Argentina's paperwork, explained
Argentina uses several identification numbers and documents that can be unfamiliar to foreigners. The most common are the DNI, CUIL and CUIT, each of which serves a different purpose.
The DNI is Argentina's national identity document and is issued to citizens and eligible foreign residents. CUIL is primarily used to identify workers and is associated with employment and social-security records, while CUIT is the tax identification number used for businesses, self-employed workers and other taxpayers. Tax administration itself is handled by ARCA (Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero), the agency that replaced the former AFIP in 2024.
DNI explained
The Documento Nacional de Identidad is Argentina's core identity document, used for everything from opening a bank account to signing a lease. Argentine citizens receive one automatically; foreign residents become eligible for a DNI once Migraciones grants them residency, at which point it becomes the everyday substitute for a passport in most local transactions.
CUIL vs. CUIT
Both are 11-digit tax and social-security identifiers built around a person's DNI number, but they serve different purposes. A CUIL (Código Único de Identificación Laboral) identifies someone as an employee for payroll, pension and social-security purposes. A CUIT (Código Único de Identificación Tributaria) identifies someone — an individual or a company — as a taxpayer in their own right, which is what you need to invoice clients, register a business or work as self-employed.
CDI explained
A CDI (Clave de Identificación) is a tax identifier issued by ARCA to people who need to be identified for tax purposes but do not have a DNI and are therefore not eligible for a CUIL or CUIT. It commonly applies to non-resident foreigners who need an Argentine tax identifier for a specific transaction, such as certain property or investment dealings, without establishing residency.
CUIL for foreigners
A foreigner who takes formal employment in Argentina will need a CUIL, obtained through ANSES (the national social security administration), so that the employer can register wages, make pension contributions and withhold taxes correctly. It is generally only available once you hold a DNI as a resident, which is one reason formal employment and the residency process are closely linked for newcomers.
CUIT for businesses and taxpayers
Freelancers, independent contractors and business owners need a CUIT to invoice legally and pay taxes through ARCA. Many self-employed people in Argentina register under Monotributo, a simplified tax regime that combines income tax, social security and health-insurance contributions into a single monthly payment scaled to income category, which is often the practical starting point for foreigners setting up freelance work.
Argentine address & domicile
Proof of address — a utility bill, a lease, or a formal domicile declaration — appears throughout Argentine bureaucracy, from opening a bank account to registering with ARCA. Because many processes tie together (DNI, CUIL or CUIT, and a registered domicile), it is worth keeping copies of your lease and a recent utility bill on hand once you are settled somewhere.