Argentina Citizenship by Investment for Americans - Applications Are Not Open

Proposed program, not an open filing channel

Argentina citizenship by investment for Americans is proposed under Decree 524/2025; the pathway should not be treated as an open application program. The proposed Golden Visa is already attracting considerable attention from high-net-worth individuals and investors interested in diversifying their global mobility footprint in South America.

Legal Basis and Program Status

The Argentinian citizenship by investment program was established through an executive order that amended Argentina's nationality law and created a formal pathway for foreign investors to obtain citizenship. DNU 366/2025 added naturalization for a relevant investment. That provision is distinct from ordinary naturalization. The decrees do not specify a physical-presence rule for investor applicants. The October 2, 2026 announcement later stated a $350,000 National Treasury contribution or an $800,000 public-bond subscription. Government applications are not yet confirmed as open. See the citizenship by investment status page.

See the investment requirements for the announced routes.

A new government body called the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs will operate under the ministry of economy and evaluate applications, investigate backgrounds and assess potential national security risks.

Argentina's citizenship by investment program is designed to attract foreign investment into the Argentine economy.

One Remaining Critical Barrier

The CBI program will target the wealthy who want Latin American optionality but there is still one crucial step needed for Argentina to complete its economic renaissance. This restriction is a major impediment to large-scale foreign investment by major international groups. The economic projects tied to this reform would be staggering. This influx of capital would bring Argentinian property values in line with other "first world" countries and create a cascading investment effect that would benefit businesses and the broader economy.

Strategic Asset for U.S. Citizens

An existing Argentine passport is a separate document from residence. It is not a benefit of an investment-naturalization application. The Henley score below is a passport snapshot, not a residency right.

This can be extremely beneficial for American business owners and families because it grants access to the entire South American continent as a potential base of operations or residence. Argentine nationals are eligible to apply for the U.S. E-2 Treaty Investor visa because Argentina is an E-2 treaty country. The U.S. Department of State Treaty Countries list lists Argentina for E-1 and E-2, with a treaty effective date of December 20, 1854. Obtaining Argentine citizenship does not by itself qualify someone for an E-2 visa. Applicants must separately satisfy the applicable E-2 investment and eligibility requirements. Law 27,802, Article 194, provides that naturalization under the relevant-investment provision does not, by itself, create Argentine tax residence. Tax residence can still arise under the applicable Argentine rules and the person's circumstances, including time spent in Argentina. Citizenship is not an exemption from Argentine tax, and it is not permanent protection from taxation of worldwide income.

U.S. Visa Waiver Program

Towards the end of July 2025 President Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei met and announced that they wanted to prepare a way for Argentinian passport holders to enter the United States without a visa. The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of the countries designated on that State Department page to travel into the United States and stay for up to 90 days without a visa. The number of designated countries can change, so this page does not state a fixed count.

The only Latin American country currently in the Visa Waiver Program is Chile. While this is currently speculation, the addition of Argentina into the Visa Waiver program would make the golden visa even more valuable to potential investors.

Anticipated application sequence

These steps are not a published procedure and cannot be filed now. The pathway should not be treated as an open application program. The decision-maker named below has not been confirmed as the filing agency. Processing time is unknown. See program status and the application timeline.

Before published regulations

With this being a new program, investors should proceed with caution and talk to many advisors to fully understand the scope of the investment and what is expected. The program was introduced by executive decree and while the government has embedded it directly into the nationality law there still could be unforeseen challenges for Argentina to fully enact the law and start the golden visa program.

Investors are strongly advised to wait until the final, detailed regulations are officially published before making any financial commitments.

To understand the broader economic case, read our article on why the American Dream's rising costs make Argentina's Golden Visa compelling.

If you want to stay up to date on the Argentinian golden visa news visit argentinaresidence.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Sources

Source for programme terms

• Luis Caputo anunció la puesta en marcha del Programa de Ciudadanía por Inversión de Argentina, Argentina.gob.ar. Primary source for the announced contribution and public-bond route.
• Argentina announces citizenship-by-investment program, Reuters. Independent report of the October 2 announcement.
• Argentina Announces CBI Program Pricing and Launch Timeframe, IMI Daily. Specialist report. It does not establish the legal requirements.

Legal and related official texts

• Decree 366/2025, Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina. Investment-based naturalization framework and the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs.
• Decree 524/2025, Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina. Administrative procedure. The 30-business-day period runs after the National Directorate of Migration receives the Agency report. It is not total processing time.
• Law 27,802, official Argentine legislation. Article 194 is a limited tax-residence rule for naturalization under the relevant-investment provision. Tax residence can still arise separately.
• Henley Passport Index, 13 April 2026. Rank 15, visa-free score 168, including visa on arrival and electronic travel authorization. That edition's score is not a permanent total.
• Treaty Countries, U.S. Department of State. Argentina is listed for E-1 and E-2. Treaty effective date: December 20, 1854. Nationality does not by itself approve an E-2 visa.
• Visa Waiver Program, U.S. Department of State. Argentina is not on the designated-country list. Chile is the Latin American country on that list. The page does not use a fixed country count.
• Residencia legal en cualquier país del bloque, MERCOSUR. Residence and work for nationals of a state party, after the residence is granted.