Under a new program, Americans could soon get the chance to secure Argentine citizenship without living in the country, in exchange for a substantial payment or government investment.
President Javier Milei’s administration announced the "Citizenship by Investment Program" on October 2, presenting it as an effort to attract foreign capital and strengthen the debt-burdened country’s finances.
Under the proposed program, which is attracting increasing attention, a foreign applicant would have two options:
1. Pay a nonrefundable contribution of $350,000 to the Argentine Treasury, or
2. Invest $800,000 in a specially created government bond, which investors would have to hold for seven years.
Primary applicants can include family members for an additional fee: $100,000 for a spouse or eligible adult child (aged between 18 and 25), and $25,000 for each child under 18.
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When Can Americans Apply?
Despite the program’s announcement, Americans can’t submit their applications just yet.
The Argentine Economy Ministry said the program would begin accepting applications in the fourth quarter of 2026, which runs through December 31, but it’s yet to announce an exact launch date.
Under Decree 524/2025, which sets out exactly how applications are supposed to be assessed and processed, Argentina’s Citizenship-by-Investment Programs Agency will first assess whether an applicant’s investment qualifies before seeking checks from several government bodies, including the Financial Information Unit (UIF), the Ministry of National Security, and the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE). The agency will then recommend whether the application should be approved or rejected to the National Directorate of Migration, which makes the final decision.
According to the announcement, applicants will face national-security checks, covering their identity, criminal history, and source of funds, while all payments must comply with anti-money-laundering and terrorist-financing rules.
Several Key Details Remain Unannounced
The government hasn’t yet provided a full list of required documents, an application processing timeline, or any details about how applicants will make their investment.
Details of the bond are also still unclear, including what interest it will pay, how investors will be repaid, and whether they can access their money before the seven-year holding period ends.
The official announcement simply describes it as "a public bond of USD 800,000 created specifically for this Program," so it’s not yet possible to establish whether it will pay interest, whether it can be sold on a secondary market, or what would happen to an applicant’s citizenship status if the investment was withdrawn early.
What Would Americans Gain?
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The clearest benefit the citizenship would offer Americans is the right to live and work indefinitely in Argentina, rather than merely holding a temporary residence permit.
Decree 524/2025 says that, under Argentina's citizenship law, foreigners who can show that they’ve made a qualifying investment can secure citizenship regardless of how long they’ve lived in the country, which indicates that they may not need to complete the usual period of residence, which is two years, before becoming eligible for citizenship.
A more practical attraction might be long-term flexibility: an unconditional right to live in Argentina, a second nationality for eligible relatives, and another passport if future travel rules change.
A second passport wouldn’t end an American’s U.S. tax obligations, though. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says U.S. citizens are generally taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live and may also have to report foreign financial accounts and assets.
How Argentina's Compares With Other Programs
Argentina’s proposal differs significantly from Portugal’s Golden Visa, a type of program that allows foreigners to gain residency by making a qualifying investment. Portugal’s scheme, known as the Residence Permit for Investment Activity, grants temporary residency rather than immediate citizenship.
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Portugal’s eligible routes include a contribution of at least €250,000 ($280,000) toward certain cultural or heritage projects, alongside other qualifying investment options. Its program gives investors a foothold within the European Union, but citizenship is a later and separate process rather than an immediate result of making the investment.
Caribbean programs are Argentina’s closest competitors because they provide citizenship directly.
Programs operated by Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis begin at approximately $200,000 to $250,000 for their contribution routes, before additional due diligence and processing fees.
That makes them substantially cheaper than Argentina’s $350,000 nonrefundable option.
Argentina’s offer may be more attractive to Americans seeking a genuine second home in a large country rather than a travel document. But until officials publish the application portal and the bond’s complete terms, prospective investors can’t apply or fully assess the financial risks involved.
Newsweek has reached out to the Argentina Ministry of Economy for comment and is awaiting a response.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Tony Phillips.