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Argentina: passenger data record

Last checked: 22 October 2026 · Country records

Argentina's data protection law is Ley 25.326, sanctioned on 4 October 2000 1. The Agencia de Acceso a la Información Pública (AAIP) handles personal data protection 2. A joint resolution of 8 September 2014 by AFIP, the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM), ANAC and the PSA set up the API and PNR system 3. DNM uses biometric identification at entry and exit points and automated gates 3. The national audit office (AGN) reported IT control weaknesses at DNM in 2016 records 4.
Data protection law
Ley 25.326 de Protección de los Datos Personales, sanctioned 4 October 2000, promulgated 30 October 2000 1
Data protection authority
Agencia de Acceso a la Información Pública (AAIP), under the Jefatura de Gabinete de Ministros, through its Dirección Nacional de Protección de Datos Personales 2
Agency that receives API/PNR
The 2014 joint resolution was issued by AFIP, DNM, ANAC and the PSA 3. The receiving unit is not published in the records we opened 3
API/PNR status
Established by joint resolution of 8 September 2014 3. A February 2020 DNM disposition refers to the API system, but we found no official statement of current operating status 3
Biometric collection at entry
Yes. DNM Disposición 843/12 made biometric identification part of entry and exit control at border points 3
Date checked
22 October 2026

The data protection law and the AAIP

Ley 25.326 was sanctioned on 4 October 2000 and partly promulgated on 30 October 2000 1. Sensitive data under article 2 covers racial and ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or moral beliefs, union membership, and health or sexual life 1. The definition does not list biometric data 1.

Article 12 bars transfers to countries or bodies without adequate protection 1. Exceptions include judicial cooperation, treaties, and intelligence cooperation against organised crime, terrorism and drug trafficking 1. Article 23 lets the armed forces, security forces and police process data without consent only as far as strictly needed for their legal missions 1.

The AAIP's data protection page says the agency sits under the Jefatura de Gabinete de Ministros and that Ley 25.326 is being updated 2. The AAIP issued Resolución RESOL-2018-47-APN-AAIP on security measures for personal data, which DNM applies to its automated gates 3.

API and PNR

DNM Disposición 1276/2020 states that a joint resolution of 8 September 2014 established the advance passenger information (API) system and the passenger name record (PNR) 3. Four bodies issued it: AFIP (Resolución General 3667/14), DNM (Disposición 1/14), the civil aviation authority ANAC (Resolución 618/14) and the airport security police PSA (Disposición 1/14) 3.

The 2020 disposition refers to combining the automated gates with the API system 3. It gives no data fields, retention period or supplier for API/PNR 3.

Biometrics and automated gates

DNM Disposición 842/12 approved a procedure manual for capturing biometric patterns in all processes that take biometric data 3. DNM Disposición 843/12 made the biometric application part of identifying people entering and leaving the country at border points 3.

Disposición 1276/2020 was signed on 18 February 2020 and published in the Boletín Oficial on 20 February 2020 3. It approves automated gates (Pasarelas Automatizadas) as a self-service migration control method for Argentine citizens 3. The gates read the travel document and connect to the Registro de Aptitud Migratoria, INTERPOL and other databases 3. Article 3 applies Ley 25.326, Ley 27.275 on access to information and the AAIP security resolution 3.

DNM Disposición 1151/2010 made the Registro Nacional de Aptitud Migratoria the only database for loading and checking travel bans and restrictions at all border crossings 5. Minimum data for an entry are the measure, case number, requesting authority, name, and document number or date of birth (article 4) 5.

Audit office findings

The Auditoría General de la Nación (AGN) audited IT management at DNM under AGN resolution 172/15 4. The audit covered 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2014, with a focus on the SICAM, Sigeram and SADEX systems 4. The findings appear in Orden del Día Nº 1244 of the Chamber of Deputies, with a committee opinion dated 22 September 2016 4.

  • Data and system ownership were not formally defined 4.
  • Developers and generic users held database administrator access in production 4.
  • There were no formal procedures for backup, retention, recovery or deletion of data, and test data were not masked 4.
  • Some border links had outages of over 1,000 hours, so the migration check database was not updated in real time 4.
  • Some border posts were not computerised, and the AGN concluded the DNM database did not hold all movements of persons 4.

DNM response

DNM replied to the draft report with note 426/15 on 5 July 2015 4. The AGN partly amended one observation on the basis of that reply 4. The parliamentary resolution of 2 November 2016 asked the Executive to report on measures taken 4. We found no Executive reply in the records we opened 4. We found no supplier named for DNM border or passenger data systems in the official records we opened 3,4.

Chronology

DateEvent
4 October 2000Ley 25.326 sanctioned 1
28 June 2010Disposición 1151/2010 on the Registro Nacional de Aptitud Migratoria published 5
2012DNM Disposiciones 842/12 and 843/12 on biometrics 3
8 September 2014Joint resolution sets up API and PNR 3
5 July 2015DNM replies to the AGN draft audit 4
2 November 2016Congress asks the Executive to report on the AGN findings 4
20 February 2020Disposición 1276/2020 on automated gates published 3

Common questions

Does Argentina collect API and PNR data?

Yes. A joint resolution of AFIP, DNM, ANAC and the PSA dated 8 September 2014 set up the API and PNR system 3.

Who protects personal data in Argentina?

The Agencia de Acceso a la Información Pública (AAIP), through its Dirección Nacional de Protección de Datos Personales 2.

Does Argentina take biometrics at the border?

Yes. DNM Disposición 843/12 made biometric identification part of entry and exit control at border points 3.

Has an audit body reviewed DNM systems?

Yes. The AGN audited DNM IT management for 2013 and 2014 and reported weaknesses in data management and security 4.

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Sources

  1. Argentina.gob.ar: Ley 25.326 Protección de los Datos Personales (4 October 2000)
  2. Agencia de Acceso a la Información Pública: Protección de Datos Personales (updated 12 June 2026)
  3. Argentina.gob.ar: Disposición DNM 1276/2020, Pasarelas Automatizadas (20 February 2020)
  4. Honorable Cámara de Diputados: Orden del Día Nº 1244, AGN audit of DNM IT management (2016)
  5. Argentina.gob.ar: Disposición DNM 1151/2010, Registro Nacional de Aptitud Migratoria (28 June 2010)

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