Short answer
A foreign company registers under article 123 of Ley 19.550 to be a shareholder of an Argentine company, and under article 118 to operate regularly through a branch or permanent representation. Since IGJ General Resolution 4/2026 (in force from May 2026) the core file is short: a certificate of good standing no older than six months, the by-laws, a resolution deciding the registration and appointing a representative, the representative's acceptance, and beneficial-owner and PEP declarations. A branch adds a few items, and an art. 118 registration also covers art. 123.
Based on the official Argentine sources listed at the end of this page.
Article 123 or article 118?
Article 123 applies when the foreign company will incorporate or participate in an Argentine company. Article 118, third paragraph, applies when it will carry out its business on a regular basis in Argentina, open a branch, or set up any permanent representation. A company registered under art. 118 does not need a second registration under art. 123 (art. 166 of the IGJ Rules, as amended by RG 4/2026).
Documents for an article 123 registration
Under the new article 164 of the IGJ Rules (RG 15/2024, as amended by RG 4/2026), the file includes:
- A certificate of good standing or registration issued by the registry of the home jurisdiction, dated within six months of filing.
- The articles of incorporation and their amendments, certified by a notary or by the home registry. A certified consolidated text can replace the separate amendments, and minor amendments can be reported in a note from the legal representative.
- A resolution of the competent corporate body deciding the registration and appointing the legal representative, stating the powers granted.
- A filing by the representative accepting the appointment and setting a special domicile (an electronic domicile can be added). If the representative is a registered lawyer or accountant, a signature with professional seal is enough; otherwise notarial certification, a digital signature, or an electronic signature verified by the reviewing professional is accepted.
- Sworn statements on politically exposed persons and on the ultimate beneficial owner.
Additional items for a branch (article 118)
A branch or permanent representation must also file a resolution stating the chosen form of presence, the representative, the registered office in the City of Buenos Aires (the representative can be authorised to set it), the fiscal year-end and, where applicable, the capital assigned; plus proof of the publication required by art. 118 when the company is a corporation, a limited liability company or a type unknown under Argentine law. The branch must keep separate accounting in Argentina (art. 120 LGS), and the IGJ may require the rubric of accounting books. Annual financial statements are due within 120 calendar days of the fiscal year-end.
Practical points introduced in 2026
- Digital documents from abroad are accepted when printed and duly apostilled; the apostille is used to check integrity and traceability.
- Joint filing: the foreign shareholder's registration and the incorporation of the local company can be submitted together. The local company is registered only once the foreign company's file is complete, and joint filing only applies when the shareholding appears directly in the incorporation document.
- High-risk jurisdictions: companies from jurisdictions identified by the FATF or considered non-cooperative for tax-transparency purposes are reviewed with a restrictive criterion (art. 168).
- Provinces: these are IGJ rules for the City of Buenos Aires. If the local company will be domiciled in a province, the provincial registry's requirements apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does the foreign parent need to register before the local company is incorporated?
Article 123 requires prior registration, but since RG 4/2026 both files can be submitted together; the local company is registered once the foreign company's requirements are fully met.
Do documents need an apostille and translation?
Yes. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled (or legalised by an Argentine consulate where the Hague Convention does not apply) and, if not in Spanish, translated by an Argentine sworn translator.
How recent must the certificate of good standing be?
No older than six months at the date of filing.
What happens if a foreign shareholder is not registered?
Under article 190 of the IGJ Rules (as amended by RG 4/2026), corporate acts of the local company in which the unregistered foreign shareholder's votes were decisive cannot be registered until the foreign company proves its registration. It is best to complete the registration before the shareholder votes.
Official sources
- Ley General de Sociedades 19.550 (consolidated text)argentina.gob.ar
- IGJ General Resolution 4/2026 – foreign companies (PDF)argentina.gob.ar
- IGJ – official announcement of General Resolution 4/2026argentina.gob.ar
- IGJ – General Resolutions issued in 2026argentina.gob.ar
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.