Short answer
Under the Central Bank's consolidated Foreign Trade and Exchange rules (Communication “A” 8481, in force from 15 September 2026), banks may let an Argentine company buy foreign currency to pay dividends to non-resident shareholders when the profits come from closed and audited financial statements, the amount does not exceed what the shareholders' meeting distributed, and the company is up to date with the foreign assets and liabilities survey. Foreign direct investment contributed and converted through the official market since 21 April 2025 can be repatriated without prior approval after 180 days.
Based on the official Argentine sources listed at the end of this page.
Paying dividends to foreign shareholders
Point 3.4 of the consolidated text allows access to the foreign-exchange market to remit profits and dividends to non-resident shareholders when all of these conditions are met:
- The profits and dividends correspond to closed and audited financial statements.
- The total paid to non-resident shareholders, including the payment requested, does not exceed the amount in pesos allocated to them by the shareholders' meeting. The bank needs a sworn statement signed by the legal representative or a duly empowered attorney.
- The company has filed, where applicable, the latest due return of the Relevamiento de activos y pasivos externos (the Central Bank's survey of external assets and liabilities) for the operations involved.
Repatriating the investment
As a rule, repatriation of non-resident investment needs the Central Bank's prior approval (point 3.13). The main exception for operating companies covers direct investment in a company that does not control a local financial institution, when the capital contribution was brought in and converted through the foreign-exchange market:
- if the contribution was converted on or after 21 April 2025, repatriation is allowed at least 180 calendar days after conversion;
- if it was converted between 2 October 2020 and 20 April 2025, at least two years after conversion.
Projects under the RIGI have their own repatriation rules (point 3.13.1.12).
Why the first transfer matters. Both dividend payments and capital repatriation depend on how the money came in. Bringing the capital contribution through the official foreign-exchange market, and documenting it properly, is what later allows the funds to go out without prior approval.
The 90-day affidavit
Companies that buy foreign currency through the official market must still sign sworn statements regarding operations with securities settled in foreign currency in the 90 days before and after the access (point 3.16.3). This should be planned into the treasury calendar, especially for groups that also invest through the local capital market.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Argentine subsidiary pay dividends to its foreign parent in 2026?
Yes, through a bank and without prior Central Bank approval, provided the profits come from closed and audited financial statements, the amount matches what the shareholders' meeting approved, and the company is up to date with the external assets and liabilities survey.
How soon can I take my capital back out?
For contributions converted through the official market from 21 April 2025, repatriation without prior approval is possible after 180 calendar days, provided the company does not control a local financial institution.
Do these rules change often?
Yes. The Central Bank updates the consolidated text frequently. Check the version in force on the day of each transaction.
Official sources
Related guides
This guide is general information about Argentine law as of the review date. It is not legal advice for a specific case, and rules—particularly foreign-exchange regulations—change frequently.