Whether you prefer a cosmopolitan lifestyle as offered by the Argentine cities or the more laid-back approach of life in the countryside, Argentina remains a popular choice for those looking to spend their retirement abroad. Argentina’s range of climates also has something to suit everybody, with the tropical regions in the north and the sub-polar climate of the south.

Retiring expats are often attracted by the low cost of living and the fact that the country has a strong European heritage which makes the prospect of moving to a Latin American country a little less daunting. Retired people can expect to achieve a good standard of living with an income equivalent to £500 per month. Rental costs of accommodation and other daily expenses of life in Buenos Aires compare favourably with many other capital cities.

There are several visa possibilities for those who wish to retire to Argentina. There is a temporary one-year residency visa which can be renewed annually, and after several years can be converted to a long-term visa which can lead to citizenship. There is also a retired visa and a steady income visa which may be suitable. Applicants must have a valid passport and documentation which proves retired status, copies of payment documentation such as pay-slips from pension payments and confirmation of a minimum monthly income of the equivalent of £400.

The steady income visa is also a possibility for those who wish to take early retirement but who may not yet be drawing a pension in their home country. For this one would require a statement from an accountant which confirms a minimum monthly income of the equivalent of £500 to support the visa application.

The usual visa documentation of birth and/or marriage certificates and bank statements, along with police checks is still required to support all visa applications. In order to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information on required documentation, it is a good idea to check with the Argentina embassy in your home country, as all regulations may be subject to change.

If you are already in receipt of a pension then it should be relatively easy to have those payments made to you in Argentina, though this will depend on a number of factors. It is advisable to check with your own government’s pension department or the company administering your private pension to find out about their procedures for transferring payments.