. If your country needs a consular visa to enter Argentina, your process starts at the Argentine consulate, and we’re not able to assist with those cases.
How long does it take to get the retirement visa?
It depends on your documents and the immigration office’s workload. Once your application is filed, you receive a provisional residence (residencia precaria) that lets you stay legally while it’s processed. We give you a realistic timeline in your video consultation.
How much does a retirement visa lawyer cost in Argentina?
It depends on your case, whether your spouse is included and the documents involved. After your video consultation, we send you a written quote. Government fees, apostilles and translations are separate, and we explain them to you in advance.
Can my spouse come with me?
Yes. Your spouse can usually be included in your application as a family member. We prepare their documents together with yours.
Why isn’t the immigration consultation free?
Because our time is the service we offer. We receive many immigration inquiries every day, and many come from people who are only gathering free information, with no real intention of hiring a lawyer. We’re attorneys, not a free government helpline, and we can’t give away our time and knowledge. In practice, we’ve found that people who are serious about moving to Argentina are happy to invest in a consultation, because they value getting the right answer from an experienced lawyer. That’s why we offer a paid 50-minute video consultation with Elias Kier Joffe, where we assess your situation and go over the visa and residency options available to you. The USD 100 fee is paid in advance and is credited toward our legal fees if you hire us. If paying for a consultation feels wrong to you, we’re probably not the right fit, and that’s okay. If you’re committed to your move, we’re confident you’ll find it well worth it.
Your next step
Talk to a Retirement Visa Attorney in Argentina Now
Not sure if your pension qualifies? That’s what your video consultation is for. In 50 minutes, Elias Kier Joffe reviews your case, explains your options in plain English and tells you the next step. The USD 100 fee is credited toward our legal fees if you hire us.
Give us a call or send us a WhatsApp message today, and we’ll get back to you the same day—even on weekends.
General information only. The applicable requirements and next steps depend on the circumstances of each matter.