Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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Canadians and Argentine citizenship: the fine print that matters

Canada lets you keep your citizenship, and Canada's own tax rules decide what you owe. The details that trip people up are a 180-day rule in Argentina and the paperwork at home.

Updated 7 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Cost: US$350,000 non-refundable contribution, or a US$800,000 government bond. A couple with two children under 18 starts at US$500,000.
  • Canada allows multiple citizenship. Return to Canada by air on your Canadian passport.
  • In Argentina, Canada's travel advice describes a 180-day limit on leaving with a Canadian passport.
  • Canadian tax follows residence. T1135 reporting and departure tax are the points to plan for.
  • Two Argentine appeal courts have ruled against the decree behind the programme. See legal status.

Canadians hold a passport that ranks among the world’s ten strongest. An Argentine passport will not widen your travel much. What it can offer is a second nationality in a large, temperate country in the southern hemisphere, a base in the Mercosur region over time, and a document that is independent of Canada.

This guide covers the Canadian-specific questions. For the programme itself, read our overview of Argentina citizenship by investment and the cost guide.

Note. Two Argentine appeal courts have ruled against DNU 366/2025, the decree that allows naturalisation through investment. On 18 June 2026 Chamber III of the federal civil and commercial appeals court struck down the parts that give citizenship decisions to Migraciones. On 30 June 2026 the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared the decree unconstitutional. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court and says the decree stays in effect until the ruling is final. Read our legal status page before you commit funds.

Dual citizenship: what Canada and Argentina expect

Canada allows you to hold multiple citizenships and keep your Canadian citizenship. Argentina also allows dual nationality, and a naturalised Argentine is not asked to renounce their original citizenship. See our dual citizenship guide for the Argentine detail.

The rules on documents are where Canadians need care:

  • Entering Canada. You need a valid Canadian passport to return to Canada by air.
  • Leaving Argentina. Global Affairs Canada’s advice for Argentina says dual citizens may leave Argentina on a Canadian passport only within 180 days of entering on it. After that, they must leave on an Argentine passport.

In practice, a new Argentine citizen who spends long periods in Argentina should get the Argentine passport and national identity card (DNI) early.

Mobility: where the Argentine passport adds something

The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index places the Canadian passport 7th, with 183 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations. The Argentine passport ranks 16th, with 169. The overlap is large, and the gains are specific.

Destination Canadian passport Argentine passport
Brazil Tourist visa required No visa; entry with Argentine ID card
Mainland China 30 days visa-free (17 Feb – 31 Dec 2026) 30 days visa-free until 31 Dec 2026
United States No visa for most visits B1/B2 visa required
Canada Home country Visa required (eTA only in limited cases)
Schengen Area 90 days in 180 90 days in 180

Brazil is the clearest gain. Canada’s travel advice and Brazil’s own visa table both list Canadians as needing a visa. Argentines enter Brazil with their identity card.

There is also a family point. An Argentine-only spouse or child would need a Canadian visitor visa, or an eTA if they held a Canadian visa in the last ten years or a valid US non-immigrant visa.

Over the longer term, the Mercosur Residence Agreement gives two-year temporary residence in member states such as Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. Article 2 covers naturalised nationals only after five years of Argentine nationality, so this is not an immediate benefit. In the meantime, the Argentine DNI works as a travel document in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. More in our passport guide.

Canadian tax and reporting

Canada taxes residents on their worldwide income. Nationality is not the test, so becoming Argentine changes nothing while you remain a Canadian resident.

Three points deserve attention:

  • Form T1135. You must file if the total cost amount of your specified foreign property exceeds C$100,000 at any time in the year. Simplified reporting applies below C$250,000. A US$800,000 Argentine bond will almost certainly put you above both thresholds. Ask your adviser how to report it.
  • Departure tax. If you later move to Argentina and cease Canadian residence, you are deemed to dispose of certain property at fair market value. Some assets are exempt, such as Canadian real estate and RRSPs.
  • The tax treaty. The Canada–Argentina tax convention was signed on 29 April 1993 and entered into force on 30 December 1994.

On the Argentine side, people naturalised through investment are not Argentine tax residents only because of their nationality. A foreigner who moves to Argentina for reasons other than work generally becomes resident from the 13th month.

Do not assume the US$350,000 contribution is deductible or creditable in Canada. Speak to a qualified Canadian tax adviser before you pay.

Due diligence, documents and banking

Argentina’s checks cover identity, the traceability and legality of funds, financial and asset analysis, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational background, and migration history. They follow OECD and FATF standards, and all funds must move through the formal financial system. Canada is not on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring.

Apostilles are new for Canadians. The Hague Apostille Convention entered into force for Canada on 11 January 2024. Before then, Canadian documents needed authentication and consular legalisation. Now:

  • Federal documents: Global Affairs Canada issues the apostille.
  • Provincial documents: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec issue apostilles for their own documents. Check the route for other provinces with Global Affairs Canada.

Criminal record. A certified criminal record check from the RCMP is fingerprint-based and goes through accredited fingerprinting companies. Allow time for it.

Translation. Budget for certified Spanish translations. French-language Quebec documents also need translating. The Agency had not published its document rules as of 2 October 2026.

Banking. Convert to US dollars at your bank and wire through the formal system. Keep a clear record of where the funds came from: sale agreements, investment statements and Notices of Assessment.

Is it right for you?

It may suit you if:

  • You winter in South America or plan a long-term second base there.
  • You want a nationality that is independent of Canada, for yourself or your children.
  • You can accept that Mercosur residence rights come only after five years.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • You want more visa-free travel. Your Canadian passport already gives it.
  • You expect a tax benefit. Canadian residence, not nationality, decides your tax.
  • You cannot wait for the Supreme Court to settle the decree’s status.

For a confidential review, request a private briefing.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep my Canadian citizenship if I become Argentine?

Yes. Canada allows multiple citizenships while you keep your Canadian citizenship. You must carry a valid Canadian passport to return to Canada by air.

Which passport should I use in Argentina as a dual national?

Canada's travel advice says Canadian-Argentine dual citizens may leave Argentina on a Canadian passport only within 180 days of entering on it. After that, they must leave on an Argentine passport.

Do I have to report the Argentine bond to the CRA?

Probably. Form T1135 applies when the total cost of your specified foreign property exceeds C$100,000 at any time in the year. Confirm with your adviser how the bond is classified.

Will Argentine citizenship change my Canadian tax?

No. Canada taxes on residence, not nationality. Departure tax applies only if you stop being a Canadian resident, and the Canada–Argentina tax convention has been in force since 1994.

Are Canadian documents now apostilled?

Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Canada on 11 January 2024. Global Affairs Canada handles federal documents, and some provinces issue apostilles for their own documents.

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