Argentina has long been a digital nomad haven thanks to favorable exchange rates, vibrant expat communities in Buenos Aires, and relatively lax enforcement of tourist visa work restrictions. That era may be ending with Decree 366/2025, which introduces strict new border control measures that directly impact remote workers.
Digital Affidavits and Entry Requirements
Under Article 34 of the new decree, all foreign visitors must now present a sworn declaration upon entry specifying their exact purpose for visiting and confirming possession of health insurance. The regulation states entry and exit must occur "exclusivamente por los lugares habilitados"—exclusively at authorized border crossings.
While the decree doesn't explicitly mention "digital nomads," Article 53's prohibition on "tareas remuneradas o lucrativas" (paid or profit-generating work) by anyone without proper authorization creates a clear legal framework. Tourist visas provide zero work authorization, even for remote work performed for foreign companies.
Border Run Crackdowns
The decree takes direct aim at "visa runs"—the practice of briefly exiting and re-entering to reset tourist visa timers. Article 35 establishes immediate rejection authority for anyone "eludiendo los controles migratorios" (circumventing migration controls).
More significantly, rejections now carry minimum five-year reentry bans, graduated by severity. This represents a dramatic escalation from previous policies where border runs, while technically illegal, were widely tolerated.
Extended Detention and Electronic Monitoring
Enforcement mechanisms have teeth. Article 70 extends preventive detention to thirty days, renewable once, specifically to facilitate deportation processes. Article 54 introduces mandatory electronic domicile registration, creating legally binding notification mechanisms that operate independently of physical addresses.
Authorities can now impose real or personal bonds and require periodic reporting for anyone facing expulsion proceedings.
What This Means for Remote Workers
The practical impact remains unclear, as enforcement will determine whether this represents a fundamental shift or simply codifies existing rules. However, the explicit penalties and detention provisions suggest Argentina is moving away from its reputation as a gray-area digital nomad destination.
Remote workers who previously operated on tourist visas while working for foreign companies should seriously consider proper work authorization. Argentina does offer various residency pathways, including rentista visas for those with passive income and temporary residence permits for self-employed professionals.
Regional Context
This crackdown follows similar moves across Latin America. Mexico began scrutinizing tourist visa holders with suspiciously long stays in 2024, while Colombia tightened digital nomad regulations around the same time. The era of working remotely on indefinite tourist visas appears to be closing region-wide.
For digital nomads already in Argentina or planning trips, the message is clear: get proper authorization or risk serious consequences. The days of quietly working from Buenos Aires cafes on a tourist stamp are numbered.
Prospective visitors should consult with immigration attorneys about appropriate visa categories and avoid misrepresenting their entry purpose on the new digital affidavits. A five-year ban is a steep price for trying to skirt the rules.
