A new route to citizenship of the largest Spanish speaking country in South America, with a passport that opens the Mercosur region. Announced in 2026 and expected to open before the end of the year.
Argentina has announced a citizenship by investment program, but it is not accepting applications yet, and parts of the legal basis behind it are being challenged in court. Here is what has happened so far, and what has to happen before it opens.
An emergency decree, DNU 366/2025, lets a qualifying investment replace the usual two years of residence for citizenship, and creates a new agency to run the program.
Decree 524/2025 sets out how applications will be made and reviewed.
A federal appeals court and the National Electoral Chamber rule against DNU 366/2025, in two cases about ordinary naturalisation. The government appeals to the Supreme Court.
In Paris, the Economy Minister announces the amounts: a US$350,000 contribution to the National Treasury or a US$800,000 government bond, with applications expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The Supreme Court begins studying the appeal, and opposition members of Congress file bills to repeal the investment route.
Argentine citizens travel to approx. 168 destinations without a visa or with a visa on arrival, including the Schengen Area, the UK and Japan.
Argentine citizens can use the Mercosur Residence Agreement to apply for residency in most South American countries.
On the investment route, the qualifying contribution replaces the usual two years of residence, so you do not need to move to Argentina first.
A spouse, children under 18 and single children aged 18 to 25 can be added, each with a set contribution.
Since 2024 Argentina has brought inflation down sharply and, in April 2025, lifted most currency controls on individuals.
One of the world's great food exporters, with the Vaca Muerta shale formation among the largest gas and oil resources of its kind.
The announced investment route offers two options for the main applicant: a US$350,000 contribution to the National Treasury that is never returned, or an US$800,000 subscription to a special government bond. The bond keeps the capital as a claim on the state, but its terms have not been published.
Full Argentine citizenship, without the two years of residence normally required.
Without investment, a foreigner can apply after two years of continuous legal residence. That means genuinely living in Argentina, and the rules on where and how to apply are currently being tested in the courts.
Time to passport: Not yet published
Time to passport: Not yet published
| Pathway | Minimum investment | Approval | What you get | Time to passport | Presence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Treasury contribution | US$350,000, not refundable | Agency review, then 30 business days | Argentine citizenship | Not yet published | None required |
| Government bond | US$800,000 | Agency review, then 30 business days | Argentine citizenship | Not yet published | None required |
Not yet open. Applications are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, but two federal courts have ruled against the decree and a Supreme Court appeal is pending.
Each option below qualifies on its own. We help you pick the one that suits your money and your plans.
A contribution that is not refundable. Family members add their own contributions.
A bond created for the program. Official terms have not yet been published.
Each family member adds a contribution. Government, due diligence and portal fees have not yet been announced, and you will also need apostilles, sworn translations into Spanish and legal work. Every situation is different, so we quote everything as one custom fixed fee in writing after a free call.
We assist you in obtaining each document, then have it apostilled (certified with an international stamp so it is valid abroad), translated and filed for you.
On the investment route, a spouse, children under 18, and single children aged 18 to 25 without children of their own can be included, each with their own contribution. Parents and siblings are not included in the announced terms.
The headline rates for people who are tax residents there. Holding a residency or passport does not by itself make you a tax resident, and your current country may still tax you, so the licensed tax advisers in our local team confirm your position.
Citizenship alone does not make you tax resident; living there does.
See how this compares to other countriesWe note your profile and family now and confirm which route suits you. We then assist you in obtaining the relevant documents and having them apostilled and translated, so your file is ready when the portal opens.
We document where the investment money comes from, the part of any citizenship file that takes the most care.
Once applications open, the file is submitted and reviewed by the Citizenship by Investment Programs Agency.
The National Directorate of Migration must decide within 30 business days of receiving the agency's report.
On approval, Argentine identity documents and passports are issued for the family.
Our local team stays with you once you are approved and takes care of the practical steps, then keeps everything current and compliant.
Not yet. On 2 October 2026 the Ministry of Economy announced the amounts and said applications would be received in the fourth quarter of 2026, but no implementing regulation or application portal has been published. We can prepare your file in advance so it is ready the day the portal opens. Join the waiting list at the top of this page and we will email you as soon as it opens.
Yes, and we want to be clear about it. The program was created by an emergency decree, DNU 366/2025, rather than a law passed by Congress. In June 2026 a federal appeals court declared that decree unconstitutional, and the National Electoral Chamber declared it null. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court, which began studying the case in October 2026, and opposition bills to repeal the program are before Congress. We will tell you exactly where things stand before you commit any money.
The passport is a strong Plan B asset: approx. 168 destinations without a visa, Mercosur residence rights, and a large, beautiful country you could genuinely live in. The program itself is not yet a dependable route, because it is closed and legally contested. For someone who wants certainty this year, an established program is the safer choice, with Argentina as one to watch.
No, not if you move there. Argentine tax residents are taxed on worldwide income at up to 35%, and on worldwide assets through an annual personal assets tax, although its rates are being phased down. Citizenship alone does not normally make you a tax resident; living there does. Book a free call and we can look at your situation.
Not as the home for an international structure. Corporate tax runs from 25% to 35%, and although most currency controls on individuals were lifted in April 2025, banking for foreigners remains bureaucratic. We usually place companies and banking elsewhere and keep Argentina for the citizenship.
Not through the investment route, which starts at US$350,000. The standard residency route costs far less, but it means living in Argentina for two continuous years under a worldwide tax system. Someone early on usually gets more from a low cost, low tax residency such as Paraguay.
Not on the investment route: the contribution replaces the two year residence requirement. On the standard route you must live there for two continuous years before applying.
Yes, through naturalisation after two years of continuous legal residence, with proof of lawful means of support. Citizens of Mercosur and associated countries can get residency easily; others need another basis, such as work, study, income or family. The rules on whether the application goes to the migration authority or a federal court are being contested after the June 2026 rulings, so we confirm the current position for each case.
Argentina does not require you to give up your existing citizenship when you naturalise. Whether your current country lets you keep its citizenship is a separate question we check with you.
Approx. 168 destinations without a visa or with a visa on arrival, including the Schengen Area, the UK and Japan. The United States still requires a visa, although Argentina is in talks to rejoin the US Visa Waiver Program.
A spouse, children under 18, and single children aged 18 to 25 without children of their own. A spouse or adult child adds US$100,000 and a child under 18 adds US$25,000 on the announced terms.
No. Argentina ended compulsory military service in 1994.
Laws and fees change, so we confirm every number before you commit.
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ReadTell us a little about yourself and we will review whether Argentina Citizenship by Investment suits you, what it would cost in total and how long it would take. No cost and no obligation.
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