Russian citizenship for a child born in Argentina

In short

A child born in Argentina is an Argentine citizen by birth. They can hold Russian citizenship at the same time: Argentina allows dual citizenship, and there's no need to give up the Argentine one. The procedure depends on the parents. If both are Russian citizens, the child is Russian by birth, and the consulate simply records that fact. If only one parent is a Russian citizen, the child must be admitted to citizenship on application, which takes longer and requires the other parent's consent. A Russian passport and a SNILS come only after this step.

Which case are you?

If the parents aren't married, the Russian father must be named on the partida. Otherwise he isn't legally a parent, and his citizenship doesn't count. In Argentina, paternity is acknowledged before or at birth registration (see Your baby's documents after birth).

Both parents Russian: documents

1. An application to record existing citizenship (filled in at the consulate or beforehand).
2. The parents' valid passports, international or internal.
3. The Argentine partida de nacimiento with an apostille from Argentina's Foreign Ministry.
4. A Russian translation of the partida certified by the consul or a Russian notary. The mark is placed on the translation bound to the original.
5. If the mother's surname on the certificate differs from her passport, the marriage or name-change certificate.

One parent attending is enough. Ask about processing time, and whether the baby needs to come, when you book. The mark on the translation proves the child's citizenship until a passport is issued, so keep it with the original.

One Russian parent: admission to citizenship

• The Russian parent files the application at the consulate where they live, which here means Buenos Aires.
• You need the foreign parent's consent to the child acquiring Russian citizenship. Check the form and how it must be signed (at the consulate, or before a notary with an apostille) in advance.
• There's no need to give up Argentine citizenship.
• Review takes longer than recording citizenship by birth, up to several months. A passport can only be applied for after the admission decision.
• Spanish documents need an apostille and a Russian translation certified by the consul or a notary in Russia.

If the other parent is a citizen of Kazakhstan, bear in mind that Kazakhstan doesn't recognize dual citizenship for its nationals. Ask the Kazakh consulate how this affects the child's documents (see Giving birth in Argentina for families from Kazakhstan).

Apostille, translation and name spelling

• The apostille on the partida comes from Argentina's Foreign Ministry, online via TAD or through the Colegio de Escribanos. TAD requires a digitally signed partida. In the general queue it can take several weeks, so build that into your plan.
• The translation for Russian authorities: the consul certifies either the accuracy of the translation or the translator's signature. A translation by an Argentine sworn translator is for Argentine authorities, not for the Russian consulate. Ask about translator requirements when you book.
• Names in Latin and Cyrillic must match the parents' passports. The Argentine partida has no patronymic. How that affects Russian documents: Patronymics in foreign documents.

Booking the consulate and the Russian passport

• Appointments at the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Buenos Aires are booked through the electronic queue on the consulate's website (argentina.kdmid.ru). Slots can be several weeks out.
• Don't book the passport on the same day as citizenship: the passport is issued only after the mark or the admission decision.
• The child must be present when you apply for the passport. Check on the website or when booking which passports (5-year or 10-year) the consulate currently issues and how long they take.
• Consular fees are paid at the consulate's rates.
• A Russian citizen enters Russia on a Russian passport, and an Argentine citizen leaves Argentina on an Argentine one. If you plan to travel, you need both.

After citizenship: SNILS, Gosuslugi, the notice

• The SNILS is applied for in Russia, in person or through a relative with a power of attorney. How to do it if you're staying in Argentina: A child's SNILS and Russian procedures.
• Notice of a second citizenship. The child is a citizen of two countries. Under current rules, a parent files the notice with the Interior Ministry on the child's behalf within 60 days of entering Russia. Filing late carries a fine of 500–1,000 rubles; deliberately failing to notify is a criminal offence. You can also notify voluntarily through the consulate.
• Possible changes. In January 2026 the Foreign Ministry published a draft under which Russians living abroad would notify through a consulate without entering Russia. It's only a draft; if adopted, it would apply from 2028. Keep an eye on the news.
• Online filing. Since 26 April 2026 the law allows some citizenship applications to be filed through Gosuslugi. For children living abroad, the consulate is still the main route.

Scenarios

• The family is staying in Argentina. There's no rush, but it's better to do citizenship while the child is small and all the documents are fresh. While at the consulate, also sign a power of attorney for a relative to handle the SNILS and other matters in Russia (see Powers of attorney before departure).
• The Russian father left right after the birth. If he is the only Russian parent, he files the admission application, and he has to do it at the consulate where he lives. Agree on the plan before he leaves.
• You need to fly to Russia quickly. The fastest way out is the Argentine passport. But a Russian citizen entering Russia on a foreign passport runs into problems, so it's better to wait for the Russian one.

Common mistakes

• a partida without an apostille or without a digital signature;
• the father not named on the partida when the parents aren't married;
• forgetting the foreign parent's consent;
• booking the passport on the same day as citizenship;
• the surname spelled differently in the translation and in the parents' passports.

How we help

We obtain the partida, get the apostille, arrange the translation, prepare the file and book the consulate. This is our Consular documents service. It's included in the birth support packages, and in Premium a coordinator runs the whole process. The full post-birth route is in Giving birth in Argentina: step by step.