Great, you’re thinking to move to Argentina and especially to Buenos Aires. As a foreigner finding an English speaking job in Buenos Aires isn’t that easy. There is some administration to do and get ready for sometimes the slow response. We updated this article to get you the best and correct information possible.
Do you have already a DNI? Then you can go directly to number 3 below.
Read also: 8 mistakes tourist make in Buenos Aires
1. Before moving to Buenos Aires Argentina
Every person has is own reason to move to Argentina and thereby every reason is unique. The main reasons are:
- Moving to Buenos Aires for an indefinite period and working in Argentina.
- Moving to Buenos Aires for a limited time and in the meantime working in Argentina.
- Finding an internship and stay for a limited period.
Nevertheless, for reasons 1 and 2 you need a National Identification Number or DNI in Spanish. This means that you need to register yourself in the national identity databank and you get your identification number.
To get the DNI you need the following document from your home country.
First, the document “criminal record of your home country“. Of course without any records 😉 and get a stamp of Apostille on it. A stamp of Apostille convention means that your document is legal in all the other countries that are in the Apostille convention. Be aware that the document is only three months valid starting from the publication date. A little detail: it has to be translated into Spanish by an official translator. Do this the moment that you arrive in Buenos Aires. You can find people on Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
2. Documents that you need to ask in Buenos Aires
Once you arrived in Buenos Aires, go to the police station in your comuna and ask for the address certificate so you can show that you have an address in the city. Within a week they will come to your address to see if you’re actually live there.
Next, get a criminal record document of Argentina if you start your procedure the manual way. Since 2019 the criminal record goes automatically of you start your procedure online (see below). Registro Nacional de Reincidencia is accountable for the Argentinian criminal records. Use your passport number for it.
We are almost there. Next step, find a job with a company that is registered to employ foreigners. Most big companies do. So don’t be afraid. Go on an interview and get the job! Once you have the job, congratulations, they will give you a pre-contract.
New since 2019: You can start your procedure online (RADEX). Make an account and start uploading all your documents. Pay also online! It will cost you around USD 140.
Within 90 days you will get an appointment at the migration office near Puerto Madero. Keep all the documents with you. They will scan it again. (strange … )
An overview of all the documents you need:
- Criminal record of your home country with apostille, translated in Spanish with a stamp Colegio de Traductores.
- Criminal record of Argentina*
- Address certificate of Argentina
- Pre-contract of your work in Argentina.
- Copy of your passport (page with your foto and the page of the stamp when entering Argentina).
With all those documents go to the migration office located near Puerto Madero, Av. Antártida Argentina 1355 – Edificio 4, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. And have a lot of patience 😉
Ask your future employment if they provide a lawyer that will accompany you.
3. Finding an English speaking job in Buenos Aires Argentina
If you’re a native English speaker it makes you a little bit easier to find a job in Buenos Aires. Language schools are often looking for native English speakers in Buenos Aires. Don’t expect a full-time job but either a couple of hours to fill your day. The payment is usually per hour and for a limited period.
Be aware that it can take up to several months to find a job. English speaking jobs are common but very wanted by every foreigner.
Tip 1: Visit the following websites: BA Expat Jobs, Buenos Aires Expat Hub, Expats in Buenos Aires, Craigslist.
Tip 2: Probably there is already a community of your country in Buenos Aires. Search on Facebook for “…. in Argentina or Buenos Aires”. For example: “Belgians in Argentina”. Sometimes a Facebook group member that already works for an Argentinian job put a vacancy in the group. You have immediately a connection with the company.
Tip 3: Work as a freelancer. You can go for monotributo in Buenos Aires. Monotributo is a self-employed system. So, you can make your bills and start your business. It’s worth a try.
Tip 4: Search for big businesses that have some back offices in Buenos Aires. Accenture, Deloitte, Google, Microsoft, IBM, …
Tip 5: Socialize! Make a lot of friends in Argentina and make connections. Check out if some of your friends know somebody within a company.
Tip 6: Learn Spanish. If you can explain yourself in Spanish it would make it more interesting for companies to hire you. Because they ofter search a duo lingual person especially in the tourism sector.
Learn Spanish in Buenos Aires
More about our tip 6. Having a basic knowledge of Spanish is often required to apply for an “English speaking job in Buenos Aires”. Therefore it comes handy to take some Spanish classes in Buenos Aires. I went at the beginning of my Argentinian career to Study Spanish Online. Daniela from Study Spanish Online teaches private and group classes. They offer virtual classes, but also here in Buenos Aires. Especially, I suggest taking some classes in advance online. I must say, in a matter of time I could speak a mouth of Spanish. Feel free to contact her online here or send a Whatsapp message to +54 911 6950 6767. On top of that, you get discount if you mention Secrets of Buenos Aires.
Salary in Buenos Aires
The average salary in Buenos Aires is around 500 – 600 USD net a month for a full-time job. Renting a 1 bedroom apartment in Buenos Aires city is around 250 USD.
One more tip before moving to Buenos Aires
Be aware that buying electronics such as laptops or phones is pretty expensive in Argentina. Even converted to US dollars. A 500 USD worth laptop in the USA will cost in Argentina around 900 USD. Just to inform you to do that investment before moving to Buenos Aires.
22 Comments
Glenn- $250usd/month for an apartment seems low. Is there a website where you can search for apartments like that?
I used Zonaprop for that 🙂
Hi there me and my wife want to come there and check out BA and find work once we’re there. we are from Canada do you think that is wise. we have the 90 day visa. so we sre hoping to find jobs with the 3 months
Hi There.
me and my wife want to travel to BA and then look for work. is that a good option. we rally want to find the right area to live first. we have the 90 day visa so would 3 month be enough time to find a job.
Hi!
Great post! I would add to your list that searching on LinkedIn for postings in Buenos Aires requiring English is also a good option! Many medium and big companies post their openings there – some of them require Spanish, some of them not 🙂 I have gotten most of my job interviews in BA via LinkedIn.
I am searching for information about moving nearer to Buenos Aires with my 18 year business. My business is called Bordados Computarizados, I also do Sublimation and Heat Transfer Printing. I own my own home . I prefer a town outside of Buenos Aires, with easy access to traveling to Buenos Aires for supplies. I am British, I speak Spanish enough to get by… I am also a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I’m a member of Saddleback Church Buenos Aires.
Hi glen i am
looking to move to BA to be near to my girlfriend hopefully october when the covid low and can fly there. my Spanish is okay but not great would u be able to help me or would you be able to help me through email, whats app i have savings but just need little help my email dan-martin@hotmail.co.uk and i’m coming from England
Hi Glenn,
I was wondering if you had any advice about finding a position at a vineyard in Mendoza. My partner works in the wine industry and is hoping to work a harvest in Mendoza but hasn’t found a ton of information online about harvest internships. Is this something you are aware of? Thank you!
Hi Hannah 👋, sorry but I don’t have direct contacts in Mendoza nor people working on a vineyard. Cheers!
Hi Glenn, what types of jobs are there in BA for english speakers? My Spanish is decent but not good enough to hold a spanish-speaking job. I studied abroad in Buenos Aires in 2017 and really want to return soon.
Hi Erik, when I arrived in Buenos Aires I made many contacts and I started to work at Accenture. From there I made more contacts and ended at a tourism office. In Buenos Aires there international and national companies in the search of English native speakers. One of the most popular is copywriting. Also contact the chambers of commerce for some tips. Sometimes they have internal vacancies open. 🙂 Good luck!
Hi Glenn, my husband is a U.S. citizen and we’re planning for him to come to live to Argentina, I was born in Buenos Aires. He’s 52 years old, no degree, only highscool diploma and tons of experience in the entertaiment field DJ and drummer, plus years of experience in delivery jobs. Two things we want to know, does Argentina goverment ask criminal record from 10 years ago? He has a record of 24 years ago with a family member and we hope that won’t be an issue and second is he doesn’t speak Spanish. Any suggestion in how find a job for him considering his age, record and language issue? I thank you in advance for your reply.
Great page. Muy buena página!!
Julia from Buenos Aires
Hi Julia 👋, normally a criminal record gets cleared after some years if no new accident happened in the meantime. So, I assume that it will be no problem. There are international companies active in Buenos Aires that are looking for native English speakers. You can contact the US Chamber of Commerce in Argentina for information. Mostly, you need to have some contacts to be aware of an open position. Also, connect to Facebook groups. Sometimes positions are published there too. Cheers!
I am from Puerto Rico living in US- Alabama. I have a girlfriend in Rosario Argentina- 5 hours from Buenos Aires. We chat every now and then. I told her that i love the tango culture. Trying a job where. I am fully bilingual English/Spanish, have degrees and worked in logistics for the federal government for 11 yrs. Any ideas are always 🙏. Many thanks!.
Dear Glenn, Greetings!, please kindly let me know which is the most popular meeting to talk to expats in Buenos Aires. Thanks in advance!
Hi, I find the meeting on Facebook. Pages such as “American Citizen Services Buenos Aires” or “Nederlanders in Buenos Aires”. Depending on what country you’re from. Also, check our TheBubble and BAexpats for new events and meetings. Almost every country has a local community in Buenos Aires. You can contact your embassy for more info. Bienvenidos!
Hi Glenn,
I have a few questions about my move to Argentina. Are you ever able to talk on email?
Thanks!
Kent
My email is: kentmailus@gmail.com
Hi Kent, of course. I will send you an email. Cheers.
very helpful …many thanks
Thank you for visiting us!
Hi Glenn I’m from Guyana and I’m a bilingual English and Spanish looking for a job offer in Argentina and to move to Argentina to live and work .can you advise me what to do. My email: chandrikarup@gmail.com
Hope to hear from you
Send a mail ☺️