Argentina matrícula consular: free registration, USD 10 certificate (NY)
Correction (October 3, 2026): earlier versions of this page said Argentina issues no matrícula consular. That was wrong. Argentina’s Consulate General in New York publishes a matrícula procedure — free registration in the consulate’s register (the Libro de Matrícula) plus an optional certificate that costs USD 10 and is valid for one year — and the Consulate General in Houston posts a matrícula registration form. What the official pages describe is a register entry and a paper certificate, not an ID card. The DNI, Argentina’s national ID, is a separate procedure with its own page: Argentina DNI from the US.
The short answer (as of October 3, 2026)
- The matrícula exists. New York: “Los ciudadanos y ciudadanas argentinas que residen en la jurisdicción del Consulado pueden solicitar su inscripción en el Libro de Matrícula de la Representación Consular y la emisión del correspondiente certificado de matrícula.”
- Registration is free; the certificate has a fee. New York: “La inscripción en el Libro de Matrícula es gratuita. El certificado, por su parte, requiere el pago de un arancel y tiene validez de un año, renovable.” The fee at New York is USD 10.
- It is a register and a certificate, not a card. None of the official sources we read describes a plastic card, and none says US banks accept the certificate.
- It is not the DNI. You need a DNI with an address in the consulate’s jurisdiction before you can register.
Cost and validity
| Item | New York consulate (page undated; read October 3, 2026) | Decreto 266/2000 (consular fee decree) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration in the Libro de Matrícula | Free (“es gratuita”) | Listed as exempt — item 7.8.2 |
| Matrícula certificate | USD 10, valid one year, renewable | Item 6.8.1, under Certificados: “De inscripción de matrícula” — 10 consular units (art. 2: one unit = USD 1) |
| Certificate renewal | Page does not say whether renewal is charged | Listed as exempt — item 7.8.2: “renovación del certificado respectivo” |
Payment at New York: “El Consulado no acepta pagos en efectivo.” The fee above is New York’s; other consulates’ fees for the certificate were not published on the pages we read — confirm with your consulate.
How registration works at the New York consulate
New York’s jurisdiction covers New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.
- Check your DNI address. The DNI you present “deberá tener domicilio en la jurisdicción del Consulado”. If it does not, New York sends you to its DNI change-of-address procedure first — see the DNI page.
- Fill in the online form at https://siiconline.mrecic.gov.ar/.
- Request an appointment by email to cnyor-tramites@mrecic.gov.ar. “El trámite es presencial” and “No se atenderá a personas sin turno.”
- Attend in person with your last DNI and one 4 x 4 cm photo (front-facing, white background).
- If you want the certificate, bring one additional photo and pay USD 10 (no cash).
Why New York recommends registering
In the consulate’s words: “Se recomienda la inscripción en el Libro de Matrícula porque permite establecer un canal de comunicación directo entre la Comunidad Argentina y la Representación Consular. También puede facilitar ciertos trámites ante la autoridad local.”
Other consulates
- Houston (Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana) links a form titled registro de matrícula de residentes argentinos under “Matrícula Consular” on its appointments page (page updated 24/09/2026). That page does not state a fee or validity for the matrícula, and we did not review the form’s contents.
- For Washington DC, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta, the requirements above are New York’s — ask your own consulate how it handles the matrícula.
The DNI is a separate procedure
Argentine consulates take DNI applications for RENAPER (Registro Nacional de las Personas): “El trámite se realiza en el Consulado Argentino que te corresponde por tu domicilio” (RENAPER). The document is the national DNI itself — “El DNI se imprime en la República Argentina y es enviado a la Sección Consular” (Washington embassy). Fees, booking systems and delivery times differ by consulate; they are covered on the Argentina DNI page.
What US banks and agencies actually accept
Under USA PATRIOT Act Section 326 and its implementing rule (31 CFR 1020.220), each US bank decides for itself which foreign-government photo IDs it accepts for account opening. We found no official source documenting US bank acceptance of the Argentine matrícula certificate.
In practice:
- Call any bank ahead and ask which documents the branch accepts. Where a taxpayer number is required, see ITIN bank account opening.
- For state IDs and driver licenses without an SSN, see the state-by-state DMV guide — states set their own document lists.
Related information
- All Argentina consulates in the US
- Argentina DNI from the US
- Argentina passport renewal
- Argentina power of attorney
- ITIN bank account opening
- State DMV access without SSN
- Find pro bono immigration legal help
- Versión en español
Authoritative sources
- Consulado General en Nueva York — Matrícula consular: cnyor.cancilleria.gob.ar
- Consulado General en Houston — Turnos online para pasaportes y DNI (matrícula form link): chous.cancilleria.gob.ar
- Decreto 266/2000 — Aranceles consulares (updated text): argentina.gob.ar
- RENAPER — New DNI copy for Argentines abroad: argentina.gob.ar
- USA PATRIOT Act Section 326 / 31 CFR 1020.220 (bank customer identification programs)
Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Consular services, document requirements, and bank acceptance policies change. Verify directly with the Argentine consulate and the specific US institution before relying on any document. Not legal advice.