Expats · Argentina
Foreigners in Argentina can get a working mobile line in minutes, but only with a valid passport and a declared length of stay: the national telecoms regulator ENACOM requires both. The three big networks, Claro, Movistar and Personal, all sell prepaid tourist packages, and Personal also sells an eSIM online.
Key Facts
—Who. Americans and other visitors, remote workers and new residents who need mobile data and home internet in Argentina.
—What. How to register and buy a SIM or eSIM, what the three main networks offer, what home internet looks like, and where connections get weak.
—Why it matters. Argentina has 6.2 million fibre-optic internet connections and an average national speed of 245.53 Mbps, ENACOM data reported in April 2026, but a line is switched off when your declared stay ends.
—The rule. Foreigners without an Argentine ID must show a valid passport or travel document and state how long they will stay; the operator disables the line when that period ends, ENACOM Resolution 263/2023, Article 8.
—Prices. Operator prices change fast in a country with monthly inflation of 1.7% in August 2026 (INDEC), so the US$ figures below are dated and should be checked at the counter.
The Short Answer: What You Need to Get Online in Argentina
Bring your passport and buy the SIM at a carrier shop or an authorised dealer, not from a street seller. The operator must ask for your passport or travel document and the length of stay you plan.
If you stay longer than you declared, the line stops carrying traffic until you confirm your registration and a new stay period. Calls to customer service and emergency numbers keep working while the line is blocked.
How SIM Registration Works for Foreigners
The rule sits in Article 8 of ENACOM Resolution 263/2023, which replaced the regulations attached to the older Resolution 8507/2016. Foreigners without an Argentine ID must show a valid passport and/or travel document and declare how long they will stay.
When that period ends, the operator must disable the line, except for customer service and emergency services, until you renew your registration. Article 3 of the same resolution requires operators to offer registration in person or remotely, so the exact route depends on the operator.
Foreigners who hold an Argentine DNI follow the same biometric identity validation as citizens. If you only have a passport, expect the operator to handle your documents itself, and ask which route it offers.
The Three Networks Compared
Claro, Movistar and Personal run the main mobile networks. The national tourism board listed the tourist products below in May 2025, so treat the prices as a guide to the price level, not as a current quote. We did not check them against the operators’ current price lists.
| Operator | How to buy | Tourist package (May 2025) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claro | In a Claro shop with a passport | “Chip Turista”: 25 GB for 30 days, about US$15, with unlimited WhatsApp and social media | Not sold at Ezeiza Airport at the time |
| Movistar | In a shop or at a kiosk | 3 GB or 5 GB for 30 days, about US$5–7 | A SIM bought at a kiosk can be activated by WhatsApp |
| Personal | Online eSIM, a shop, a kiosk or the Ezeiza stand | 1 GB for 1 day, about US$1; other bundles for 3, 7 and 30 days | Only operator with an official stand at Ezeiza |
On those 2025 figures Claro offered the most data, Movistar the lowest price for a 30-day package and Personal the shortest, cheapest bundles. Compare current prices before you choose.
eSIM: The Fastest Option If Your Phone Supports It
Personal sold an eSIM online with an international credit card, activated immediately by QR code, according to the tourism board in May 2025.
An eSIM only works on a phone that supports it and is not locked to your home carrier. Check both before you fly, because a locked phone cannot take a local line of any kind.
Home Internet: Fast on Paper, Uneven in Practice
Argentina’s fixed internet has improved quickly. ENACOM figures reported by DPL News in April 2026 show 6.2 million fibre-optic accesses, roughly double the 2023 level, and an average national speed of 245.53 Mbps, up 9.2% in a semester.
Satellite internet is growing too, with more than 750,000 accesses reported in April 2026, a sign of demand outside the fibre areas.
An average hides large differences. Ask any landlord which provider serves the building before you sign, because a fast national average does not guarantee fibre at your door.
Public Wi-Fi and Coworking
Buenos Aires runs a free public network, BA WiFi, with more than 1,200 antennas at over 1,000 busy spots. The tourism board says it gives around 5 Mbps per user in 30-minute sessions, which is enough for messages, not for video calls.
For work, the board lists coworking spaces in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario and Bariloche, with day or week passes it puts at US$2–5. Those prices date from May 2025.
A Short Checklist Before You Go to the Shop
Take your passport and an unlocked phone. Know the date you leave, because you must state your stay length, and add a few days of margin so the line does not stop on the way to the airport.
Ask four questions at the counter: how many days the package lasts, what happens to unused data, whether messaging apps are included, and how to top up. The tourism board says Claro’s tourist chip included unlimited WhatsApp and social media in May 2025, so ask whether that is still the case.
Keep the activation confirmation and the passport details you gave. You will need them if the line is blocked and you have to reconfirm your registration.
The Downsides
Registration of a physical SIM needs a trip to a shop. Prices change often, and the cheapest promotions usually require a new line or a change of operator.
We found no independent coverage tests. If you travel to Patagonia or the Andes, carry offline maps and a second option, such as a Personal eSIM next to a Claro SIM.
What It Means for You
For a short stay, buy a Personal eSIM before you land, and add a physical SIM if you plan to leave the cities. For a stay of several months, register a physical SIM in your own name with the stay length you really need.
Argentina’s monthly inflation was 1.7% in August 2026, and INDEC publishes the September figure on 13 October. At the 9 October EODHD close of 1,516.75 pesos per US$1, plans priced in pesos can rise in dollar terms without notice, so confirm the price on the day.
Related reading: our cost of living in Argentina, banking in Argentina and the Argentina hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tourist buy a SIM card in Argentina?
Yes. The operator must ask for your valid passport or travel document and the length of stay you declare, under ENACOM Resolution 263/2023, Article 8.
Do I need an Argentine ID to get a prepaid line?
No. Foreigners without an Argentine ID register with a valid passport or travel document. Prepaid lines still need an identified holder.
What happens if I stay longer than I declared?
The operator must disable the line, except for customer service and emergency calls, until you confirm your registration and a new stay period.
Which operator is best for tourists?
It depends on your plan. In May 2025 the tourism board listed Claro’s 25 GB tourist chip at about US$15, Movistar’s 3 GB and 5 GB packages at about US$5–7 and Personal’s one-day 1 GB bundle at about US$1, so compare current prices.
Can I get an eSIM in Argentina?
Yes. In May 2025 Personal sold an eSIM online with an international credit card. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked.
How fast is home internet in Argentina?
ENACOM data reported in April 2026 put the national average at 245.53 Mbps, with 6.2 million fibre-optic accesses. Speeds vary by building and provider, so ask before you rent.
Sources
- ENACOM, Resolution 263/2023, Articles 3 and 8 (identity registration of mobile lines)
- Argentina Tourism Board, how to get internet in Argentina, 21 May 2025
- DPL News, citing ENACOM connectivity data, 15 April 2026
- INDEC, consumer price index, August 2026 release of 10 September 2026
- EODHD, USD/ARS close of 9 October 2026