Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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The Argentine passport: where it takes you in 2026

A strong South American passport with about 170 destinations, free movement across most of the continent and two notable gaps: the United States and Canada. Here is what it does, what it does not do, and how an investor actually obtains one.

Updated 11 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Reach: about 170 destinations without a prior visa (Henley Passport Index 2026: 168–169, ranked 15th–16th).
  • Europe: visa-free in the Schengen Area for 90 days in any 180; the UK requires an £20 ETA.
  • North America: visa required for the United States and Canada (Canada offers an eTA exception for some travellers).
  • South America: Argentines can cross into eight neighbouring countries with the national ID card (DNI) alone.
  • Validity: 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors; issued by RENAPER on the basis of a valid DNI.

For most people considering Argentina citizenship by investment, the passport is the first practical question. How far does it reach? Where does it still need a visa? And how does a new citizen actually get one?

The short answer: it is one of the stronger passports in the Americas, it opens Europe, the UK and much of Asia without a consulate visit, and it gives access to South America on almost domestic terms. Its real weakness is North America, where both the United States and Canada still require a visa.

How strong is the Argentine passport?

Henley & Partners describes the Argentine passport as giving access to “approximately 170 destinations”. Published versions of the Henley Passport Index for 2026 put it 15th with 168 destinations or 16th with 169, depending on the edition. We use about 170 destinations throughout this site, because the number moves several times a year as countries change their rules.

That is a strong result by any measure, though it sits below the very top tier of the index. For an investor, the more useful question is which specific destinations are open, and on what terms.

Why the indices give different numbers

You will see quite different “rankings” for the same passport. That is not an error; the indices measure different things.

Henley Passport Index Passport Index (Arton Capital)
Destinations counted 227 199 (193 UN members plus 6 territories)
Counts as “access” Visa-free, visa on arrival, electronic travel authority (ETA) Visa-free, visa on arrival, eTA
Counts as “no access” Embassy visas and e-visas that need prior government approval Visa required (including most e-visas)
Data IATA data, cross-checked with public sources Updated continuously as policies change
Argentina 168–169 destinations, 15th–16th (2026) Reported as a mobility score of 161, 12th (not independently confirmed)

Two practical lessons follow. First, a larger denominator (Henley counts many small territories) produces bigger absolute numbers. Second, a rank is only meaningful against other passports on the same index. Quote one index consistently, and check the specific destinations that matter to you rather than the headline figure.

Visa-free countries: key destinations by region

The table below covers the destinations our clients ask about most. Rules change; confirm with the destination’s official website before you book.

Region Destination Entry for Argentine passport holders
Europe Schengen Area Visa-free, 90 days in any 180-day period
Europe United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required, £20, for visits of up to 6 months. Argentina has been on the ETA list since 8 January 2025
Asia Japan Visa-free, 90 days
Asia China Visa-free for 30 days under a temporary policy valid until 31 December 2026
Asia Singapore Visa-free, 30 days
Asia South Korea Visa-free, but a K-ETA is required before travel
Asia India e-Visa required
Middle East United Arab Emirates Visa-free
Oceania Australia Online visitor visa (subclass 600) required
Oceania New Zealand Visa-free, but an NZeTA is required
North America United States Visa required (B1/B2). Not in the Visa Waiver Program
North America Canada Visa required; eTA possible for some air travellers (see below)
North America Mexico Visa-free, up to 180 days
South America Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay Visa-free; the Argentine DNI is accepted instead of a passport

Two near-term changes are worth noting. China’s 30-day visa-free policy is temporary and currently runs to 31 December 2026; check whether it has been extended before travelling in 2027. And the EU’s ETIAS travel authorisation, now expected in 2027, will add an online pre-travel step (with a €20 fee) for visa-exempt visitors to Schengen, Argentines included.

South America: travel on an ID card

Within the continent, Argentines often do not need a passport at all. The digital Argentine DNI is a valid travel document for entry to the Mercosur members Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and to the associated states Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Guyana and Suriname are not covered, so a passport is needed there.

Only the physical, digital-format DNI card counts. A DNI shown on a phone through the Mi Argentina app, or a certificate showing that a DNI is in process, is not accepted at the border.

For a family living between Buenos Aires, Punta del Este, São Paulo and Santiago, this matters more than any index score. Travel across the region feels close to domestic.

The United States: visa still required

Argentina is not part of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Argentine citizens need a B1/B2 visitor visa, applied for at a US consulate.

The history and current position:

  • 1996–2002: Argentina was a member of the VWP. Its membership was withdrawn in 2002.
  • 28 July 2025: Argentina and the US Department of Homeland Security signed a statement of intent on Argentina’s return to the programme.
  • September 2025: reports said Washington had slowed the process. Both governments denied that it had been suspended.
  • 20 May 2026: Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva said the aim was for the waiver to be operating by early 2027. Data-sharing between the two countries’ systems is a central condition.
  • 16 September 2026: US Ambassador Peter Lamelas said Argentines who travel in good faith and follow the rules should be able to enter the US without a visa. He gave no date.

Our reading: progress is real but not complete, and VWP admission requires the US to be satisfied on several criteria, including visa refusal rates and information sharing. Until it is formally announced, plan on needing a US visa. We track developments on our live updates page.

Canada: visa required, with an eTA exception

Canada requires Argentine citizens to hold a visitor visa. Since June 2023 there has been a useful exception: an Argentine who has held a Canadian visitor visa in the last 10 years, or who currently holds a valid US non-immigrant visa, can apply online for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) instead. The eTA costs CA$7 and is often approved within minutes.

The exception applies only to travel by air. Anyone entering Canada by land or sea still needs a visa.

Mercosur residence rights

Beyond short visits, Argentine nationality opens the Mercosur Residence Agreement, signed in Brasilia on 6 December 2002. It gives nationals of participating states a temporary residence permit of up to two years in another participating state. The permit can become permanent if the holder applies within the 90 days before it expires and shows legal means of support.

The agreement is applied by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Note for investors. The agreement's own definition of a "national" covers people with nationality of origin, and naturalised citizens only once they have held that nationality for five years. A new investor-citizen should therefore not expect to use Mercosur residence rights immediately. Check the position with an adviser in the country concerned.

Argentine passport by investment: how you get one

People search for an “Argentine passport by investment”, but the programme does not sell passports. It leads to citizenship. The passport follows, through the same civil registry every Argentine uses.

Step 1: citizenship

The programme announced on 2 October 2026 sets a US$350,000 non-refundable contribution or a US$800,000 bond subscription, plus fixed amounts for family members (see what it costs). Applications are evaluated by the Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión, with the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones giving final approval. Applications open in Q4 2026.

The legal basis, DNU 366/2025, was declared unconstitutional by the Cámara Nacional Electoral on 30 June 2026. The government is appealing to the Supreme Court and says the decree remains in force meanwhile. Read our legal status page before you commit funds.

Step 2: the DNI

The passport application is built on the national identity document. Under the traditional naturalisation route, a new citizen takes the citizenship document (the carta de ciudadanía issued by a federal court) and foreign identity documents to RENAPER, the Registro Nacional de las Personas, to obtain a first Argentine DNI. Consulates abroad run the same procedure for naturalised citizens living in their area.

The government has not yet published what document investor-citizens will receive in place of a court-issued carta, or how it will connect to RENAPER. We expect the same two-stage logic: citizenship first, DNI second.

Step 3: the passport

With a valid DNI, an adult can apply for the passport at RENAPER offices in Argentina or at a consulate abroad. Naturalised citizens also present their citizenship document. Appointments are booked through the Mi Argentina platform or RENAPER’s website.

From 6 March 2026, RENAPER’s fees for an ordinary passport issued in Argentina were ARS 100,000 for the standard service, ARS 200,000 for express and ARS 330,000 for same-day delivery. Consular fees abroad are set separately, in US dollars.

Validity and design

  • Adults (18 and over): 10 years.
  • Minors (under 18): 5 years.
  • Format: biometric, with a contactless chip (since 2012). A redesign introduced on 1 February 2026 moved the photo page to polycarbonate and increased the booklet to 34 pages.
  • The DNI: the card itself is valid for 15 years for adults.

Children included in an investment application will need their own DNI and passport once citizenship is granted. The family guide covers which dependants qualify.

What the passport does not do

An Argentine passport is a travel and identity document. It does not on its own make you an Argentine tax resident; Argentina taxes people on residence, and investor-citizens are not treated as resident solely because they naturalised. It does not give rights to live or work in the EU. And it does not replace your current passport: Argentina allows dual nationality, but your home country may not. See our dual citizenship guide and, for how Argentina stacks up against other options, our programme comparison.

Travel rules, especially for the US, are changing. For decisions that depend on them, speak to a qualified adviser.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How many countries can Argentine passport holders visit without a visa?

About 170 destinations, counting visa-free entry, visa on arrival and electronic travel authorisations. Indices disagree on the exact figure because they count destinations differently; Henley's 2026 figures put Argentina at 168 or 169 depending on the edition.

Can Argentines travel to the United States without a visa?

No. Argentina is not in the US Visa Waiver Program, so a B1/B2 visa is required. Argentina has applied to rejoin and its government has said it hopes the waiver could operate from early 2027, but nothing has been granted as of 2 October 2026.

Do Argentines need a visa for Canada?

Yes, as a rule. The exception is air travel by people who have held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa; they can apply for an eTA instead.

Can I buy an Argentine passport by investment?

Strictly, no one buys a passport. The investment programme leads to Argentine citizenship; once you are a citizen you obtain a DNI from RENAPER and then apply for a passport like any other Argentine. The legal basis is under appeal at the Supreme Court.

How long is an Argentine passport valid?

Ten years for adults aged 18 and over, and five years for children under 18.

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