Argentine DNI from the US: USD 15 fee, online booking, documents

The Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI), Argentina’s national ID, is issued by the Registro Nacional de las Personas (RENAPER). From the United States you apply in person at the Argentine consulate that serves your address: fingerprints and photo are taken there, and the DNI is printed in Argentina and shipped to the consulate. The fee is 15 UC (consular units), which the Embassy in Washington publishes as USD 15 (checked October 3, 2026). At the Embassy in Washington appointments are online-only and free, and the wait for the document runs from about 4 to 6 weeks (Embassy in Washington) to no less than 60 days (Houston consulate). One point to plan around: your previous DNI stops being valid the moment you start the application.

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Key facts

ItemDetail (checked October 3, 2026)
Issued byRENAPER; the consulate captures biometrics
Where to applyThe Argentine consulate for your district (RENAPER)
Fee15 UC (RENAPER); ‘USD 15’ (Embassy in Washington)
DNI + passport togetherUSD 180 (Embassy in Washington, combined procedure)
AppointmentOnline, free, one per person (Embassy in Washington)
PhotoNot needed (New York and Miami consulates)
Delivery timeAbout 4 to 6 weeks (Washington); no less than 45 days (Miami); no less than 60 days (Houston)
Validity15 years after the adult update (RENAPER)
Trackingmitramite.renaper.gob.ar with your ID de trámite

What this procedure covers

RENAPER says you need a new copy (nuevo ejemplar) if you changed your address, lost the document, it expired, you need to exchange it, it was stolen or it is damaged. The updates at ages 5 to 8 and at 14, and late identification for someone born in Argentina who never had a DNI, are also handled from abroad.

The DNI is not the same as registering in the consulate’s Libro de Matrícula. For that registry, see Argentina consular registration (matrícula).

The Embassy in Washington cites Law 17.671, Article 47: Argentine citizens must report a change of address ‘dentro de los treinta días de haberse producido la novedad’ (within thirty days of the change). The address is declarative and must fall inside the district of the consulate where you apply. According to RENAPER, the result is a new card-format DNI, and having your foreign address recorded on the DNI is essential to be placed on the consulate’s voter roll (see voting from the US).

If you apply for a passport with a DNI that still shows an address in Argentina, the Miami consulate says it will process the change of address as a combined procedure, which means issuing a new DNI with its fee. The Atlanta consulate says the same, at an additional cost of USD 15.

Fees by consulate

Fees are set in consular units; Decree 266/2000 sets the consular unit at one US dollar. As published on October 3, 2026:

SourceWhat it publishes
RENAPER (new copy and change of address)DNI 15 UC
Embassy in WashingtonUSD 15 per DNI; USD 180 for DNI + passport combined; payment by debit or credit card plus a 3.25% fee
Houston consulate (fee table)15 for change of address, new copy, 5/8-year update and 14-year update; 30 for an update with a late fine and for late identification with a fine (over 18)
Miami consulate (card prices)15.60 for issuing a DNI for any reason
Los Angeles consulateFirst DNI for native Argentines who never had one: ‘sin costo’ (no cost)

The Houston table and the Los Angeles page disagree on the first DNI for an adult who never had one (30 with a fine versus no cost). Confirm the amount with your consulate before the appointment.

Documents

According to RENAPER and the Embassy in Washington:

SituationWhat to bring
Adult with a previous DNIPrevious DNI. If lost, a copy is accepted; if stolen, the police or consular report
No previous DNIAnother identity document showing photo and fingerprints (RENAPER)
Minor under 18Original Argentine partida de nacimiento (not a birth certificate), presence of the people with parental responsibility with a valid DNI; if one is absent, an authorization that ‘EXPRESAMENTE’ (expressly) allows the DNI application; a death record if a parent has died
Never had a DNI (late identification)Original partida de nacimiento issued within the last 6 months and two witnesses with original ID
Foreign documentsLegalized or apostilled and translated into Spanish, where applicable (Embassy in Washington)

For late identification, the Los Angeles and Miami consulates specify that witnesses must be adults and not close relatives (parents, children, siblings or spouses). Los Angeles also asks for proof of address in its district. Miami says this procedure cannot be combined with a passport.

If your document is the green-booklet DNI (libreta verde) or an older booklet, the Embassy in Washington and the Houston consulate ask you to email them before booking. If you need the partida de nacimiento, see Argentine birth certificate from the US.

Step by step

  1. Identify your consulate. The Embassy in Washington serves DC, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia; Houston serves Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Colorado. The full list is at Argentine consulates in the US.
  2. Book the appointment. In Washington, ‘TURNOS EXCLUSIVAMENTE EN LÍNEA A TRAVÉS DEL SISTEMA NACIONAL DE TURNOS (SNT)’. Houston also uses the SNT and opens booking within 60 days of the date you access the system. The New York consulate says it does not see anyone without an appointment. If you cannot attend, cancel: the Embassy warns that not doing so could block you from booking again.
  3. Appear in person. The New York consulate says fingerprints and photo are taken at the consulate and you do not need to bring a photograph.
  4. Pay the fee with a method your consulate accepts. Washington charges by debit or credit card (plus 3.25%); Miami takes credit card, debit card or Apple Pay.
  5. Keep the proof of application. It shows the ID de trámite. Houston says RENAPER also emails you a tracking link to mitramite.renaper.gob.ar.
  6. Pick up the DNI. In Washington the holder picks it up with an identity document and the proof of application, without an appointment, on business days from 8:30 am to 1 pm. Miami says you can check the status from day 30 and, once arrival is announced, come in without an appointment on business days.

If the application is flagged (‘observado’)

The Embassy in Washington states that it does not track applications: each holder checks the status on RENAPER’s platform. It also warns that the DNI and the passport may arrive on different dates and in different packages. If RENAPER flags the application (it shows in red on the online check), the Embassy asks you to email consular@embassyofargentina.us for a new appointment, and says flagged applications do not require paying the consular fee again. To pick up a minor’s DNI, it requires both parents or a note signed by the absent parent.

Delivery by mail

  • Houston: as an exception, if when you apply you leave a prepaid USPS or UPS envelope (’no aceptamos Fedex’) with a tracking number and the signed mail-delivery authorization.
  • Atlanta: only for people who live more than 150 miles from the consulate, with a prepaid UPS or USPS label and a signed release letter (carta de deslinde). The consulate says it ships mail deliveries once a week.

Published delivery times

ConsulatePublished time (checked October 3, 2026)
Embassy in Washington‘aproximadamente, 4 a 6 semanas’ (about 4 to 6 weeks)
Miami‘NO MENOR A 45 DIAS’ (no less than 45 days)
Houston’no menos de 60 días’ (no less than 60 days) from the application
Los Angeles (first DNI, late identification)‘plazo estimado de 90 días’ (estimated 90 days)

What you cannot do at the consulate

  • Express or instant passports: the Embassy in Washington says these ‘solo se realizan en la República Argentina’ (are only done in Argentina).
  • DNI for foreign nationals: ‘En las oficinas consulares no se tramita DNI ni Pasaporte para personas extranjeras’ (Embassy in Washington).
  • Applications from another district: the New York consulate does not process documents for people living outside its jurisdiction.

Your US immigration status

The RENAPER and consulate pages checked on October 3, 2026 require being an Argentine citizen, living in the consulate’s district and presenting Argentine documents. None of those DNI requirement lists asks for a US immigration document.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Fees, timelines and requirements set by RENAPER and each Argentine consulate change. Verify directly with RENAPER and the consulate for your district. Not legal advice.