In a 10 May 2005 telephone interview, a consular official of the Embassy of Argentina in the United States in Washington, DC, provided the following information. Firstly, upon learning of the contents of ARG34787.E of 20 July 2000, the consular official noted that this information was still valid. Additionally, the consular official explained that in Argentina, citizenship and nationality are two different concepts. For example, anyone born in Argentina will always have Argentinean nationality. On the other hand, an individual such as a foreign national can acquire Argentinean citizenship.

While an individual can never lose Argentinean nationality, citizenship can be taken away under certain circumstances, namely if one commits a serious offence. An example of a serious offence would be committing a crime against the state such as espionage.

The consular official also explained that an individual could lose citizenship upon acquiring citizenship of another country. However, while dual citizenship is generally not recognized, Argentina does have an agreement for dual citizenship with 11 other countries: Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Spain, Italy, Norway, and Sweden.

The entry for Argentina in the March 2001 publication Citizenship Laws of the World partially corroborated the information provided by the consul official from the Embassy of Argentina (US Mar. 2001, 19). Specifically, the Argentina entry refers to voluntary and involuntary grounds for citizenship loss and dual citizenship exceptions (ibid.). For example, with regard to involuntary loss of citizenship, three grounds are mentioned:

Person acquires foreign citizenship, but does not fall under "Dual Citizenship."

Person accepts employment or honors from a foreign government without permission.

Person commits fraudulent bankruptcy or has an infamous sentence (ibid.).

Please find the Argentina entry for the March 2001 publication Citizenship Laws of the World attached for your consultation.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Embassy of Argentina in the United States, Washington, DC. 10 May 2005. Telephone interview with consular official.

United States (US). March 2001. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). "Argentina." Citizenship Laws of the World. http://www.opm.gov/extra/investigate/IS-01.pdf [Accessed 10 May 2005]

United States (US). March 2001. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). "Argentina." Citizenship Laws of the World. http://www.opm.gov/extra/investigate/IS-01.pdf [Accessed 10 May 2005]

One oral source could not respond to information request within time constraints.

Internet: Argentina - Ministerio del Interior, Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales (CARI), The Consulate General of the Republic of Argentina in Montreal, Country Reports 2004, Embassy of Argentina in Canada.