Argentina plans citizenship-for-investment program with $350,000 entry route
Argentina says it expects to open a citizenship-for-investment program by year-end, offering a $350,000 contribution or an $800,000 bond route.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Argentina has announced plans for an Argentina citizenship by investment program that would offer foreign applicants two routes: a nonrefundable $350,000 payment to the Treasury or an $800,000 investment in a new government bond. The proposal could bring in foreign currency as the Treasury faces nearly $25 billion in foreign-currency debt payments due in 2027, according to the Los Angeles Times and Fortune.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo presented the plan at an investor event in Paris on Oct. 2. He said applications were expected to open before the end of 2026, meaning the scheme has been announced but is not yet confirmed as open for applications, the reports said.
How would Argentina citizenship by investment work?
Applicants would be able to choose between a $350,000 contribution that would not be returned or an $800,000 purchase of a government bond created for the program. The bond would have to be held for seven years, Fortune and the Los Angeles Times reported.
Officials said the contribution would rise for families. A family of four using the contribution route would pay $500,000, according to both reports. The government has not publicly confirmed a precise application date or complete operating rules in the material reviewed.
A citizenship-for-investment program grants nationality and a passport, rather than only permission to live in a country. That differs from investment-linked residency programs, often called golden visas, which generally offer residence rights without immediately providing citizenship. Fortune reported that about 60 countries offer investment-linked residency privileges, while roughly a dozen operate citizenship-for-investment programs.
Why is Argentina proposing the program?
The Milei administration is seeking additional dollar inflows while staying out of international bond markets, Fortune reported. A consortium of investment firms advising the government estimated that the program could raise as much as $2.5 billion if the anticipated applicants materialize. That is a projection, not money Argentina has received.
Caputo said an Argentine passport is accepted in more than 140 countries, referring to destinations that Argentines can visit without first obtaining a visa. Passport-access totals can vary depending on the measure used, but the government is presenting international travel access as part of the proposal’s appeal.
What checks would applicants face?
Officials said applicants would undergo financial and criminal-background checks, the Los Angeles Times reported. Citizenship-investment advisory firms Henley & Partners and Golden Visas say the planned review would also examine identity, the legal origin of funds, finances, jurisdictional risks, reputation and immigration history. Those operational details should be treated as proposed until confirmed by Argentine authorities.
Such programs have drawn criticism because they can create opportunities for money laundering and corruption if screening is weak, the Los Angeles Times reported. Argentina’s final safeguards, application procedures, fee schedule and detailed bond terms remain to be confirmed before prospective applicants can file.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.