Argentina has become the latest country linked to a citizenship-by-investment scheme. A report by Fortune says the government plans to grant a so-called "golden passport" to foreign nationals who make a contribution of $350,000 to the national treasury.

The programme would place Argentina in a small group of states — including Malta, several Caribbean nations, and Turkey — that exchange a direct financial contribution for citizenship or residency rights. Under the reported Argentine model, the qualifying payment would go to the treasury itself, rather than into real estate, government bonds, or a dedicated investment fund, as is common in comparable schemes elsewhere.

What the report says

According to Fortune, the threshold is fixed at $350,000. A foreigner who transfers that amount to Argentina's treasury would become eligible for the "golden passport" — in effect, Argentine citizenship and the travel document that comes with it.

The report does not state an effective date, an application procedure, an annual cap on grants, or the government body that would administer the scheme. It also does not specify whether applicants would need to meet additional requirements, such as a clean criminal record, a source-of-funds declaration, or physical presence in Argentina, which most citizenship-by-investment programmes worldwide impose.

Who could be affected

An Argentine citizenship-by-investment route, if enacted, would matter for two groups in particular.

First, high-net-worth individuals seeking a second passport. Argentina's document already offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a wide range of destinations, including Europe's Schengen area, which makes any Argentine citizenship route commercially significant.

Second, prospective applicants to Argentina's existing immigration channels. Argentina currently allows foreigners to obtain residency through relatively accessible routes — including a renewable residence permit and, after a short period of continuous residence, naturalisation. A contribution-based track would run alongside these established paths rather than replace them.

What is not yet known

Several points remain open, and the report does not resolve them:

• Legal form. Whether the scheme requires a new law passed by Argentina's Congress or can be created by executive decree.
• Processing details. No timelines, fees beyond the $350,000 contribution, or due-diligence procedures appear in the report.
• Quotas and caps. No limit on the number of passports available per year is mentioned.
• Family inclusion. The report does not say whether spouses, children, or other dependants can be included in a single qualifying contribution.

The regional context

Citizenship- and residency-by-investment programmes have faced growing scrutiny. The European Union has repeatedly criticised "golden passport" schemes, and several countries have tightened or abolished theirs in recent years. Any Argentine programme would enter that debate, and applicants should expect international pressure on transparency and vetting standards.

What applicants should do now

No official publication of the programme's rules has been confirmed in the report. Anyone considering the route should wait for the Argentine government's formal announcement — typically published through the Boletín Oficial, the country's official gazette, or by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones — before committing funds or preparing documents.

Passport File will track the proposal and report the eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application steps once the Argentine authorities publish them.