Travellers Seeking Argentine Citizenship Face $350K Non-Refundable Fee

Argentina has announced South America's first citizenship-by-investment program, offering a route to an Argentine passport without waiting years. Economy Minister Luis Caputo set the entry price at a non-refundable $350,000 contribution to the national treasury and the economy, and applications are expected to open before the end of 2026.

The Economy Ministry described the scheme as "part of Argentina's ongoing process of opening up and international integration."

Key facts

• Minimum cost: $350,000, non-refundable, paid to the national treasury and the economy
• Alternative route: an $800,000 commitment to a public bond, paying no interest and locked up for seven years
• Family members: an additional $100,000 per person; $25,000 for children under 18
• Applications: expected to open before the end of 2026
• Approval is not automatic: payment does not guarantee citizenship

What are the investment routes?

Two options are open to applicants. The cheaper one is the $350,000 non-refundable contribution. The more expensive route is an $800,000 commitment to a public bond that pays no interest and is locked up for seven years — effectively a loan to the Argentine government in exchange for a passport.

Applicants bringing a spouse and children pay an additional $100,000 per person, while children under 18 incur a lower fee of $25,000.

What checks do applicants face?

Paying does not guarantee citizenship, because the government must first conduct due diligence. Any money paid into the program moves through institutions cleared by Argentina's central bank, and intelligence agencies vet each applicant's identity, criminal record and source of funds before approval.

What does an Argentine passport offer?

Argentina's passport ranks among the world's top 20, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 170 destinations, including Europe's Schengen zone, according to the Henley Passport Index. It also brings settlement rights across the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

What about taxes?

Argentina may exempt beneficiaries of the program from its worldwide income tax. Regular Argentine nationals and long-term residents are typically taxed on worldwide income, whereas citizenship-by-investment investors are exempt from that automatic trigger. A person becomes an Argentine tax resident only by spending more than 12 months in the country or by creating core economic ties.

What this means for travellers

Travellers considering the scheme should note that the minimum $350,000 contribution is non-refundable and that approval depends on government vetting, so no payment should be treated as a guaranteed passport. Anyone applying with family members needs to budget the additional per-person fees, and the exact opening date for applications has not yet been announced.

Why is this happening now?

Citizenship-by-investment programs have been shrinking elsewhere. In April 2025 the European Union ruled Malta's golden passport program unlawful, and the EU's top court effectively closed the last route to buying citizenship outright in the bloc. Cyprus scrapped its own scheme in 2020, and Spain ended its golden visa in 2025, though eight European countries still grant residency to wealthy investors in 2026. Outside Europe, Dominica ($200,000), St. Kitts and Nevis ($250,000) and Turkey ($400,000 in real estate) still offer citizenship routes.

Applications for Argentina's program are expected to open before the end of this year; no exact date has been announced.