For a move or a long stay · PDF
BA Relocation / Visitor Pack
For foreigners moving to Buenos Aires, or staying longer than a holiday. Neighbourhoods, a first place to live, money, and the first month.
Who it is for
For foreigners relocating in earnest, or staying long enough that the first month has to work. Any serious move qualifies.
- You are relocating and need a clear first month, not a list of restaurants.
- You are visiting for one to six months and will rent before you decide about buying.
- You want neighbourhood tradeoffs in practical terms: noise, transit, groceries, parks, and the cost of a mistake.
Who should skip it
- You want a residency or DNI application prepared. That is a government process, not a PDF.
- You are in town for a week. A guidebook is enough.
- You want school placement or a corporate relocation desk.
What’s inside
- 01Choosing a barrio for the first year
- 02Temporary housing, then a longer lease
- 03Documents to carry, and what people will ask for
- 04Cards, cash, and Mercado Pago
- 05Getting around: SUBE, walking, and the car you may not need
- 06Health cover in plain language: public hospitals and a prepaga
- 07Residency and DNI: what this pack will not do
- 08A first-30-days checklist
The first decision is the barrio
Palermo, Recoleta, Belgrano, Núñez, Colegiales, Villa Crespo, and San Telmo are not interchangeable, even when the photos look similar. The pack compares them on the things that show up in week two: street noise at night, how you get to the rest of the city, where you actually buy food, and how far a “short walk to the park” is with luggage and a child.
Most newcomers should rent something temporary before a one-year lease. The pack covers what landlords and temporary-stay operators tend to ask for, and the clauses worth reading twice. It is not a listing site.
Daily systems
Banking is slow for new arrivals. Mercado Pago covers a large share of ordinary payments, and a SUBE card covers buses and the subway. The pack explains the order people usually set these up in, and what still needs a local ID.
On safety: the city varies by block and by hour. The pack is specific and calm. It is not an alarm, and it is not a promise that nothing happens.
Not an immigration service. Residency and a DNI are official processes. This pack explains daily life around them and points you at the kinds of documents people gather. It does not file anything for you.
Questions newcomers ask
Does this get me a visa or a DNI?
No. It explains how to live here while you follow the official residency route, and what to line up in the first month. For the filing itself, use the government process and, if you need one, a lawyer who does that work.
I might buy later. Is this enough?
It is the right first file if you are not buying yet. When you are ready to make an offer, use the property guide or the bundle. Renting for a few months is how a lot of sensible purchases start.
Which neighbourhood does it tell me to live in?
None, as a blanket answer. It gives the tradeoffs so you can pick for your actual week: work location, noise tolerance, and whether you want a residential street or a busy one.
Is the file a PDF?
Yes. After payment you receive a download link by email.