Argentina will grant citizenship to foreign investors who make a non-refundable contribution of US$350,000 to the National Treasury or subscribe US$800,000 to a government bond created for the program. A spouse and single children aged 18 to 25 can be added for US$100,000 each, and children under 18 for US$25,000 (fees are subject to final confirmation). The Ministry of Economy announced the program on 2 October 2026, and applications are set to open in the fourth quarter of the year. It is the first citizenship by investment program in South America.
At a glance
- Two routes: a US$350,000 contribution to the National Treasury, or a US$800,000 subscription to a dedicated government bond.
- Family: US$100,000 for a spouse and for each single child aged 18 to 25 without children of their own; US$25,000 for each child under 18.
- Applications open in the fourth quarter of 2026.
- Reviewed by the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs within the Ministry of Economy; final approval by the National Directorate of Migration.
- Built on Decree 524/2025, which amended Citizenship Law 346 so that a qualifying investment can support naturalisation regardless of time spent in Argentina.
What has Argentina announced?
The program was presented by Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli during Argentina Week in Paris, after an announcement on 2 October. It completes a legal framework the government began in July 2025, when Decree 524/2025 amended the country’s Citizenship Law to allow a foreigner who makes a relevant investment to apply for naturalisation without the usual residence period. The same reform created an Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs inside the Ministry of Economy to design, run and supervise the program.
The announcement turned that framework into a defined offer with fixed amounts. It sits alongside the government’s wider effort to attract foreign capital, including the large-investment incentive regime known as RIGI.
What does it cost for a family?
The principal applicant chooses one of two routes. The contribution route is US$350,000 paid to the National Treasury and is not returned. The bond route is an US$800,000 subscription to a government bond issued for the program, which the investor holds rather than gives away.
Family members are added at fixed amounts* on top of either route: US$100,000 for a spouse, US$100,000 for each child aged 18 to 25 who is single and has no children, and US$25,000 for each child under 18. On the contribution route, a couple with two children under 18 would therefore contribute US$500,000 before government and due diligence fees. All funds must move through the formal financial system.
*These amounts are subject to final confirmation.
Who reviews an application?
The Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs checks each applicant’s identity, the source of the funds, criminal record and immigration history, working with the relevant government authorities. The National Directorate of Migration makes the final decision. Applicants should expect the same standard of due diligence that the established Caribbean and European programs now apply, including documentary evidence of how the investment funds were earned.
What does an Argentine passport offer?
Argentina’s passport ranks among the stronger passports in Latin America, gives visa-free access to the Schengen area & the United Kingdom, and its holders are part of the Mercosur area, which allows residence and work across member states. Citizenship passes to children, and Argentina has no requirement for an investor to live in the country to hold it.
Argentina does not require new citizens to give up another nationality. Whether an applicant can keep their existing passport depends on the law of their current country, and Passport Legacy confirms that position before any commitment.
How does Argentina compare with the alternatives?
On price, Argentina sits between the Caribbean and Türkiye. The Caribbean programs start at US$230,000 to US$250,000, and Türkiye requires a US$400,000 property purchase held for three years. What Argentina offers that neither does is citizenship of a large economy with a deep property, agriculture and energy sector, Mercosur residence rights, and no exposure to the European Commission’s review of Caribbean programs. What it lacks is a track record: it has not yet processed an application, and investors who need a passport within a fixed period may prefer an established program.
How should an investor prepare?
The work that takes longest is the same in every program: assembling evidence of the source of funds, police certificates and civil documents for each family member, with apostilles and translations into Spanish. Investors who prepare that file now will be ready to apply when the program opens, rather than starting when it does.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for Argentine citizenship by investment?
Applications open in the fourth quarter of 2026. Passport Legacy is preparing files now so that clients can apply as soon as the program accepts them.
How much does Argentina citizenship by investment cost?
US$350,000 as a non-refundable contribution to the National Treasury, or US$800,000 in a dedicated government bond, plus US$100,000 for a spouse and each eligible adult child and US$25,000 for each child under 18.
Do I have to live in Argentina?
No. The 2025 reform allows naturalisation on the basis of a qualifying investment without the usual period of residence.
Passport Legacy advises on citizenship and residence programs across Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East. To prepare an Argentine application for the program’s opening, contact the team.
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