Argentina Introduces Citizenship Scheme for Foreign Investors
Argentina has unveiled a citizenship-by-investment programme offering foreigners a route to an Argentine passport through a Treasury payment or a specially created government bond. The initiative comes as the country seeks more foreign capital after recording weak investment inflows in 2025.
Argentina has introduced a new programme allowing foreign investors to obtain citizenship by committing substantial funds to the country.
Under the plan announced by President Javier Milei's government, applicants have two investment routes. They can contribute $350,000 directly to Argentina's National Treasury without receiving the money back, or invest $800,000 in a government bond established for the programme.
The scheme also allows an applicant's spouse and children to obtain citizenship. The required Treasury contribution is $100,000 for each eligible family member, while the amount for those below 18 is $25,000.
The government said money raised through the programme would support Argentina's fiscal and financial position. The economy ministry also said applicants and their investments would undergo checks covering the origin and movement of funds, anti-money-laundering safeguards and national security concerns.
The programme is being introduced against a backdrop of relatively low foreign investment. OECD figures cited in the report show that Argentina attracted $3.134 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, compared with $76.877 billion for Brazil and $40.871 billion for Mexico. Among major Latin American economies, Argentina recorded the lowest level that year.
The announcement also follows a Supreme Court decision concerning foreign ownership of rural land. The court upheld a 2023 decree issued by Milei that removed a 15 per cent limit on foreign ownership of such land, a restriction that had been in place since 2011.
Veterans of Argentina's 1982 conflict with Britain over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas, have opposed that change. A demonstration against the land ownership measure was also planned, while opposition lawmakers were expected to seek to stop the change in Parliament.