Real estate purchase for foreigners
in El Calafate and El Chaltén.

The CDI — Identification Code — is the tax ID that AFIP (the Argentine tax authority) issues to non-resident foreigners so they can operate within the country, including buying real estate.

It is processed with a passport and supporting documentation, usually through an attorney-in-fact in Argentina. It is a prerequisite for the deed signing and should be handled as soon as the buyer decides to move forward, to avoid delays at closing.

It is a strip of territory near the country's borders, regulated by national law, where foreigners require a prior permit from the National Commission of Security Zones to purchase real estate. Most of Patagonia — including El Calafate and El Chaltén — falls within this category.

The permit is processed before the Ministry of the Interior, takes time and requires specific documentation from the buyer. We handle it in parallel with the other stages to avoid delaying the transaction.

Largely yes. The initial consultation, the title search, the CDI processing, translations and document preparation are all handled remotely via video call and messaging.

Signing the preliminary agreement and the final deed can be done through an attorney-in-fact — someone you trust in Argentina holding a power of attorney issued in your country and apostilled. This avoids the trip in most cases. If you prefer to come in person to sign, we coordinate the schedule with you.

A foreign purchase typically takes 3 to 6 months from the initial decision to the final handover of the registered property. Timing depends mainly on the CDI, the border zone permit if it applies, and the buyer's documentation (with the corresponding apostilles and translations).

It is longer than a transaction between residents, but perfectly manageable when the steps are handled in parallel from the start. During the initial consultation we evaluate your case and give you a realistic timeline.