Practical guide
Foreign companies in Argentina
Separate the registration routes, prepare corporate records and identify the proof needed before the Argentine operation proceeds.
First distinguish the person from the company
A foreign individual founder and a company incorporated abroad have different paperwork. Draw who owns, signs, invoices and operates locally. Identify whether the foreign company will only hold an interest, run a branch, or be principally based in Argentina.
Habitual activity or branch: article 118
Article 118 covers habitual activity and a branch or permanent representation; it is different from the isolated-act question. Ask for a case-specific classification of the intended operation.
For CABA, add the branch/activity decision, chosen mode, representative, office, year-end and assigned capital if any, plus publication where required. Identify books/accounting obligations and who is responsible. An article 118 registration can dispense with another article 123 registration under the IGJ rule; confirm the existing record before duplicating filings.
Joint filing and the local-base question
IGJ’s May 2026 reform permits conditional joint filing of a foreign registration and the local company’s constitution when direct participation is shown in the constitutive instrument. Local registration still depends on completing the foreign-company requirements.
If the foreign company has its seat or principal purpose in Argentina, ask about article 124 treatment as a local company. Do not select a shareholder registration merely because it appears simpler.
Choose the registry for the actual location
The IGJ procedures above apply to CABA. Buenos Aires Province lists separate foreign shareholder (123) and branch (118) forms; Córdoba’s Registro Público lists foreign-company registration. Their attachment, signing and follow-up rules must be checked separately.
Keep the foreign certificate/constitutive records, corporate resolution, local representation and translation/legalisation plan ready for that registry’s review. CABA’s formation opinion waiver is not a blanket waiver for foreign registration or provincial filing.
Your adviser handoff and completion evidence
Take: structure diagram, proposed activities/locations, existing foreign and Argentine registrations, intended signing authority, funding/capital arrangement and the actual registry questions. Ask about setup and recurring tax, accounting and corporate obligations before committing.
Move on with the relevant registration evidence and a documented operating plan, not merely an application receipt. Ownership/registration does not itself settle immigration permission, banking acceptance or tax residence. Keep those reviews separate.
Prepare the business to operate
Once the structure and registry are settled, check tax/invoice activation, local permissions and staff requirements. Assign ongoing filings to a responsible person and a current due date.