Argentina will sell citizenship from as little as $350,000 under a new Citizenship by Investment Program announced in early October 2026, with applications expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year. The programme grants qualifying investors and their families a direct route to Argentine citizenship, bypassing the standard two-year residence requirement.

The move puts Argentina alongside Spain, Portugal, the UK, Canada, Italy, New Zealand and Malta as jurisdictions that have run investment-linked migration schemes — even as some peers retreat. Spain suspended its scheme amid domestic anger over property prices, and the UK halted its Tier 1 Investor Visa in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine drew scrutiny of Russian applicants. New Zealand, by contrast, recently re-established its programme.

What are the two investment options?

Foreign nationals choose between:

• A direct, non-refundable contribution of $350,000 to the National Treasury; or
• Subscription to a government bond worth $800,000, created specifically for the programme.

What does it cost to bring family members?

Spouses and children can apply as dependents under the principal applicant, subject to proof of relationship, plus additional Treasury contributions:

• Spouse: $100,000
• Unmarried child aged 18-25 with no children: $100,000
• Child under 18: $25,000

How will applications be vetted?

Funds must flow through banking or financial institutions authorised by the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic and meet anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and financial transparency requirements. Applicants will undergo checks covering identity, source of funds, financial standing, jurisdictional risk, criminal record, reputation and immigration history.

Argentina's Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs will assess each file with input from intelligence, financial, security and interior authorities, then recommend approval or refusal to the National Immigration Directorate, which takes the final decision. Filing procedures, document requirements and processing times have not yet been published and are expected to be announced as launch approaches.

Where does the programme come from?

The government introduced the scheme through a 2025 decree as part of a broader immigration overhaul. That package strengthened immigration controls, revised foreign nationals' access to public services and changed citizenship procedures.

The policy fits President Javier Milei's market-oriented agenda since he took office in November 2023, with his party winning a majority in 2025. Argentina's sovereign risk premium has fallen from distressed levels above 2,000 basis points at the start of 2023 to about 500 today.

The advisory industry has already moved. Latitude Group said last week it is a founding member of Argentina Mobility for Investment and Global Opportunity Limited, joining specialist firms such as Henley & Partners that serve high-net-worth applicants.

Golden visa programmes remain contentious worldwide over alleged money-laundering vulnerabilities and property price effects, but Argentina has positioned its scheme as a capital magnet in a region expanding investment-linked citizenship options. Prospective applicants should watch for the official filing rules and full eligibility criteria from the Argentine government before the Q4 2026 launch.