Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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Israelis and the Argentine passport: a different map, not a bigger one

Israeli and Argentine passports reach almost the same number of countries, but not the same countries. For an Israeli family, the value lies in the gaps, and in a second home with deep Jewish roots.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Israel permits dual nationality. No permission or notice is needed, but you must still use your Israeli passport to enter and leave Israel.
  • Almost no change in reach: Israel 167 destinations (#17), Argentina 169 (#16) in the Henley Passport Index, July 2026.
  • The Argentine passport is weaker for the US and Canada, but it gives easier entry to about 17 places where the Israeli passport needs a visa or is refused, such as China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar and the Maldives.
  • No Israel–Argentina tax treaty is in force.
  • Cost: US$350,000 non-refundable, or a US$800,000 bond. The legal basis is before the Supreme Court. See legal status.

Israeli clients seldom ask whether a second passport is useful. Many families already hold one through a parent or grandparent from Europe or the Americas. The question is what an Argentine passport adds that an Israeli or European one does not.

The honest answer is narrower than the marketing suggests, and in some places more interesting. This guide covers the points that are specific to Israeli citizens. For the programme itself, read 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.

What Israeli law says about a second nationality

Israel accepts dual nationality. Section 14 of the Nationality Law 5712-1952 asks for renunciation only from foreigners who naturalise in Israel. An Israeli who takes a foreign nationality keeps Israeli citizenship. There is no form to file before or after.

The same section adds an important rule: a dual national is treated as an Israeli national for all purposes of Israeli law. In practice, Argentine citizenship changes none of your obligations in Israel. Two consequences follow:

  • Travel through Israel’s borders. Israeli citizens are required to enter and leave Israel on an Israeli passport. Keep your Israeli passport valid at all times.
  • Public office. Under section 16A of Basic Law: The Knesset, a member who holds a foreign citizenship cannot make the declaration of allegiance until they have done everything required to be released from it. Basic Law: The Government applies a similar rule to ministers. If you or a child may enter national politics, factor this in.

Argentina, for its part, allows dual and multiple nationality and does not ask naturalised citizens to give up their original one. Our dual citizenship guide covers the Argentine side.

Mobility: two passports, two maps

On the headline count, there is nothing to choose between the two documents. The July 2026 Henley Passport Index places Israel 17th with 167 destinations and Argentina 16th with 169. The detail matters more than the totals.

Destination Israeli passport Argentine passport
United States ESTA (Visa Waiver Program since 2023) B1/B2 visa required
Canada eTA Visa, or eTA if you hold a US visa or a recent Canadian visa
Schengen Area 90 days in 180 90 days in 180
United Kingdom ETA ETA
Mainland China Visa required 30 days visa-free until 31 Dec 2026
Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives Restricted or refused Visa-free or visa on arrival
Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Egypt Visa required or refused Visa-free or simplified entry
Henley index, July 2026 167 destinations (#17) 169 destinations (#16)

Two points stand out. First, the Argentine passport is the weaker document for North America. Israel joined the US Visa Waiver Program in the autumn of 2023, and Israelis have applied for ESTAs since 19 October 2023. Argentina left the programme in 2002 and has no date to return. See our note on Argentina and the US Visa Waiver Program.

Second, the gains are concentrated in Asia and the Muslim-majority world. Henley’s data show the Argentine passport giving easier entry to about 17 destinations where the Israeli passport needs a visa or is not accepted. They include China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco, Tunisia and the Maldives, which banned Israeli passport holders in April 2025. For an executive with suppliers in Shenzhen or Kuala Lumpur, that is a practical difference.

Some clients also value a passport that does not identify them as Israeli at a hotel desk or in a transit hall. That is a legitimate reason to hold a second nationality. But it is not a guarantee of anonymity, and you must still follow each country’s entry rules and your own government’s travel advice. Our guide to the Argentine passport in Asia, Europe and the Gulf has more detail.

Argentina as a second home

Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America, roughly 173,000 people according to the World Jewish Congress. Buenos Aires has synagogues, schools, kosher restaurants and community institutions across several neighbourhoods. For an Israeli family, that makes a move far less isolating than it would be in many other CBI countries.

Relations between the governments are also close at present. Argentina designated Hamas a terrorist organisation on 12 July 2024. Political alignment can change with elections, so treat it as context, not as a reason to apply.

A longer-term benefit is regional. The Mercosur Residence Agreement gives Argentine nationals temporary residence in most South American countries, but it covers naturalised citizens only after five years of Argentine nationality. Our page on Mercosur residence rights explains the wait.

Tax, banking and moving funds

Israel taxes residents on their worldwide income. Residence follows the “centre of life” test, with a presumption of residence if you spend 183 days or more in Israel in a tax year. A new nationality does not change your Israeli tax position.

If you later leave Israel, plan for the exit rules. Under Israeli law, assets are generally deemed sold one day before you cease to be resident, although payment can usually wait until the actual sale. There is no double taxation treaty between Israel and Argentina, so relief would depend on each country’s domestic foreign tax credit rules.

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. Our article on tax residence and CBI explains the line.

Israel ended foreign-currency control at the start of 2003, so there is no legal barrier to sending dollars abroad. The practical barrier is compliance. A US$350,000 payment to a foreign treasury will draw questions from your Israeli bank and from Argentina. Prepare the paper trail before you instruct the transfer: sale agreements, dividend records, tax assessments and bank statements. See our source of funds guide.

Due diligence and documents

  • 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.
  • FATF. Israel has been a full FATF member since December 2018 and is not on the grey list after the June 2026 plenary.
  • Apostille. The Hague Apostille Convention has applied in Israel since 14 August 1978 and in Argentina since 1988. In Israel, apostilles are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the registrars of the Magistrates’ Courts.
  • Translation. Hebrew documents will need certified Spanish translations. The Agency had not published its document rules as of 10 October 2026, so confirm the format with Argentine counsel.

Cost for an Israeli family

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 the bond 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 do business in China, South-East Asia or the Gulf and lose time to visas on your Israeli passport.
  • You want a second country of residence with an established Jewish community.
  • Your family has no other foreign nationality, and you want a fallback that does not depend on one government.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • North America is your main destination. Your Israeli passport is already better there.
  • You already hold an EU passport. That covers most of the same ground, and more.
  • 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

Does Israel allow me to hold Argentine citizenship?

Yes. Israeli law accepts dual nationality, and a dual national is treated as an Israeli national for all purposes of Israeli law. Argentina also does not ask you to renounce your Israeli citizenship.

Can I enter Israel on my Argentine passport?

As a rule, no. Israeli citizens are required to enter and leave Israel on an Israeli passport. Use the Argentine passport for other journeys.

Is the Argentine passport better than the Israeli one for the United States?

No. Israel has been in the US Visa Waiver Program since 2023, so Israelis travel with an ESTA. Argentines still need a B1/B2 visa, and Argentina's return to the programme has no confirmed date.

Could dual nationality affect a political career in Israel?

Yes. Under the Basic Laws, a Knesset member or minister who holds a foreign citizenship must take all steps needed to be released from it before taking office.

Is there a tax treaty between Israel and Argentina?

No double taxation treaty is in force between the two countries. If you plan to move, speak to a qualified adviser in both countries about residence and foreign tax credits.

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