Argentina sets investment routes to citizenship from late 2026

Argentina’s government announced a citizenship-by-investment program in Paris on Oct. 2, when Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Cabinet Chief Diego Santilli unveiled the proposal at the Argentina Week business gathering. Applications are due to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, allowing foreign investors to seek citizenship through a Treasury contribution or a specially created public bond.¹

Two routes for investors

A principal applicant would be offered two options. The first is a direct, non-refundable payment of $350,000 to Argentina’s National Treasury. The second is an $800,000 subscription to a government bond established for the program. Euronews reported that the bond would have to be held for seven years and gave the approximate values of the two routes as €311,000 and €711,000.¹²

The plan also provides a route for immediate family members after the principal applicant. A spouse and children aged 18 to 25 would each require a $100,000 contribution, while the charge for each child under 18 would be $25,000. Under those fees, the total for a lead applicant, their spouse and two children under 18 would be $500,000.¹³

The government says the program is intended to draw wealthy investors and improve Argentina’s fiscal and financial position. The Economy Ministry described it as part of a broader effort to increase international integration and attract capital, while The Straits Times reported that it accompanies other measures intended to improve the investment environment.¹³

Screening and financial safeguards

Argentina said the program would incorporate recommendations from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Financial Action Task Force. Those standards address financial transparency, money laundering and terrorist financing. Caputo also pledged that applicants would be examined by intelligence and financial-oversight agencies, according to Euronews.¹²

Such controls are relevant because citizenship and residency programs can be exploited to obscure identities, launder illicit funds or avoid justice, Euronews reported. It further reported that, in April 2025, the EU’s highest court found Malta’s investment-for-citizenship scheme illegal.²

Argentina’s initiative would be the first citizenship-by-investment program in South America, according to The Straits Times and Euronews. Euronews reported that about 60 countries provide residency benefits in return for one-off investments, while only about a dozen operate programs that directly confer citizenship.²³

Revenue expectations and debt payments

According to Euronews, a group of investment companies advising the government projected proceeds of up to €2.2 billion if the expected number of applications materializes. Euronews also said Argentina has close to €22 billion in debt repayments denominated in foreign currencies due in 2027.²

Caputo said the Argentine passport is accepted in more than 140 countries without advance visas, according to Euronews. The report cited industry figures who expected interest among wealthy applicants seeking mobility or an alternative citizenship, but no official application forecast or confirmed demand figure was provided.²

The New York Times reported that comparable initiatives have produced substantial revenue for some small economies while also creating risks.⁴