Argentina to Grant Citizenship to Foreigners in Exchange for $350,000 Contribution to National Treasury

The administration of Argentine President Javier Milei unveiled the Citizenship by Investment Program this Friday, offering foreign nationals the opportunity to obtain an Argentine passport in exchange for a financial contribution. This initiative was announced by the Ministry of Economy during the Argentina Week event held in Paris.

Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Chief of Staff Diego Santilli made the announcement at a gathering organized by Buenos Aires to attract international investors, hosted at the OECD and the Argentine Embassy in France.

The program provides two options for eligibility: a non-refundable contribution of $350,000 to the National Treasury or the purchase of a specially created public bond worth $800,000.

Family members of the main applicant can also participate under separate terms. The spouse and children between the ages of 18 and 25, provided they are single and childless, can apply for citizenship with a contribution of $100,000, while minors under 18 can do so with $25,000.

Under this arrangement, a family consisting of the principal applicant, their spouse, and two minor children could secure Argentine citizenship for a total of $500,000.

The program will open for applications in the fourth quarter of 2026.

During the opening of Argentina Week, Caputo emphasized the timeliness of investing in Argentina, stating, "We have almost everything the world needs: food, energy, critical minerals, human capital."

This marks the first citizenship-by-investment initiative in South America, aiming to rival Caribbean programs rather than European golden visas, as it grants citizenship directly without requiring prior residency.

Caribbean programs typically require donations ranging from $100,000 to $200,000, making the Argentine amount higher, yet the Argentine passport is recognized more widely internationally.

The scheme has been likened to the "Gold Card" introduced by the Trump administration in the United States, which also offers residency or citizenship in return for substantial foreign investments.

All financial transactions must be processed through formal financial channels and adhere to anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing standards, aligned with OECD and FATF recommendations.

The Citizenship by Investment Program Agency will evaluate each application, with involvement from the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), the Financial Information Unit (UIF), and the Ministries of Security and Interior.

The evaluation process will include identity verification, traceability and legality of fund sources, asset analysis, jurisdictional risk assessment, criminal and reputational background checks, and migration history review.

The National Directorate of Migration will make the final decision to approve or deny each application.

The legal framework of the program was established by Decree 524/2025, published in the Official Gazette on July 31, 2025, which authorized Argentine citizenship for foreigners making "significant investments" and created the Citizenship by Investment Program Agency as a decentralized entity under the Ministry of Economy.

The announcement is part of a broader strategy to attract capital: at the same event in Paris, the government introduced a new $12.5 billion Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI) for Vaca Muerta and a $10 billion investment from TotalEnergies.