Key facts
- Announced in Paris on 2 October 2026 by Luis Caputo and Diego Santilli.
- Route I: US$350,000 non-refundable contribution. Route II: US$800,000 programme bond.
- Official family example: principal, spouse and two minors for US$500,000.
- Applications open in Q4 2026. Fees, processing times and the portal are not yet published.
- The legal basis, DNU 366/2025, is under a court challenge now before the Supreme Court.
Argentina has offered naturalisation through investment on paper since mid-2025. Until this week, nobody knew the price. The announcement in Paris filled in the headline numbers and the administrative structure. It did not answer every question an applicant or adviser will ask.
This briefing separates what the government confirmed from what was reported elsewhere, and from what is still unknown.
Who announced it, and where
The programme was presented by Minister of Economy Luis Caputo and Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli at “Argentina Week” in Paris on 2 October 2026. The official release carries a line from the government that sets the tone: “Argentina hoy es un faro de libertad e inversión en el mundo” (“Argentina today is a beacon of freedom and investment in the world”).
The choice of Paris matters. The pitch was aimed at international investors, not at a domestic audience. According to the Associated Press, Argentina faces about US$25 billion of foreign-currency debt payments in 2027, and the advisory consortium estimates the programme could raise up to US$2.5 billion. AP also describes it as South America’s first active citizenship by investment programme.
The two routes
| Route I: contribution | Route II: bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount (main applicant) | US$350,000 | US$800,000 |
| Refundable? | No | Principal expected back at maturity |
| Holding period | None | 7 years (reported by AP) |
| Interest | Not applicable | Zero (reported by Infobae) |
| Source | Official release | Official release, plus press reports for terms |
The contribution is a direct, non-refundable payment to the National Treasury. The bond is a public bond created specifically for the programme. The official release does not give its maturity, redemption mechanics or transfer rules. The seven-year hold and the zero interest rate come from press reports, not from the government text.
We analyse the choice in detail in contribution vs bond and run the numbers in the true cost of a zero-interest bond.
Family pricing
The release sets separate amounts for dependants:
- Spouse: US$100,000.
- Children aged 18–25 who are single and have no children of their own: US$100,000 each.
- Children under 18: US$25,000 each.
The government’s own example is a principal applicant, a spouse and two minor children for US$500,000 in total (US$350,000 + US$100,000 + 2 × US$25,000). That example uses the contribution route.
The release does not say how family members are priced on the bond route. One Mexican outlet reported a higher figure for couples, but no official source confirms it. Our family guide explains the age bands and what “single” may mean in practice.
Who runs it
The structure has three layers:
- The Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión (Citizenship by Investment Programmes Agency) evaluates applications. Decreto 524/2025 set it up as a decentralised body under the Ministry of Economy.
- Partner agencies take part in the checks: SIDE (the State Intelligence Secretariat), the UIF (the Financial Intelligence Unit), the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of the Interior. Decreto 524/2025 also lists RENAPER and the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia, the national criminal-records registry.
- The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (National Directorate of Migration) gives final approval. Under Decreto 524/2025 it must decide within 30 business days of the Agency’s report.
Due diligence
The release lists six areas of review: identity verification, the traceability and legality of funds, financial and asset analysis, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational background, and migration history. It says the standard is aligned with the OECD and the FATF (GAFI). All money must move through the formal financial system.
That last point rules out cash, informal transfers and unexplained intermediaries. For what each agency is likely to look for, see how Argentina will vet applicants. For document preparation, see our source of funds guide.
Timing
The government says applications open in the fourth quarter of 2026, which means by 31 December 2026 if the schedule holds. No specific date was given.
What is still unknown
As of 2 October 2026, the government had not published:
- Government application or due diligence fees.
- A processing time from submission to decision (only the 30-business-day window for Migraciones after the Agency’s report).
- The application portal, or whether applicants must use licensed agents.
- The bond’s maturity date, redemption mechanics and transferability.
- Any residence or physical-presence obligations after the grant.
- Family pricing on the bond route.
We track these items on our news page as the regulations appear.
The legal question
The announcement does not change the legal position. The programme rests on DNU 366/2025, an emergency decree that amended the citizenship law (Ley 346). Two courts have ruled against it. On 18 June 2026 Chamber III of the federal civil and commercial appeals court (the Volosh case) struck down the parts that give citizenship decisions to Migraciones. On 30 June 2026 the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared the decree unconstitutional. The electoral court reasoned that citizenship is linked to political rights, and that the Constitution bars emergency decrees on electoral matters.
The government is appealing to the Supreme Court and says the decree remains in effect while the ruling is not final. No Supreme Court decision had been found as of 2 October 2026, and Congress has not passed a law for the programme. Read our full legal status briefing before you commit funds.
There is also political opposition. Deputy Agustín Rossi has said he plans a bill to ban the programme.
What it means for you
For most families, the practical message is to prepare, not to pay. The documents that a due diligence team needs take weeks or months to assemble. The legal and regulatory gaps may close before the first application is filed. For the full price picture, see our cost guide. For background on how the programme got here, see our dated timeline.
If you want to discuss your own position, you can request a private briefing.
Sources
- Government of Argentina, official release (2 October 2026): https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/luis-caputo-anuncio-la-puesta-en-marcha-del-programa-de-ciudadania-por-inversion-de
- Palabras del Derecho, on Decreto 524/2025: https://www.palabrasdelderecho.com.ar/articulo/6125/El-Gobierno-reglamento-el-acceso-a-la-ciudadania-de-extranjeros-que-realicen-grandes-inversiones
- Associated Press via ABC News: https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/debt-saddled-argentina-pitches-golden-passport-scheme-woo-136953269
- Infobae (2 October 2026): https://www.infobae.com/economia/2026/10/02/el-gobierno-lanzo-en-paris-un-programa-para-que-extranjeros-puedan-obtener-ciudadania-y-pasaporte-mediante-inversiones-cuanto-cuesta/
- Perfil, on the Cámara Nacional Electoral ruling: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/judiciales/la-camara-nacional-electoral-anulo-el-dnu-de-milei-sobre-ciudadania-y-migraciones-el-fallo-considero-la-medida-inconstitucional.phtml
- La Nación, on the government’s appeal: https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/el-gobierno-ira-a-la-corte-en-un-intento-por-mantener-en-manos-de-migraciones-la-entrega-de-las-nid01072026/
- Urgente24, on the proposed ban bill: https://urgente24.com/actualidad/ciudadania-venta-la-alternativa-milei-para-la-extranjerizacion-tierras-n633976