Argentina Citizenship by Investment: South America’s First Programme Set To Open in Q4 2026

Argentina will open South America’s first citizenship by investment programme in Q4 2026, from USD 350,000 with no prior residence required. Costs, family rules, benefits and how to prepare.

Knightsbridge Group advises internationally mobile families and entrepreneurs on second citizenship, residency, corporate structuring and wealth planning, from offices in Dubai, Milan, London and Istanbul. We track every major development in the investment migration market so our clients can act early when a significant new opportunity appears. Argentina’s new citizenship by investment programme is one of the most important of these in years.

On 2 October 2026, in Paris, Argentina’s Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, announced that the government plans to open its new Citizenship by Investment Program to applications in the fourth quarter of 2026. Argentina will become the first country in South America to offer citizenship by investment, and the first G20 economy to launch a programme since Turkey in 2017.

How we got here

Argentina has been building the legal framework for this programme for more than a year:

• May 2025: Decree 366/2025 amended Argentina’s Citizenship Law (No. 346) to allow foreign nationals to naturalise through a “relevant investment”, with no prescribed prior period of residence.
• July 2025: Decree 524/2025 set out the procedural framework and created the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs, a decentralised body under the Ministry of Economy.
• April 2026: Decree 285/2026 appointed the agency’s Executive Director.
• May 2026: The agency signed a Non-Onerous Technical Collaboration Agreement with AMIGO Ltd (Argentina Mobility for Investment and Global Opportunity), an international consortium of investment migration specialists. They provide advisory support on programme design, due diligence, compliance and marketing at no cost to the Argentine State.
• October 2026: Minister Caputo confirmed the Q4 2026 opening, with investment thresholds now published.

All decisions on eligibility, due diligence and the granting of citizenship remain exclusively with the Argentine government.

Investment options and costs

The programme will launch with two principal routes:

1. Treasury Contribution (non-refundable)

Adult children up to 25 do not need to prove financial dependency, which is more generous than many Caribbean programmes.

2. Sovereign Bond Investment

An investment in Argentine government bonds. The minimum amount, holding period and terms have not yet been published.

Government fees, due diligence fees and professional fees will be in addition to the figures above and are still to be confirmed.

The benefits of Argentine citizenship

No residence requirement. Citizenship is granted on the basis of the qualifying investment, without first living in Argentina. This sets it apart from European routes such as Portugal, where the path to citizenship is now 10 years.

A strong passport. In the 2026 Passport Index, Argentina ranks 16th in the world, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 169 destinations. This includes the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Japan. It is the joint strongest passport in South America alongside Chile.

Potential US Visa Waiver access. Argentina formally applied in July 2025 to rejoin the US Visa Waiver Program, which it left in 2002. If this is approved, Argentine citizens would be able to travel to the United States without a visa. No timeline has been confirmed, so this should be seen as a potential future benefit rather than a current one.

Residence rights across South America. Through MERCOSUR’s regional residence arrangements, Argentine citizens have comparatively straightforward routes to live, work, study and set up businesses in participating countries across much of the continent.

A G20 citizenship. Argentina is a nation of 46 million people with a large, diversified economy, significant natural resources and a highly educated population. A G20 citizenship carries a different weight from that of a small island state, particularly for banking and international business.

Family inclusion. The spouse, children under 18 and unmarried children up to 25 can all be included in a single application.

Dual citizenship. Argentina permits dual citizenship. Clients should check that their current country of citizenship also allows it.

Due diligence and programme integrity

Argentina has designed the programme around robust vetting, aligned with OECD and FATF recommendations. The Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs will lead the assessment, working with the State Intelligence Secretariat, the Financial Information Unit, the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of the Interior. Checks will cover identity, the lawful origin of funds, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational records, and immigration history. International due diligence firms will also be involved.

The agency will make a recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration, which will approve or reject each application. All funds must pass through the formal financial system.

For clients, this means a well-prepared source of funds and source of wealth file will be essential from day one.

Points to consider before applying

• The programme is not yet open. Final regulations, application procedures and the exact launch date are still to be published by the Argentine authorities. The figures above are those announced to date and may change.
• Tax. Citizenship alone does not make you tax resident in Argentina. Tax residence depends on where you live, but clients who plan to spend significant time in Argentina should take advice before doing so.
• New programme risk. As with any first-generation programme, processing times, practical requirements and fees will only become clear once applications are being handled. Early applicants should be prepared for some procedural adjustments.
• Bond route details. If you are interested in the sovereign bond option, wait for the final terms on minimum amounts, currency, maturity and exit before committing.

How Knightsbridge Group can help

Strong demand is expected when the programme opens, particularly from Middle East, European and Asian families seeking a credible second citizenship without a residence requirement. We are helping clients prepare now by:

• Assessing eligibility and the best structure for the whole family
• Preparing source of funds and source of wealth documentation in advance
• Comparing Argentina with Caribbean, Turkish and European options, so you can choose the right route for your goals
• Tracking the final regulations and notifying registered clients as soon as applications open

Register your interest with Knightsbridge Group today for a confidential consultation, and be ready to apply as soon as Argentina’s Citizenship by Investment Program opens.