Buying Land in Argentina: Restrictions for Foreigners

Senado.gob.ar

Argentina has reinstated restrictions on rural land purchases by foreigners. On October 9, 2026, the Supreme Court suspended the provision of President Javier Milei's decree that had repealed a 2011 law, Infobae reports. The law sets limits on the size of plots and the share held by foreign owners, including land intended for tourism projects outside urban areas. Parliament is considering whether to make the previous rules permanent.

Argentina's Contested Land Law

Ownership Limits and Court Cases

In 2011, Argentina adopted Rural Land Law No. 26,737, which imposed limits on land purchases by foreign individuals and companies. In December 2023, President Javier Milei repealed these provisions through his DNU 70/2023 decree as part of a broader economic liberalization program. The government hoped to attract foreign capital, but the move prompted protests from civil society groups and a series of lawsuits.

On September 29, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that had prevented the presidential decree from taking effect. The judges dismissed a lawsuit filed by an association of Malvinas War veterans, finding that the claimants lacked sufficient legal standing. This effectively opened the way for unrestricted sales of rural land to foreigners. However, proceedings continued in a separate case brought by the environmental organization Árbol de Pie.

Reinstatement of Restrictions

On October 9, the Supreme Court issued a new ruling in a case brought by environmental advocates, representatives of Indigenous communities and a former regional lawmaker. The court temporarily suspended Article 154 of the presidential decree and referred the case to a federal court in San Carlos de Bariloche for further review. The interim measure will remain in place until the court rules on the claimants' application. The 2011 law therefore applies again, and foreign buyers must comply with its restrictions.

Protection of Private Property

On October 21, the Chamber of Deputies approved amendments to a bill on the protection of private property. The changes would repeal the article of President Javier Milei's decree that allowed rural land to be sold freely to foreigners and reinstate Law No. 26,737. Because the Senate had previously backed a different version, the legislation was sent back to the upper house for further consideration.

Senate committees discussed amendments to Argentina's land legislation and prepared their report on November 6. A final vote had not yet taken place. If the upper house approves the deputies' amendments, the rules currently in force under an interim court order will be established in legislation.

What Land Can Foreigners Buy in Argentina?

The restrictions apply to buying land in Argentina outside urban boundaries. This includes farmland, forest areas, sites for tourist complexes and other developments. Purchases of city apartments, houses and commercial premises are not covered by this law.

The main rule concerns the total area owned by foreigners. Their holdings may not exceed 15% of Argentina's rural land. The same ceiling applies separately in each province and municipality. An additional restriction applies to individuals and companies of the same nationality: together, they may hold no more than 30% of the land allocated to foreign owners. As a result, even when the overall quota has not been reached, a buyer may face limits in a particular district.

There are also limits on individual holdings. In the country's core agricultural zone, a single foreign owner may hold no more than 1,000 hectares. In other regions, the permitted area is calculated according to location and land quality. The law also prohibits purchases of plots containing large permanent bodies of water or directly adjoining them. Special approval procedures apply in border areas.

The rules also cover companies registered in Argentina if foreign shareholders control more than 51% of their capital or voting rights. Exceptions are available for certain categories of buyers, including foreigners who have lived permanently in the country for at least ten years.

How Foreigners Can Buy Land in Argentina

Foreign buyers must obtain prior authorization from the National Rural Land Registry to purchase land in Argentina if the plot is located outside an urban area. Individuals need identification and a tax number, while companies must provide registration documents and ownership information. Applicants must also submit a cadastral plan, a property valuation and proof that the transaction complies with the legal limits.

Applications are submitted online through the government's TAD system. The registry reviews the information and seeks approval from provincial authorities responsible for water resources. An additional permit is required for land in border areas. The certificate fee is 0.1% of the transaction value. Within 120 days of completing a purchase, the new owner must send the registry documents confirming the transfer of title.

Failure to comply with the requirements can result in a contract being declared invalid, with no compensation for the parties involved. Investors should therefore check a property's legal status in advance and make sure the transaction meets the statutory rules. These conditions are particularly important for large agricultural and tourism developments that involve extensive tracts of land.

How Much Land Do Foreigners Own in Argentina?

Foreigners own approximately 13 million hectares, or 5% of Argentina's territory, according to El País. Ownership is distributed very unevenly, however. In some districts at the foot of the Andes and along the border with Chile, foreign owners control more than half of the land. This significantly limits opportunities for new buyers because the law caps foreign ownership both nationwide and in individual areas.

Agricultural land, forests, plots with access to water resources and sites for tourism development in Patagonia attract particularly strong investor interest. Javier Milei's government hoped to secure additional funds by liberalizing the market. Deregulation Minister Federico Sturzenegger estimated potential investment at $15 billion, although this was a projection, not spending on projects already carried out. Opponents of the reform favor retaining government controls over sales of strategically important land, especially in border regions.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

International Investment analysts note that the return of land ownership restrictions primarily affects major projects outside urban areas. The new conditions are particularly relevant to agriculture and tourism real estate in Patagonia, where construction often involves the purchase of extensive tracts of land. Foreign buyers' options now depend not only on a property's price and location but also on the proportion of land already held by foreigners in the district.

At the same time, Argentina's market remains open to foreign capital. The law does not prohibit land purchases but sets ownership ceilings and additional requirements. The main risk is regulatory uncertainty: the ultimate legal status of the president's reform is still unresolved. Investors planning long-term projects need to consider the possibility of further legislative changes and their financial consequences.

FAQ: Questions and Answers

What types of land can foreigners buy in Argentina?

Purchases of urban apartments, houses and commercial property are not covered by Law No. 26,737. Special ownership limits and approval procedures apply to rural land and plots located outside urban areas.

How much land can foreign owners hold?

Foreign-owned land may not exceed 15% of the country's rural territory or the rural land in each province and relevant district. Owners of the same nationality may hold no more than 30% of that quota. An individual owner is limited to 1,000 hectares in the core agricultural zone or an equivalent area elsewhere.

Where do additional restrictions on land purchases apply?

The law restricts purchases of land containing large permanent bodies of water and directly adjoining areas. Separate approvals are required for plots in border zones.

How can a foreign buyer obtain permission to purchase rural land?

The buyer applies to the National Rural Land Registry through the online TAD system. The application requires personal or corporate records, information about the plot and proof of compliance with the ownership limits.

What happens if a buyer breaches the land law?

The transaction may be declared invalid. The law does not provide compensation to the parties, so the property's legal status should be checked before a contract is signed.

Why were the restrictions reinstated only temporarily?

On October 9, 2026, the Supreme Court suspended the provision of the presidential decree that had repealed the earlier law. Court proceedings are still ongoing, and as of November 9, Parliament had not completed its consideration of amendments that could make the old rules permanent.