Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
Almaty city at dusk with the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains behind
  1. Home
  2. Insights
  3. For Kazakhstani citizens

By Nationality

Kazakhstanis and Argentine citizenship: a clean break

Kazakhstan does not recognise a second citizenship and enforces the rule at its borders. For a Kazakhstani family, Argentina's programme means giving up the Kazakhstani passport, and passing some of the closest due diligence in the region.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Kazakhstan does not recognise dual citizenship (Constitution, Art. 10(3)). Taking Argentine citizenship means losing Kazakhstani citizenship.
  • Penalties: a fine of up to 300 MCI or administrative expulsion. The Border Service detected 1,190 dual citizens in 2024.
  • Travel gain: Kazakhstani passport 77 destinations (#66), Argentine passport 169 (#16) in the Henley Passport Index, July 2026.
  • Kazakhstan is not on the FATF lists. Expect close checks on links to Russia and on wealth from the pre-2022 era.
  • Cost: US$350,000 non-refundable, or a US$800,000 bond. Applications open in Q4 2026.

Kazakhstan has one of the firmest single-citizenship rules in the former Soviet space, and it enforces the rule. For Kazakhstani families, Argentina citizenship by investment is therefore a choice between passports, not an addition.

This guide sets out that trade-off and the compliance questions that Kazakhstani applicants are likely to face. It is not legal advice.

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. We have not found a Supreme Court decision as of 10 October 2026. Read our legal status page before you commit funds.

Kazakhstani law: no second citizenship

Article 10(3) of the Constitution and Article 3 of the Law on Citizenship provide that a citizen of Kazakhstan is not recognised as a citizen of another state. Acquiring another state’s citizenship is a direct ground for losing Kazakhstani citizenship.

The rule is enforced:

  • Penalties. Holding dual citizenship is an administrative offence. The penalty is a fine of up to 300 monthly calculation indices (MCI), which the Times of Central Asia put at about US$2,200 in September 2025, or administrative expulsion.
  • Detection. The Border Service of the National Security Committee (KNB) identified 1,190 dual citizens at the border in 2024, and 91 in January 2025 alone.
  • Outcomes. In 2024 the Interior Ministry held 675 people liable. Of these, 526 paid fines and 149 were expelled. Most held Russian citizenship.
  • A tougher proposal. In September 2025 a Mazhilis deputy proposed criminal liability for dual citizenship. The Interior Minister said the ministry would apply any new rules that parliament adopts. We found no evidence that the proposal had become law as of 10 October 2026.

The practical lesson is simple. Once you are Argentine, do not use a Kazakhstani passport or identity card. Start the formal procedure to end Kazakhstani citizenship, and keep the evidence. Argentina allows dual nationality and does not ask you to renounce anything. The restriction comes only from Kazakhstan. See our dual citizenship guide.

What you give up

As a foreigner, you lose the rights that depend on Kazakhstani citizenship, including the vote. You will need to check how the change affects any land, licences, state contracts or regulated roles you hold. Henley lists Kazakhstan as visa-free for Argentine passport holders, so short visits remain simple. A long stay will need a residence permit.

The mobility gain

The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index ranks the Kazakhstani passport 66th, with 77 destinations. The Argentine passport ranks 16th, with 169.

Destination Kazakhstani passport Argentine passport
Schengen Area Visa required 90 days in 180
United Kingdom Visa required ETA (£20)
Japan Visa required 90 days visa-free
Mexico, Chile Visa required Visa-free
China Visa-free 30 days visa-free (to 31 Dec 2026)
UAE Visa-free Visa-free
United States Visa required Visa required (B1/B2)
Canada Visa required Visa required (eTA if you hold a valid US visa)

Europe, the UK and Japan are the real gains. Kazakhstanis already travel visa-free to China and the UAE. Argentina is not in the US Visa Waiver Program. Mercosur residence rights come only after five years of Argentine nationality. See our passport guide.

Due diligence: what to expect

Argentina’s checks cover identity, the traceability and legality of funds, financial and asset analysis, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational background, and migration history. SIDE, the UIF and two ministries take part. For Kazakhstani applicants, two themes are likely.

Links to Russia. Kazakhstan is not on the FATF grey list or black list after the June 2026 plenary. But it shares a long border and deep trade ties with Russia, and Western sanctions on Russia make banks cautious about Russia-linked payments. Even legitimate Kazakhstani businesses face sanctions-compliance questions, as the debate in 2026 over Kazakhstani and Russian oil shows. Expect questions on Russian counterparties, Russian bank accounts and any Russian residence permits. If you or your companies have any sanctions exposure, take specialist advice before you engage an agent. Our guide for Russian citizens covers the sanctions issues in more detail.

Wealth from the past. Kazakhstan’s 2023 law on the return of illegally acquired assets created a voluntary-return mechanism aimed at holders of very large fortunes. Official figures reported by the Times of Central Asia show more than 1 trillion tenge returned by March 2026. The law also reaches property abroad. Argentina’s reviewers will know this. If your family’s wealth dates from before 2022, or has links to former officials, prepare a clear explanation of how it was built and show that it is not subject to any claim.

Politically exposed persons, and their relatives and close associates, should expect enhanced checks. See our due diligence guide.

Funding the investment

All funds must move through the formal financial system. A transfer from a Kazakhstani bank to Argentina will pass through correspondent banks, usually in US dollars. Those banks run their own sanctions and anti-money-laundering screening, and they can delay or return a payment that raises questions.

To reduce that risk:

  • Pay from an account in your own name with a long, documented history.
  • Prepare the source documents before you transfer: company accounts, dividend records, sale contracts and tax filings.
  • Ask your bank which currency-control and reporting documents it needs for a large transfer abroad.
  • Avoid routing funds through third parties or jurisdictions with no link to your business.

Our source of funds guide explains what reviewers look for.

Documents and tax

Apostilles. Kazakhstan has applied the Hague Apostille Convention since 30 January 2001, and Argentina since 1988. Kazakhstani civil-registry records and police certificates can be apostilled. All documents need certified Spanish translations.

Tax. Naturalisation through Argentina’s programme does not by itself make you an Argentine tax resident. The ordinary residence rules apply. If you continue to live in Kazakhstan as a foreigner, your tax position there depends on Kazakhstani residence rules. Speak to a qualified adviser in both countries.

Cost

The donation route is US$350,000 for the main applicant, plus US$100,000 for a spouse or for each single child aged 18–25 without children, and US$25,000 for each child under 18. A couple with two minors pays US$500,000. The bond route is US$800,000. Press reports say the bond is held for seven years at zero interest. See our cost guide.

Is it right for you?

It may suit you if:

  • You already live mainly outside Kazakhstan and accept the end of Kazakhstani citizenship.
  • You want visa-free access to Europe, the UK and Japan.
  • Your wealth is documented and has no Russian sanctions exposure.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • You want to keep a Kazakhstani passport “just in case”. The law does not allow it.
  • You hold land, licences or roles in Kazakhstan that depend on citizenship.
  • Your funds or counterparties have sanctions links, or the origin of your wealth would be hard to explain.

For a confidential assessment, request a private briefing.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep Kazakhstani citizenship if I become Argentine?

No. Article 10(3) of the Constitution and Article 3 of the Law on Citizenship provide that a citizen of Kazakhstan is not recognised as a citizen of another state. Acquiring another citizenship is a ground for losing Kazakhstani citizenship.

What are the penalties for holding two passports?

Holding dual citizenship is an administrative offence, punishable by a fine of up to 300 monthly calculation indices (MCI) or administrative expulsion. In 2024 the Interior Ministry held 675 people liable, and 149 of them were expelled.

Is Kazakhstan making dual citizenship a crime?

A member of the Mazhilis proposed criminal liability in September 2025. We found no evidence that it had become law as of 10 October 2026, but check the current position before you apply.

Can I still visit Kazakhstan as an Argentine?

The Henley Passport Index lists Kazakhstan as visa-free for Argentine passport holders. Enter on the Argentine passport only after your Kazakhstani citizenship has formally ended, and take advice on how long you may stay.

Can Kazakhstani documents be apostilled for Argentina?

Yes. Kazakhstan has applied the Hague Apostille Convention since 30 January 2001, and Argentina since 1988.

Next stepPrivate Briefing

Be first when the doors open.

Applications open in Q4 2026. Join the priority list for a confidential briefing, early access to the official regulations, and a file prepared before the first day.

  • Strictly confidential
  • No obligation
  • Response within one business day