Argentina Launches Citizenship by Investment: What the $350,000 Program Offers

Argentina has announced a formal citizenship by investment program. Economy Minister Luis Caputo presented it at the Argentine Embassy in Paris, and the government says applications will open during the fourth quarter. The main applicant can qualify with a non-refundable $350,000 contribution to the National Treasury or by buying an $800,000 government bond created for the program.

According to Reuters, the economy ministry is calling it South America’s first citizenship by investment program. It turns an idea that has been discussed for more than a year into a priced product with a launch window. This article covers what was announced, what it costs for a family, how the vetting will work, and the details that are still missing before anyone can file.

For the passport’s broader travel and regional-residence implications, see our Argentine passport benefits guide. If you are comparing routes to citizenship rather than only the new investment program, review citizenship by descent and naturalization through residence.

Caputo confirmed the launch on X, and the Ministry of Economy published the full terms in an official announcement on argentina.gob.ar.

PROGRAMA CIUDADANÍA POR INVERSIÓN

Junto a @diegosantilli anunciamos la puesta en marcha del Programa de Ciudadanía por Inversión de Argentina, a través del cual los extranjeros que acrediten haber realizado inversiones relevantes en el país podrán solicitar la ciudadanía… pic.twitter.com/n7qU7p4FPE

— totocaputo (@LuisCaputoAR) October 2, 2026

What Argentina Announced

Argentina announced a priced, government-run route to citizenship for foreign investors, with applications expected to open in the fourth quarter. Caputo presented the program on the last day of Argentina Week in Paris alongside Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli. The government framed it as part of a wider push to attract foreign capital and strengthen the country’s fiscal and financial position under President Javier Milei.

The figures come from the Ministry of Economy announcement and were reported the same day by IMI Daily, La Nación and other outlets. The ministry also said the government is being advised by a group of international firms that specialize in investment migration.

Investment Options and Family Costs

The main applicant chooses between a donation and a bond. The donation is cheaper but you never get it back. The bond costs more than twice as much up front, but it is a government security rather than a gift.

Family members are added on top of the main applicant. Each one must prove the family relationship and make their own contribution to the Treasury:

Using the contribution route, a main applicant, a spouse and two children under 18 would pay $500,000 in total. That is the example the government itself used. Expect due diligence and processing fees on top of these amounts. Those fees have not been published yet.

Children over 25, married children and children who already have kids of their own do not appear in the announced family categories. If that describes your family, wait for the implementing rules before assuming they can be included.

How Applications Will Be Reviewed

Applications will go through a new government agency first and then to Argentina’s immigration authority for the final decision. The Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión, which sits under the Ministry of Economy, leads the evaluation. The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones then approves or rejects the case.

Several state bodies take part in the background checks. These include the state intelligence secretariat (SIDE), the financial intelligence unit (UIF), the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of the Interior. The government says the checks follow OECD and FATF standards and will cover:

• Identity verification
• The traceability and lawful origin of the funds
• A review of the applicant’s assets and finances
• Jurisdictional risk, meaning where you and your money come from
• Criminal and reputational background
• Immigration history

Funds must enter Argentina through the formal financial system. Plan to document where your money came from in detail, the same way you would for a Caribbean or European program.

Do You Have to Live in Argentina?

No residence requirement has been announced. Caputo said most applicants are not expected to live in Argentina, according to Bloomberg Línea. That makes this a true citizenship by investment product rather than an investor residency that leads to a passport years later.

This is a big difference from Argentina’s standard naturalization route. Under the current rules, ordinary applicants need two continuous years of legal residence with no trips abroad before applying. The investment route skips that period entirely.

What We Still Don’t Know

The headline numbers are set, but the operating rules are not. As of the announcement, no implementing resolution had been published in Argentina’s Boletín Oficial. These are the gaps that matter before anyone can file:

• Due diligence and government processing fees. Not published.
• Processing time. No official timeline has been released.
• Bond terms. Only one outlet has reported the zero-interest, seven-year structure. Redemption and transfer rules are not public.
• How to apply. There is no application portal or list of required documents yet.
• Whether licensed agents are required. Most programs worldwide require one. Argentina has not said.
• Exact launch date. The government has committed only to the fourth quarter.

We will update this article when the resolution is published. To hear the moment filing opens, request Argentina CBI updates.

The Legal Basis

The program rests on a recent change to Argentina’s citizenship law. Decree DNU 366/2025 amended Article 2 of Law 346 so that a relevant investment in Argentina qualifies a foreigner for citizenship regardless of how long they have lived in the country. Decree 524/2025 then created the agency that now runs the program. The new announcement supplies the missing piece, which is the price of a qualifying investment.

There is one legal question worth watching. Two Argentine appeals courts have since held that the part of DNU 366/2025 that moved naturalization from the federal courts to Migraciones was unconstitutional in the cases before them. Those rulings involved ordinary naturalization, not investment applicants, and they were not a general annulment of the decree. Still, the investment program gives Migraciones the final say, so how the courts and Congress treat that decree could affect the program over time.

How It Compares to Argentina’s Other Routes

Citizenship by investment is the fastest new route to an Argentine passport, but it is also the most expensive. For many people, an existing route will make more sense.

Whichever route you use, the passport is the same. Argentina allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to give up your current one. Argentine citizens also benefit from the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement, which gives them a simple two-year residence permit in the other eight signatory countries, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. Caputo said the Argentine passport is accepted in about 140 countries.

Who Should Consider It

Argentina’s program is aimed at wealthy families who want a strong second passport without relocating. Bloomberg Línea reports the expected applicants are mainly from the United States, China, France and Germany. It is likely to make the most sense for:

• Families who would otherwise compare Caribbean or European citizenship programs and want a large South American country instead
• Investors who want MERCOSUR residence rights for business across South America
• People who cannot spend two years living continuously in Argentina for standard naturalization

If you are willing to move to Argentina, the residency and naturalization route will cost far less. If price is your main concern, compare Argentina with the cheapest citizenship by investment programs first. For background on how these programs work in general, see what citizenship by investment is.

What to Do Now

You cannot file yet, but you can prepare. Programs like this tend to reward applicants whose source-of-funds paperwork is ready on day one. Useful steps now:

• Gather proof of where your investment funds came from, such as sale contracts, tax returns and bank records
• Order criminal record certificates for every country you have lived in, and check how long they stay valid
• Confirm passports and birth and marriage certificates for every family member you plan to add
• Decide whether the contribution or the bond fits your situation better

Our Argentina citizenship by investment page tracks the program’s status. If you want to know whether this route, naturalization or a residency visa fits your situation, book a consultation call.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Argentina citizenship by investment cost?

The main applicant can make a non-refundable $350,000 contribution to the National Treasury or buy an $800,000 program bond. A spouse and single, childless children aged 18 to 25 add $100,000 each, and children under 18 add $25,000 each. Due diligence and processing fees have not been published.

When can I apply?

The government says applications will open during the fourth quarter. No exact date or application portal has been announced.

Do I need to live in Argentina?

No residence requirement has been announced, and the economy minister said most applicants are not expected to live in the country.

Can I keep my current citizenship?

Yes. Argentina allows dual citizenship, so you do not need to renounce your existing nationality.

Who approves applications?

The Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión evaluates each application, several security and financial agencies run background checks, and the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones makes the final decision.

Is the $800,000 bond refundable?

The bond is a government security rather than a donation, so it is designed to be repaid. Bloomberg Línea reports it pays no interest over seven years. The full redemption terms have not been published.

Is there a cheaper way to get an Argentine passport?

Yes, if you are willing to live there. Standard naturalization requires two continuous years of legal residence, which you can start with a rentista or investor residency visa. Children of Argentine parents may qualify by descent.

Related: Argentina Citizenship by Investment · How to Get Argentina Citizenship · Argentina Residency · Cheapest Citizenship by Investment