Argentine minor travel authorization in the US: USD 50 consular venia
The venia or autorización de viaje is the document in which parents authorize a minor to enter and leave Argentina when the minor is not traveling with both parents or guardians (Los Angeles consulate). From the United States there are two routes: sign it before an Argentine consul, in person, for USD 50, with delivery the same day (Embassy in Washington and Los Angeles consulate, checked October 3, 2026); or sign it before a notary public, in which case it must carry a Hague Apostille and be translated into Spanish. The consular venia needs no legalization to be valid in Argentina. The consular procedure cannot be done by mail, and the child does not have to attend.
Key facts
| Item | Detail (checked October 3, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who signs | The parents (or guardians) with parental responsibility |
| Before whom, from the US | An Argentine consul, or a local notary public + Apostille + Spanish translation (Embassy in Washington) |
| Consular fee | US$ 50 (Embassy in Washington); 50 dollars (Los Angeles); 50 (Houston table); 52.00 by card (Miami) |
| By mail | No; the authorizing parents sign in person before the consul (Embassy in Washington) |
| Child present | Not necessary (Embassy in Washington) |
| Timing | Same day (Embassy in Washington; Los Angeles) |
| Legalization in Argentina | Not needed for the consular venia (Los Angeles) |
The two routes from the United States
1. Before an Argentine consul. The Embassy in Washington says this route applies if the minor is ‘argentino nativo, por opción o residente de nuestro país’ (a native Argentine, Argentine by option, or a resident of Argentina). It is signed in person at the consular section and delivered the same day. The Los Angeles consulate digitizes it and delivers it ’en formato electrónico y en papel’ (electronically and on paper) for use in Argentina, and states that ‘Las venias consulares argentinas no requieren legalización para ser válidas en la Argentina’ (Argentine consular venias need no legalization to be valid in Argentina).
2. Before a local notary public. According to the Embassy in Washington, an authorization signed before a notary public must expressly state that the signers are the minor’s parents, based on the birth record the notary examined. It must then be legalized with a Hague Apostille and presented translated into Spanish. To apostille a US document, see how to apostille a document.
The Embassy also notes that in Argentina the authorization can be granted before a judge, a notary (escribano público) or the immigration office (Migraciones).
Documents for the consular venia
| Document | Embassy in Washington | Los Angeles consulate |
|---|---|---|
| Signer’s identity | DNI (or passport, if a foreign national) | DNI, or a valid passport if the signer is not Argentine |
| Minor’s birth record | Argentine partida, original or copy; if a copy, the original is presented with the venia at boarding | Partida issued within the last 6 months |
| Minor’s document | Minor’s DNI (original or copy, depending on where the minor is) | Minor’s DNI, or a valid passport if the minor has no DNI |
| Person accompanying or receiving the minor | DNI (or passport, if foreign) and address | DNI or passport (original or photocopy) and address; does not have to appear |
| Deceased parent | Death record | Original death record, apostilled if not Argentine |
| Sole parental responsibility or loss of it | The ruling that shows it | Original court ruling, apostilled if not Argentine |
| Other | If the minor is a foreign national residing in Argentina: birth certificate from the country of origin, apostilled and translated | Proof of the signer’s address in the consulate’s district (unless in transit) and the completed venia form |
If you need a recent Argentine birth record, see Argentine birth certificate from the US.
Step by step (consular venia)
- Request the appointment by email.
- Embassy in Washington: consular@embassyofargentina.us, stating where you live and attaching the documents.
- Los Angeles consulate: clang@cancilleria.gob.ar, with the completed venia form and photos or scans of the other documents.
- Go on the appointment day with the originals. The authorizing parents go; the Embassy in Washington says the minor’s presence is not necessary, and Los Angeles says the person accompanying the minor does not have to appear.
- Sign before the consul. The Embassy answers that the venia cannot be granted by mail: it must be signed in the consul’s presence.
- Pay the fee: USD 50 in Washington and in Los Angeles (checked October 3, 2026). Los Angeles accepts the payment methods listed on its page.
- Receive the venia the same day. Embassy in Washington: ‘La autorización se procesa y entrega en el mismo día’ (the authorization is processed and delivered the same day).
The venia and the minor’s passport
The Embassy in Washington says the travel authorization may or may not include authorization to apply for the minor’s passport. For the provisional passport, the New York consulate accepts, when one or both parents cannot attend, a valid power of attorney, authorization or venia in which the absent parent ’expresamente’ (expressly) authorizes issuing the passport; if granted outside Argentina, it must be apostilled. See emergency and provisional passport and passport renewal.
What you cannot do from the US
- Sign the consular venia by mail: according to the Embassy in Washington, the authorizing parents must go in person.
- Use a notary-public authorization without an apostille and translation: Los Angeles reminds readers that, before Argentine immigration authorities, it must be translated into Spanish and carry a Hague Apostille.
- Settle other countries’ requirements with the Argentine consulate: for trips involving other countries, Los Angeles refers you to those countries’ consulates or to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Your US immigration status
The venia depends on the minor’s Argentine nationality or residence and on the parental responsibility of the signers. The requirement lists of the Embassy in Washington and the Los Angeles consulate, checked October 3, 2026, do not ask for US immigration documents; Los Angeles does ask for proof of the signer’s address in its district.
Related information
- Argentina consular procedures in the US
- Emergency and provisional passport
- Renew an Argentine passport in the US
- Argentine DNI from the US
- Power of attorney at the Argentine consulate
- Argentine birth certificate from the US
- How to apostille a US document
- Argentine consulates in the US
- Find pro bono legal help
Official sources
- Embassy in Washington — Travel authorization (venia de viaje): requirements, procedure and fees (updated 14/11/2025): https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/es/requisitos-modalidad-y-costos-de-tramitaci%C3%B3n-venia-de-viaje
- Los Angeles consulate — Travel authorization for minors (updated 08/06/2026): https://clang.cancilleria.gob.ar/es/venia-de-viaje-para-menores-1
Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Each Argentine consulate’s fees and requirements change, and Argentine regulations determine when a travel authorization is mandatory. Verify directly with your consulate and with Argentina’s immigration authority (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones). Not legal advice.