Routes open in Argentina
| Route | Max credits | Who qualifies | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate Founders | $1,000 | Self-funded, no institutional funding, live website | Apply online in the Activate console |
| Activate via a Provider | Up to $100,000 | Backed by an accelerator, VC or incubator in the Activate network | Get an organization ID from your provider |
| AWS with national and provincial governments | Up to $100,000 per startup | $48M in total. Announced December 2025; open or closed unknown. Lead. | Through AWS's local team |
| Local accelerator or VC | Varies | Accepted into a local program | Apply to the program; credits follow |
| Our partner match | Same as AWS | Any stage; we suggest the best route | Use the credit check on this page |
Amounts are the maximums AWS advertises; approval is never guaranteed. Source: AWS Activate terms
Who qualifies from Argentina
- Your company is usually under 10 years old and hasn't had Activate credits before.
- You have a live company website, and you sign up with an email on that domain.
- For the $100,000 tier, you're backed by an Activate Provider and haven't raised a Series B yet.
- Company in Argentina: apply with it directly. Company abroad (for example a US Delaware company): apply with whichever entity owns the AWS account. No company yet: start with Founders once your website is live.
Region, latency and data rules
Closer option: Buenos Aires Local Zone
- Data protection law
- Law 25.326
- Must data stay in-country?
- Usually no general rule, but check your sector
- Regulator
- AAIP
What your credits buy here
A typical early-stage stack (a few small servers, a managed database, storage and traffic) costs about $600/month in sa-east-1, or about $726 with 21% VAT paid in cash.
$1,000
1.7
months
$5,000
8.3
months
$25,000
42
months
$100,000
99
months
Estimates. Credits usually expire after 12 to 24 months, so large amounts rarely last their full length.
Startups like you
Startups from Argentina named in AWS program cohorts:
AWS Impact Accelerator: Latino Founders · $250K shared
Bircle, Outtrip, TuCuota
Amounts are the program's maximum, not what each company received.
Local accelerators
Accelerators, incubators and startup programs in Argentina worth asking about AWS credits.
Wayra Argentina
Buenos Aires · Corporate accelerator
Ask the provider
GridX
Buenos Aires · Venture studio
Ask the provider
Check with each program that it's a current Activate Provider before you rely on it.
Notable local investors and funds
Investors, accelerators and government funds active in Argentina. If one backs you, ask whether they can give you an Activate Provider code.
Grants, non-dilutive funding and R&D tax credits
Money you can stack on top of AWS credits in Argentina.
- Program
Knowledge Economy Regime (Law 27.506)
Lower CIT and credits against social contributions for software and IT firms. The regime runs to 31 Dec 2029 and requires registration in the national beneficiaries registry, revalidated every 2 years. Rates have changed often [1].
- Grant
Startup grants and seed money
Not much found at national level for 2026.
Setting up a local company
- Common startup entity
- S.A.S. or S.R.L.
- Minimum share capital
- Paid-in minimum capital: 0% of income per capita (World Bank Doing Business 2020; data as of May 2019)
- Time and cost to register
- 11.5 days, 12 procedures, cost 5% of income per capita (Doing Business 2020; data as of May 2019, series discontinued)
Capital and registration figures are from the World Bank (Doing Business 2020 / B-READY 2025). Check the registry for current rules.
What's different in Argentina
- Billing entity
- Amazon Web Services, Inc.
- Currency
- USD
- Tax AWS adds
- 21% IVA collected by card issuer + 30% RG 5617 perception. Not covered by credits.
- Payments and verification
- Most international Visa and Mastercard cards work. Make sure foreign and online payments are switched on before you sign up.
Credits don't cover taxes. Source: AWS Promotional Credit terms
Paying the AWS bill from Argentina
- Foreign card charges carry extra withholding taxes; check current rates before paying in pesos.
Startup scene
1
unicorn
Uala ($3.2B)
Startup sectors
Main economic sectors
Unicorn data: CB Insights, as of 2 October 2026. Sectors: CIA World Factbook.
Startup visa
Argentina has no dedicated startup visa. Founders usually use a general work or business residence permit.
AWS events and community in Argentina
Sources for Argentina (10)
- 1. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-27506-324101/actualizacion
- 2. https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/localzones/locations/
- 3. https://aws.amazon.com/legal/aws-contracting-party/
- 4. https://repost.aws/knowledge-center/supported-aws-currencies
- 5. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/norma-310227/texto
- 6. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/resolucion-5617-2024-407430/actualizacion
- 7. https://aws.amazon.com/awscredits/
- 8. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/aaip
- 9. https://aws.amazon.com/events/cloud-days/
- 10. https://aws.amazon.com/events/community-day/
Research current as of 2 October 2026. Not legal or tax advice.
Questions
Is AWS Activate available in Argentina?
Yes. AWS takes sign-ups from Argentina, and the AWS Activate terms don't exclude it.
How much in AWS credits can a startup in Argentina get?
Self-funded teams usually start with $1,000 from Activate Founders. Teams backed by an Activate Provider can get up to $200,000.
Do I need a company registered in Argentina?
No. You can apply with a Argentina company, a company registered abroad (for example a US Delaware company), or as an early team with a live website. Use the entity that owns the AWS account.
Do AWS credits cover VAT in Argentina?
No. Credits don't cover taxes, so any VAT (21%) is charged to your card.
What's the closest AWS region to Argentina?
sa-east-1 in São Paulo. Typical latency is about 40–150 ms (some Caribbean and Central American teams get lower latency from us-east-1).
Can I apply without an accelerator or VC?
Yes. Activate Founders is open to self-funded startups. A partner can also point you to other routes.
Will using a partner change how much I get?
No. The credits come from AWS on the same terms. A partner just helps you find the right route and prepare the application.
Find your best route from Argentina
Answer four questions and we'll match you with a partner who knows Argentina. Free, and the credits are the same as going direct.
Cloud Credits is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Amazon Web Services. AWS and AWS Activate are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Data last checked 2 October 2026; check AWS for current terms.