A working guide for foreign investors and international groups: which entity fits, how to register a company you already own abroad, what it really costs, how long it really takes — and how the structure connects to banking, foreign exchange and residency.
Incorporating in Argentina may be the first step of an investment project, a cross-border trading operation, the regional expansion of a foreign group, or a personal plan to settle in the country. For a foreign investor it is not a standalone filing: the structure you choose decides how money enters and leaves, how the business is taxed, whether a bank will open an account, how exposed the parent company is, and whether the investment can later support a residency application.
Before choosing an entity, decide which of these you are actually doing. The two paths look similar on paper and diverge completely in practice.
You incorporate a subsidiary or register your foreign company, appoint local directors and representatives, sign contracts and operate without living in Argentina. Personal attendance may be required later, particularly at the banking stage.
The company may form part of a residency strategy as an investor, employee or director. It does not grant residency on its own: Immigration assesses the economic reality of the project.
You create a local legal entity — typically an SAS, SRL, SA or single-shareholder SAU — with its own assets, tax ID (CUIT), accounting and obligations. Depending on the type, shareholder liability is limited to the capital committed, without prejudice to personal liability arising from guarantees, fraud, abuse of the corporate form or irregular management.
| SAS | SRL | SA / SAU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shareholders | One or more | 2 to 50 | Two or more (SA); one (SAU) |
| Minimum capital | 2 × statutory minimum wage | None by law; must suit the business | ARS 30,000,000 |
| Cash on incorporation | 25% of cash capital | 25% of cash capital | ARS 7,500,000 (SA); 100% (SAU) |
| Capital represented by | Shares | Quotas | Shares |
| Management | One or more administrators | One or more managers | Board + director guarantee |
| Typical use | Services, technology, simple subsidiaries | Closely held companies, joint ventures | Institutional, regulated or large-scale projects |
Figures current at 22 July 2026. The SAS minimum tracks the statutory minimum wage and changes with it. Statutory minimum capital is not the same as commercially adequate capital, and it is not what a bank will look at. Full comparison, with the numbers that actually decide it →
| Home structure | Closest Argentine entity | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| LLC (US) | SAS or SRL | No pass-through election in Argentina; the entity is taxed in its own right |
| C-Corporation (US) | SA | Argentine SA requires ARS 30,000,000 minimum capital |
| Ltd (UK) | SRL | Quota transfers require an instrument and registration, not a share-register entry |
| Delaware / Wyoming holding | Registers under Section 123, then holds the Argentine entity | Registration is a precondition for the Argentine entity's own filings |
There is also no automatic recognition of foreign corporate documents. Certificates of good standing, bye-laws and board resolutions all require apostille and translation by a sworn translator registered in Argentina.
| Stage | Reference |
|---|---|
| Incorporating an Argentine company (documents ready) | ≈ 15 business days |
| Expedited SA or SRL filing, no observations | 5 business days |
| Foreign company registration (Sections 118 / 123) | ≈ 30 business days |
| Full process with foreign documentation | 8 to 14 weeks |
| Bank account opening | Variable and separate |
The gap between 15 days and 14 weeks sits before the filing: obtaining tax IDs for non-resident shareholders, executing powers of attorney abroad, apostilles, sworn translation and documenting the ownership chain up to the controlling individual.
We do not compete in the low-cost automated incorporation segment aimed at local residents. Our work is for foreign investors and companies that need predictability, cross-border coordination and consistency between the company, the investment, the operation and immigration status.
No, as a general rule. Foreigners may be shareholders without restriction by nationality. What must be respected is the minimum number of members for each entity type and the domicile rules applying to its administrators.
Yes, through a power of attorney executed before a notary in your country, apostilled and translated in Argentina. Later stages, particularly banking, may require personal attendance.
The statutory minimum is rarely the commercially adequate figure. Banks, counterparties and public bodies assess the relationship between capital, corporate object and the operation projected. Nominal capital creates friction later, including in an investment-based residency application.
A branch lets the parent act directly but may expose its assets. A subsidiary provides greater legal separation. The choice requires tax, asset-protection, regulatory and operational analysis rather than a default answer.
It depends on whether the inbound investment was settled and registered correctly. This is a design decision taken alongside the corporate structure, not a formality dealt with afterwards.
Not automatically. It can support an application where there is a real investment, verifiable activity and consistent documentation. The immigration criteria are covered in our residency guide.
Updated 22 July 2026. Figures shown are current at that date; the SAS minimum capital changes with the statutory minimum wage. This page is general information, not personalized legal advice. Corporate, tax, foreign-exchange and immigration rules change, and every file is decided on its own merits. We recommend a consultation before incorporating or preparing documents abroad.
Tell us the activity, where the money comes from, who the investors are and whether anyone intends to relocate. We will map the right structure, the documents your home jurisdiction has to produce, and the realistic timeline. We act under power of attorney, so you do not have to travel. Confidential first reply, typically within one business day.