Set up a Representative Office in Argentina

Would you like to set up a liaison office in Argentina and need guidance? You may explore the following lines and discover the key requirements. Besides that, you can also access our online services through the free case evaluation page to discuss with our Argentine agents with experience in company formation.

Quick Facts
The purpose of a representative office in Argentina	Great for: – business research activities, – promotion, – negotiation, – contracting potential partners, etc.
What activities can you undertake with a liaison office in Argentina?	– negotiation with local and/or foreign clients, – marketing and promotion, – market studies, – testing the local market before future operations, etc.
How can a representative office be registered in Argentina?	Presenting: – Certificate of Incorporation of the parent company, – balance sheets, – declaration stating a liaison office is opened in Argentina, – other standard forms.
Can a liaison office in Argentina have commercial activities? (YES/NO)	NO
Contracting potential clients and partners (YES/NO)	YES
Local agent required (YES/NO)	YES
Attributes of a liaison officer	– promoting the business activities of the foreign company, – getting in touch with future customers and collaborators, – research and reports, attending business meetings, – negotiating business agreements, etc.
Bank account for a liaison office in Argentina	Required for different financial operations made by the representative office in Argentina.
Allowed to invoice local customers	Not possible
The institution that authorizes the liaison office in Argentina	Argentine Public Register
The costs of opening a representative office in Argentina	Supported by the foreign company
Travel requirements	Not required
Business advertising through a liaison office in Argentina	An attractive option for foreign companies interested in business in Argentina
Time frame for opening a liaison office in Argentina	A few days
Why choose our company formation agents in Argentina?	We can manage the process of company formation in Argentina, including a representative office.

How is a liaison office known in Argentina?

Representative office,
RO.

Who can open a liaison office in Argentina?

Any businessman from abroad who intends to test the Argentine market before starting the operation.

Where do I register a liaison office in Argentina?

At the Inspección General de Justicia (IGJ) in Buenos Aires.

Can a liaison office in Argentina develop commercial activities?

No.

Here is an infographic with details about representative offices in Argentina:

What are the main purposes of a RO in Argentina?

to develop marketing & advertising activities of a foreign company,
gather information about a specific business sector in Argentina,
assess local investment opportunities,
create local collaborations/partnerships,
contract potential local business partners, etc.

IMPORTANT: A representative office in Argentina cannot issue invoices, nor generate profits.

What is the status of a representative office in Argentina?

A communication channel between a foreign company and the local market in Argentina.

What are the documents solicited for opening a liaison office in Argentina?

a decision from the parent company intending to set up a liaison office in Argentina,
company registration certificate extract,
ID/passport of the representative of the liaison office in Argentina,
other standard forms to be completed.

IMPORTANT: All documents must be translated into Spanish before submission to IGJ.

Do I need a tax ID when opening a liaison office in Argentina?

Yes. This is the CUIT – Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria.

You can also watch the following video presentation with details on this subject:

Can a liaison office hire local staff in Argentina?

Yes.

Is a representative office the same as a branch office in Argentina?

No. Here are the differences:

a liaison office can only carry out marketing & advertising operation,
a branch can carry out commercial activities and generate profits.

Is a corporate stamp needed? What about a digital signature?

Yes, these are required.

Can a representative office be set up remotely in Argentina?

Yes. Our specialists in company formation in Argentina can deal with the remote formalities for opening a liaison office.

What is the timeframe to open a RO in Argentina?

Around 8-12 weeks.

Is it hard to open a liaison office in Argentina?

No, as long as you benefit from guidance from a specialist in the field, such as our Argentine agents.

We invite you to contact our local team and find out more about how to open a representative office in Argentina. We also highlight that foreign clients can benefit from the accounting services offered by our team of specialists, regardless of the selected business structure in Argentina.