Citizenship, not residence
The programme grants naturalisation itself, not a residence card to renew. Argentina allows dual citizenship.
Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025The programme
Argentina’s citizenship by investment programme, in one page
Argentina will grant citizenship to foreigners who contribute USD 350,000 to the Treasury or buy a USD 800,000 government bond. Here is what has been decided in law, what was announced, and what is still to come.
Facts checked against official sources on
At a glance
The programme in eight facts
| Status | Announced, not yet open | Official | Source: Ministry of Economy, Argentina.gob.ar, 2 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications open | Q4 2026 | Pending | Source: Ministry of Economy, Argentina.gob.ar, 2 October 2026 |
| Legal basis | Ley 346 de Ciudadanía, as amended by DNU 366/2025 | Official | Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025 |
| Procedure | Decree 524/2025 | Official | Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 31 July 2025 |
| Runs it | Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión (APCI) | Official | Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025 |
| Decides | Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) | Official | Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 31 July 2025 |
| Prior residence | None required | Official | Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025 |
| Tax residence | Not created by citizenship alone | Reported | Source: Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, 18 March 2026 |
How it works
Citizenship for a relevant investment
In May 2025, emergency decree DNU 366/2025 rewrote part of Argentina’s 1869 citizenship law, Ley 346. It added a new ground for naturalisation: a foreigner who proves to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) that they have made a relevant investment in the country becomes a citizen, whatever the length of their residence.
The same decree created the Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión (APCI) under the Ministry of Economy to design and run the programme. Decree 524/2025 then set the procedure: the agency gathers reports from the security, intelligence and financial-crime authorities and sends a reasoned recommendation, and the migration directorate decides.
On 2 October 2026 the Economy Minister set the price of a relevant investment: USD 350,000 to the Treasury, or USD 800,000 in a bond created for the programme, plus fixed amounts for each family member.
Treasury contribution Official
USD350,000
A one-time, non-refundable payment to the National Treasury. The simplest route, with the lowest entry figure.
Government bond Official
USD800,000
A purchase of a government bond created for the programme. A larger sum, which the minister described as a zero-rate bond.
Where things stand
From decree to launch
Eighteen months of decrees, appointments and court rulings, and the step still to come.
Reported
Plan announced
The government says it will grant citizenship to foreigners who invest in qualifying projects, as part of a migration reform.
La NaciónOfficial
DNU 366/2025 published
The decree amends the citizenship law to allow naturalisation for a relevant investment and creates APCI.
Boletín Oficial de la República ArgentinaOfficial
Procedure set
Decree 524/2025 sets out how APCI vets applications and how the DNM decides.
Boletín Oficial de la República ArgentinaReported
Tax rule enacted
Ley 27.802 says citizenship by investment does not by itself create tax residence.
Abeledo Gottheil AbogadosOfficial
Agency director appointed
Decree 285/2026 names APCI’s executive director.
Boletín Oficial de la República ArgentinaReported
Court rulings
Two appeal courts rule against the decree’s citizenship chapter in individual cases; the state appeals.
Henley & PartnersOfficial
Prices and launch announced
Minister Luis Caputo announces USD 350,000 and USD 800,000 routes, opening in Q4 2026.
Ministry of Economy, Argentina.gob.arPending
Applications expected to open
The government’s stated window is the fourth quarter of 2026. The implementing rules come first.
Ministry of Economy, Argentina.gob.ar
Why Argentina
What the programme offers
Each point is drawn from the law or the official announcement, with its source.
No residence requirement
The amended law grants citizenship for a relevant investment whatever the length of residence.
Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025No automatic tax residence
Ley 27.802 says naturalisation by investment does not by itself make you tax resident in Argentina.
Source: Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, 18 March 2026Family included
A spouse and children up to 25 can be added, each with their own contribution.
Source: Ministry of Economy, Argentina.gob.ar, 2 October 2026Mercosur access
Argentine citizens benefit from residence arrangements across much of South America.
Source: IMI Daily, 2 October 2026A G20 economy
The government presents the programme as part of opening Argentina to investment.
Source: Reuters, 2 October 2026Worth weighing
What is not settled yet
The courts are reviewing the decree
Two federal appeal courts ruled against DNU 366/2025’s citizenship chapter in June 2026 (Volosh, 18 June; Yang Liping, 30 June), in individual cases that were not about investment. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court, whose decision is pending.
Source: Chequeado, 9 October 2026Repeal bills in Congress
Opposition deputies filed bills in October 2026 to remove the investment route from the citizenship law.
Source: Chequeado, 9 October 2026The rules are still to come
Fees, processing times, the bond’s terms and the forms have not been published. Totals quoted today are the announced contributions only.
Source: IMI Daily, 2 October 2026Other routes
The residency routes beside it
The investment programme is the only route with no residence. These are the others, for comparison.
Naturalisation after two years
A foreigner with 2 years of continuous legal residence can apply to the DNM. Since DNU 366/2025, continuous means no trips abroad in that time.
Source: Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025Rentista residence
One-year renewable temporary residence for people with passive income of at least five times the minimum wage each month.
Source: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina.gob.ar, 14 October 2026Mercosur residence
Citizens of Mercosur and associated states have their own residence route, separate from the investment programme.
Source: IMI Daily, 2 October 2026Every route to Argentine citizenship
Sources
- Luis Caputo anunció la puesta en marcha del Programa de Ciudadanía por Inversión de Argentina · Ministry of Economy, Argentina.gob.ar, 2 October 2026
- Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia 366/2025 · Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 29 May 2025
- Decreto 524/2025 · Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 31 July 2025
- Decreto 285/2026 · Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 28 April 2026
- Ley 27.802: ciudadanía por inversión y residencia fiscal · Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, 18 March 2026
- Ciudadanía argentina por inversión: de qué se trata y por qué la Justicia lo cuestiona · Chequeado, 9 October 2026
- Argentina announces citizenship-by-investment program · Reuters, 2 October 2026
- Argentina Announces CBI Program Pricing and Launch Timeframe · IMI Daily, 2 October 2026