Argentina has launched South America's first citizenship-by-investment programme, with an Argentine passport starting at $350,000, according to a report by MoneyWise. The move makes Argentina the first country on the continent to formalise a direct investment pathway to citizenship.

The announcement marks a regional first. Until now, no South American nation has operated a formal citizenship-by-investment scheme — a model already established in the Caribbean and parts of Europe, where applicants receive a passport in exchange for a qualifying investment.

What does this change for investors?

For high-net-worth applicants, the headline number is the entry threshold: $350,000 as the starting price for Argentine citizenship under the programme. Argentina's passport is the product on offer, and the country has now positioned itself as the continent's sole provider of this route.

The reported framework follows the structure typical of such programmes:

• A minimum qualifying investment, set at $350,000 as the entry point;
• Citizenship, rather than mere residency, as the end result;
• South America's only programme of this type, giving Argentina first-mover status in the region.

Who is affected?

The programme targets investors seeking a second citizenship through capital rather than through long-term residence or family ties. Applicants from outside the region now have, for the first time, a direct investment route to a South American passport.

Argentina itself stands to attract foreign capital that previously flowed to established Caribbean and European schemes. Competition among citizenship programmes has historically hinged on price, visa-free access and processing speed — the three variables investors weigh most heavily.

What we still do not know

MoneyWise's report confirms the launch and the $350,000 starting figure. The full programme details — investment categories, dependents' eligibility, processing timelines and due-diligence requirements — were not specified in the initial announcement.

Prospective applicants should treat the $350,000 figure as a starting point rather than a total cost. Comparable programmes elsewhere routinely add government fees, due-diligence charges and legal costs on top of the headline investment amount.

What should applicants do now?

Anyone considering the Argentine route should wait for the official programme regulations before committing funds. As with any citizenship-by-investment launch, the authoritative source is the Argentine government's published rules — not intermediary marketing.

Passport File will monitor the rollout and report the confirmed eligibility criteria, deadlines and investment options once the government publishes them.