Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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Colombians and Argentina: a real upgrade, and a cheaper alternative

For a Colombian, an Argentine passport opens the UK, Japan, China and Ireland without a visa queue. But Colombians can already live in Argentina under Mercosur rules, which makes the investment route a question of speed, not access.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Colombia allows dual nationality: Colombians by birth do not lose their nationality by acquiring another (Constitution, Art. 96).
  • Henley Passport Index, July 2026: Colombia 130 destinations (#38), Argentina 169 (#16). The gain includes the UK, Ireland, Japan, China and New Zealand.
  • Colombians already qualify for Mercosur residence in Argentina, and ordinary naturalisation takes two years of residence.
  • Colombian tax residents must declare foreign assets above 2,000 UVT.
  • Cost: US$350,000 non-refundable, or a US$800,000 bond. The legal basis is before the Supreme Court. See legal status.

For a Colombian family, an Argentine passport is a genuine travel upgrade. That makes Colombia one of the few nationalities where the passport case is easy to make. It also makes it important to ask a second question: does the investment route fit your plans better than the residence route that Colombians already have?

This guide answers both. For the programme rules, see our overview of Argentina citizenship by investment and the cost guide.

Note. The investment route rests on DNU 366/2025. On 30 June 2026 the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared the decree unconstitutional, after a federal appeals chamber had struck down part of it on 18 June. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court and says the decree stays in force until the ruling is final. No Supreme Court decision had been reported by 10 October 2026. Read our legal status page before you commit funds.

Colombian law: you keep your nationality

Article 96 of the 1991 Constitution is clear. No Colombian by birth may be deprived of their nationality, and Colombian nationality is not lost by acquiring another. You do not need permission, and you do not need to notify anyone before you apply.

The main statute is now Ley 2332 de 2023, which repealed the old Ley 43 de 1993. Its Article 34 adds two duties for dual nationals:

  • Borders. You must always enter, stay in and leave Colombia as a Colombian.
  • Civil and political acts. In Colombia, you must identify yourself as a Colombian.

Article 40(7) of the Constitution lets the law restrict access to certain public offices for Colombians with dual nationality. Ley 2332 applies its express bars to naturalised Colombians, but if you or a child may seek senior public office, take advice from a Colombian lawyer first.

Argentina allows dual nationality and does not ask you to renounce Colombian citizenship. Our dual citizenship guide covers the Argentine side.

Mobility: where the Argentine passport helps

Destination Colombian passport Argentine passport
Schengen Area 90 days in 180 90 days in 180
United Kingdom Visa required ETA
Ireland Visa required (limited exemption for UK visa holders) Visa-free
Japan Visa required Visa-free, 90 days
Mainland China Visa required 30 days visa-free until 31 Dec 2026
New Zealand Visa required NZeTA
South Africa Visa required Visa-free
Canada Visa required Visa, or eTA if you hold a US visa or a recent Canadian visa
United States Visa required Visa required
Henley index, July 2026 130 destinations (#38) 169 destinations (#16)

Henley’s data show about 40 destinations where the Argentine passport gives easier entry than the Colombian one. For business travellers, the UK, Japan and China matter most. A Colombian executive who flies to London today needs a UK visa. On an Argentine passport, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is enough.

Canada is a smaller but real gain. Canada does not let Colombians apply for an eTA instead of a visa. Argentines who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, or who held a Canadian visa in the last ten years, can fly to Canada with an eTA.

The United States is the same on both passports: a B1/B2 visa is required. Argentina is working to rejoin the Visa Waiver Program, but there is no date. See Argentina and the US Visa Waiver Program.

Mercosur: you already have the key

Here Colombians differ from almost every other nationality we cover. Colombia is an associated state of Mercosur and applies the Mercosur Residence Agreement. Argentina’s own immigration service lists Colombian nationals as eligible for two-year temporary residence by nationality, which can later become permanent.

Two consequences follow:

  • The five-year Mercosur wait is less relevant to you. Naturalised Argentines can use the Agreement only after five years of Argentine nationality. As a Colombian, you can already use it in your own name. See Mercosur residence rights.
  • There is a cheaper route to an Argentine passport. Ordinary naturalisation under Ley 346 requires two continuous years of legal residence and an application to a federal judge. A Colombian with Mercosur residence who really lives in Argentina can follow that path for a fraction of US$350,000.

The investment route still has advantages. It does not require you to move or to spend two years in Argentina, and it covers the whole family in one application. Our comparison of naturalisation and investment sets out the trade-offs. If you are willing to live in Argentina, start there.

Tax and foreign-exchange rules in Colombia

Colombia taxes residents on their worldwide income. You are resident if you stay in Colombia for more than 183 days in any 365-day period. Article 10 of the Estatuto Tributario also treats Colombian nationals as resident in other cases, for example if their spouse or dependent minor children are resident, or if half or more of their income or assets are Colombian. An exception applies if half or more of their income or assets are in the country where they live.

A second passport changes none of this. It also creates reporting:

  • Foreign-assets declaration. Residents must declare foreign assets if their value on 1 January exceeds 2,000 UVT. The UVT for 2026 is COP 52,374, so the threshold is about COP 104.7 million. A US$800,000 bond would be well above it. A non-refundable contribution is a payment, not an asset, but ask your accountant how to record it.
  • Exchange regime. International payments from Colombia follow the Banco de la República’s exchange regime, set out in Resolución Externa 1 de 2018. Ask your bank in advance how it will channel and classify the payment.

On the Argentine side, naturalisation through investment does not by itself make you an Argentine tax resident. A foreigner who moves to Argentina for reasons other than work generally becomes resident from the 13th month. See tax residence and CBI, and speak to a qualified adviser in both countries.

Documents and due diligence

  • Apostille. The Hague Apostille Convention has applied in Colombia since 30 January 2001 and in Argentina since 1988. Colombian public documents can be apostilled rather than legalised.
  • FATF. Colombia is not on the FATF grey list after the June 2026 plenary.
  • Checks. Argentina’s Agency reviews identity, the traceability and legality of funds, assets, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational background, and migration history. SIDE, the UIF and the Ministries of Security and the Interior take part, and Migraciones gives final approval.
  • Source of wealth. All funds must move through the formal financial system. Tax returns, company accounts and sale contracts will carry more weight than bank statements alone. See our source of funds guide.
Family Donation route
Single applicant US$350,000
Couple US$450,000
Couple + 2 children under 18 (official example) US$500,000
Couple + 2 children aged 18–25 (single, no children) US$650,000

The bond route is US$800,000 for the main applicant; press reports say it is held for seven years and pays no interest. Government fees are not yet published.

Is it right for you?

It may suit you if:

  • You travel often to the UK, Ireland, Japan or China and lose time to visa applications.
  • You want an Argentine passport for the whole family now, without moving to Argentina for two years.
  • Your funds are well documented and you accept a legal basis that is still before the courts.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • The United States is your main destination. Both passports need a visa.
  • You are ready to live in Argentina. Mercosur residence and ordinary naturalisation cost much less.
  • You need legal certainty now. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled.

For a confidential view of your situation, request a private briefing. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose Colombian nationality if I become Argentine?

No. Article 96 of the Colombian Constitution says Colombians by birth cannot be deprived of their nationality and do not lose it by acquiring another. Ley 2332 de 2023 repeats the rule.

Which passport do I use to enter and leave Colombia?

Your Colombian documents. Ley 2332 de 2023 says a dual national must always enter, stay in and leave Colombia as a Colombian.

Does an Argentine passport let me visit the United States without a visa?

No. Both Colombians and Argentines need a B1/B2 visa for the United States. For Canada, an Argentine who holds a valid US visa can apply for an eTA, which a Colombian cannot.

Is there a cheaper way for a Colombian to become Argentine?

Often, yes. Colombians can obtain two-year Mercosur residence in Argentina, and ordinary naturalisation requires two continuous years of legal residence and an application to a federal judge. It is slower and requires real residence, but it costs far less than US$350,000.

Do I have to declare the Argentine bond in Colombia?

If you are a Colombian tax resident, foreign assets worth more than 2,000 UVT on 1 January must be declared. A US$800,000 bond would be well above that threshold, so ask your accountant how to report it.

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