# item.guide
AR

Argentina

Latin America & the Caribbean · 19 specs

Direct Answer

Argentina (AR / ARG / 032) operates on a 220 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using IRAM 2073 (Type I) and Type C sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the Argentine Peso (ARS, $), country calling code is +54 (exit code 00), unified emergency dispatch is 911, and the standard document format is ISO 216 A4.

Source: IRAM (Instituto Argentino de Normalización) / ENACOM / ISO 3166-1 / Correo Argentino · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026

Specs

Official English Name Argentine Republic ISO 3166-1
Local Endonym República Argentina
ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 AR
ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 ARG
ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 032 UN M49 (Code 419)
Country Calling Code +54 ENACOM (ITU-T E.164)
International Exit Code (IDD) 00 dial prefix for international calls
Internet ccTLD .ar NIC Argentina
Vehicle Registration Code RA Mercosur Standard Plate
National Currency (ISO 4217) Argentine Peso (ARS, $) 100 Centavos
Mains Electricity Standard 220 V (±10%), 50 Hz ENRE Standard
Electrical Plug Sockets Type I (IRAM 2073) & Type C 10 A / 20 A, 250 V
Road Traffic Driving Side Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Ley Nacional de Tránsito 24.449
Primary Measurement System Metric (SI / SIMELA) Ley 19.511 Standard
Standard Office Paper Format ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) IRAM 3001
Consolidated Emergency Number 911 (Police: 101, Medical: 107, Fire: 100) Sistema 911
Postal Code Regex / Format 8 Characters (CPA: A9999AAA, e.g. C1002ABC) Correo Argentino Standard
Primary Time Zone UTC-3 (ART) No DST observed
Date Format Standard DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 23/08/2026) Standard

Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility

  • Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 220 V (±10%), 50 Hz.
  • Plug & Socket Hardware: Type I (IRAM 2073) & Type C. Argentina's inverted V-prong plug is its own national standard (IRAM 2071/2073), not simply Australia's Type I: the live and neutral contacts are wired in reversed positions compared to the Australian/New Zealand (AS/NZS 3112) and Chinese plugs, and Argentina's 20 A variant uses larger, wider-spaced pins that don't fit Australian sockets. The two standards look alike but are not safely interchangeable.
  • International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.

Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch

  • International Dialing: The country calling code is +54. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
  • Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 911 (Police: 101, Medical: 107, Fire: 100). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.

Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations

  • Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
  • Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
  • Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.

Commerce, Currency & Document Standards

  • Official Currency: Legal tender is the Argentine Peso (ARS, $).
  • Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
  • National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC-3 (ART).

Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions

  • Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 8 Characters (CPA: A9999AAA, e.g. C1002ABC).
  • Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Argentine Republic.

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