ARCA changes to make it easier to import individuals

ARCA has updated the personal import regime and digitized key procedures. The aim is to speed up the import of goods without commercial purposes

12/30/2025 – 8:40 p.m

The Customs Collection and Inspection Authority (ARCA) introduced a number of changes aimed at streamlining and modernizing Imports made by private individualsprovided that the goods imported into the country do not have a commercial or industrial destination. The measure is intended to facilitate relief Customs clearance for personal use or consumption and includes both new and used products.

The changes were implemented through General Decision 5805/2025, published in the Official Journal. As the organization explained, The update to the regulation is in response to a comprehensive plan to improve administration, with a focus on digitizing procedures and reducing in-person procedures.

Although the new scheme is being introduced more modern tools and simplified proceduresfrom ARCA, they emphasize that neither the scope nor the essential requirements of the current regime will be changed, nor will the existing control obligations.

ARCA mandated more digitalization and less personal intervention

In the recitals of the resolution, ARCA claims that the decision is worded in a Policy of simplifying and streamlining customs processesespecially those associated with the entry of goods by people.

The organization emphasizes the need to move towards a unified and more efficient management, allowing better coordination of the different areas involved in customs operations. The ultimate goal, according to the regulations, is to provide better service to taxpayers and adapt operations to current trade and transport flows.

One of the central points of the update is that Integration of digital tools that replace paper procedures, reduce time and facilitate monitoring of operations without changing background checks.

New digital form for personal imports

In this new framework, the resolution considers it appropriate to update the registration procedure for final importation for consumption and in parallel Convert the OM-2153-A form into a digital and interactive version.

From ARCA they clarified that RG 5805/25 does not introduce significant changes in the regulation, but rather updates General Resolution 3172/11which was outdated compared to current procedures. In this sense, they emphasized that the most important progress is the formalization of the digitization of the OM-2153 form, which until now had to be submitted in paper form and in duplicate.

“The aim is to give greater coherence to the regulations and to include procedures that were already applied but were not taken into account in the previous regulation,” the organization explained.

What changes and what stays the same

The import process remains unchanged. He The AFIP code import system remains in effect and the volume of goods that can be imported into the country remains the same.

The most important innovation is the inclusion of the simplified form OM-2153-A, which is specifically designed for border customs, especially in traffic with Chile. This mechanism acts as an operational alternative to the traditional AFIP code and is intended to facilitate the registration of goods at high-flow points.

Although The new regulation eliminates explicit examples that appeared in the previous regulations – such as medicines, animals or human remains – and the sector clarifies that this does not represent a limitation, but rather an interpretative expansion of the regulation.

In addition, the specific application of the procedure will be at the discretion of each customs office, depending on its operational volume: some will prioritize digital systems, while others may continue to use the form. In all cases, import duties and interventions by other authorities remain unchanged.