According to Relocation, Argentina has officially announced the launch of a citizenship-by-investment program that will allow foreigners to obtain an Argentine passport without going through the standard, multi-year naturalization process. The government plans to begin accepting applications as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
The program was announced on October 2 during Argentina Week in Paris by Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Prime Minister Diego Santilli.
The government is offering foreigners two main options for participation.
The first is a non-refundable contribution of $350,000 to the Argentine treasury.
The second is the purchase of a special government bond worth $800,000, which will be issued specifically for program participants. The government has not yet published the detailed terms of this security.
The program allows for the inclusion of family members.
The spouse of the primary applicant, as well as unmarried and childless children between the ages of 18 and 25, will be eligible for citizenship subject to an additional contribution of $100,000 per person.
For a child under the age of 18, the additional contribution will be $25,000.
Thus, a family consisting of two adults and two minor children will be eligible for Argentine citizenship upon making a total non-refundable contribution of $500,000
. One of the program’s key features is that it grants citizenship itself, rather than a residence permit or permanent residency in exchange for investment.
The legal framework for the new program was established back in May 2025, when the government amended Argentina’s citizenship law and created a special Agency for Citizenship-by-Investment Programs. Its mission is to manage such programs and attract foreign capital.
However, it will not be possible to obtain a passport simply by transferring money. The government promises to conduct extensive background checks on applicants.
The origin of funds, the applicant’s financial transparency, and potential risks related to money laundering and terrorist financing will be scrutinized. The authorities state that due diligence procedures will comply with OECD and FATF recommendations. All investments must go through the official financial system.
Another important point for potential participants: the acceptance of applications had not yet begun at the time the program was announced.
The government has announced that the program is scheduled to launch during the fourth quarter of 2026. Therefore, until the final procedures, application forms, review deadlines, and investment bond parameters are published, it is premature to transfer funds or pay for the services of intermediaries who are already promising a guaranteed Argentine passport.
Argentine citizenship is of interest primarily as a tool for international mobility. The country’s passport provides extensive visa-free access, particularly to Schengen Zone countries, and Argentine citizenship opens up additional opportunities for residence and economic activity within South America thanks to the country’s integration into Mercosur.
Before the investment program was introduced, foreigners could obtain Argentine citizenship through the standard naturalization process. The new model creates a separate pathway for wealthy applicants willing to invest significant capital.
Argentina spent over a year preparing the program. In May 2025, a decree by President Javier Milei established the legal framework for obtaining citizenship through investment, and in April 2026, the leadership of a special government agency was appointed. The authorities first announced the official financial terms on October 2.
