Argentina plans to launch a citizenship-by-investment programme — commonly called a "golden passport" scheme — by the end of the year, the Financial Times reports.

The report signals a policy shift for a country that currently grants citizenship primarily through residence-based naturalisation, birthright and descent. If the plan proceeds on schedule, Argentina would join a small group of states that formally sell access to nationality in exchange for investment.

What is a 'golden passport'?

A golden passport programme offers nationality — and with it the passport of the issuing state — to foreign investors who meet a qualifying investment threshold. Such schemes exist in a handful of jurisdictions worldwide, most prominently in the Caribbean.

Citizenship-by-investment differs from residence-by-investment ("golden visa") schemes, which grant only a residence permit, with naturalisation possible later under standard conditions.

Who does the change affect?

The planned programme targets foreign nationals seeking Argentine citizenship and, by extension, an Argentine passport. The Financial Times report does not yet specify:

• the minimum investment amount;
• eligible asset classes (real estate, business, government bonds or donations);
• any residence, language or background requirements;
• quotas or annual caps on applications.

These parameters will determine who can realistically apply once the scheme opens.

Why does an Argentine passport matter to applicants?

Argentina's passport ranks among the stronger travel documents in Latin America, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a broad range of destinations including Europe's Schengen area. Argentine citizenship is also generally seen as relatively accessible under existing law, because the country has historically applied one of the world's shortest naturalisation residence requirements.

A formal investment route, if enacted by the end of the year, would give wealthy applicants a faster, transactional path to the same document.

What steps come next?

A citizenship-by-investment programme in Argentina would require formal legal groundwork — either a dedicated law or amendments to the country's nationality rules. Prospective applicants should watch for:

1. publication of the draft law or decree;
2. the official investment thresholds and qualifying categories;
3. the designated processing authority and application procedure;
4. the announced opening date and any application caps.

Until the government publishes these details, no application pathway exists, and no investment made today guarantees eligibility.

What should readers do now?

The Financial Times report sets out the direction of travel, not the rulebook. Migration authorities, not media reports, define eligibility. Anyone considering the programme should wait for the official Argentine government announcement and consult licensed immigration counsel before committing funds.

Passport File will track the legislative progress and update this story as the government publishes thresholds, deadlines and procedures.