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Pakistanis and Argentine citizenship: check the list before you apply

Pakistan allows dual nationality only with 22 named countries, and Argentina is not one of them. For most applicants, the funding route and the nationality question matter more than the passport.

Updated 8 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.
  • Argentina is not on Pakistan's list of 22 dual-nationality countries.
  • Investment abroad by resident individuals generally needs State Bank of Pakistan permission.
  • The FATF removed Pakistan from its grey list in October 2022.
  • The travel gain is the largest in this series: from 29 destinations to 169.

The Argentine passport would be a very large upgrade for a Pakistani national. But the nationality question comes first. Pakistan permits dual nationality only with a defined group of countries, and Argentina is not in that group. The funding route also needs care, because State Bank of Pakistan rules limit how residents invest abroad.

This guide covers those Pakistan-specific points. 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.

Pakistan’s dual-nationality list

Under the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951, Pakistanis may hold dual nationality only with countries that Pakistan has listed. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports lists 22:

UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Switzerland, Netherlands, USA, Sweden, Ireland, Bahrain, Denmark, Germany (with conditions), Norway and Luxembourg.

Argentina is not on the list. The Act provides for loss of Pakistani citizenship when a citizen acquires the nationality of a country outside it. Courts have discussed whether that loss is automatic, so the exact effect in your case needs a Pakistani lawyer’s opinion. Do not assume you can keep both.

Pakistan also has a formal renunciation process. You file Form “X” through a Pakistani mission, and citizenship ends when the Directorate registers it. Former Pakistanis may be eligible for a Pakistan Origin Card; confirm the current rules with NADRA.

Argentina itself allows dual nationality and does not ask you to renounce. See our dual citizenship guide.

A note for existing dual nationals. Some applicants already hold a listed second nationality, such as British or Canadian. That does not protect a further nationality. The test is whether Argentina is on the list, and it is not.

Mobility: the largest gain in this series

The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index places the Pakistani passport 102nd, with 29 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations. The Argentine passport ranks 16th, with 169.

Destination Pakistani passport Argentine passport
Schengen Area Visa required 90 days in 180
United Kingdom Visa required ETA (£20)
Japan Visa required 90 days visa-free
United States Visa required Visa required (B1/B2)
Canada Visa required Visa required (eTA if you hold a valid US visa)
Argentina Consular visa required Citizen

The US and Canada remain visa countries. Argentina is not in the US Visa Waiver Program. For Canada, an eTA is possible only if you hold a Canadian visa from the last ten years or a valid US non-immigrant visa.

In South America, the Argentine identity card (DNI) is accepted as a travel document in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Mercosur residence rights come later: Article 2 of the Agreement covers naturalised nationals only after five years of Argentine nationality. More in our passport guide.

Moving the money: State Bank of Pakistan rules

All programme funds must move through the formal financial system, and Argentina checks their traceability and legality. For Pakistani residents, the State Bank of Pakistan’s Foreign Exchange Manual sets the limits. Based on the most recent versions we could access:

  • Investment abroad needs permission. Banks may remit without SBP approval only up to US$25,000 per calendar year per resident individual, and only for listed foreign shares. Other investment abroad needs SBP permission. The US$800,000 bond route would therefore need approval.
  • Foreign currency accounts. Funds in a foreign currency account are free from foreign-exchange restrictions and can be remitted to any country for any purpose. However, these accounts cannot be funded with foreign currency bought in Pakistan. The money must come from abroad.
  • Roshan Digital Accounts. Non-residents can open them, and so can residents who have declared their foreign assets to the FBR. Remittances abroad from them need no prior approval.

In practice, most Pakistani applicants will fund the contribution from wealth already held abroad, such as earnings in the Gulf, the UK or North America. A clean record of how that money was earned and declared is essential.

SBP rules change, and the SBP website was not directly accessible during our research. Confirm the current position with your bank before you act.

Tax and reporting at home

Under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, you are resident in Pakistan if you are present for 183 days or more in a tax year. A citizen can also be resident if they are not present in any other country for more than 182 days, or are not tax resident elsewhere.

Residents are taxed on Pakistan-source and foreign-source income. Your wealth statement must include foreign assets. A separate foreign income and assets statement is required if foreign income is US$10,000 or more, or foreign assets are US$100,000 or more. An Argentine bond would be a reportable asset.

In Argentina, naturalisation through investment does not by itself make you an Argentine tax resident. Speak to a qualified tax adviser in both countries.

Due diligence and documents

The FATF removed Pakistan from its grey list on 21 October 2022, and Pakistan was not on the June 2026 list. Argentina will still weigh jurisdictional risk alongside identity, funds, assets, criminal and reputational background, and migration history, to OECD and FATF standards. Expect detailed questions on the origin of wealth.

Apostilles. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Pakistan on 9 March 2023. Argentina has been a party since 1988. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues apostilles in Islamabad and at liaison offices in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Gujrat. Online registration has been mandatory since 27 July 2026.

Translation. All documents need certified Spanish translations, including Urdu ones. The Agency had not published its document rules as of 2 October 2026.

Is it right for you?

It may suit you if:

  • You already live abroad, and your wealth is held and declared outside Pakistan.
  • You have taken legal advice and accept the likely loss of Pakistani citizenship.
  • You want visa-free access to Europe and Japan.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • Keeping Pakistani citizenship matters to you.
  • Your funds are in Pakistan and would need SBP permission you are unlikely to get.
  • Your main aim is easier access to the US or Canada.

For a confidential review, request a private briefing.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep Pakistani citizenship if I become Argentine?

Probably not. Pakistan allows dual nationality only with the countries on its official list, and Argentina is not on it. Take advice from a Pakistani lawyer on how the Citizenship Act 1951 would apply to you.

Is Pakistan on the FATF grey list?

No. The FATF removed Pakistan from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring on 21 October 2022, and it was not on the list published in June 2026.

Can I send the contribution from Pakistan?

Only within State Bank of Pakistan rules. Investment abroad by resident individuals generally needs SBP permission, while funds in a foreign currency account that came from abroad can be remitted freely. Confirm the current rules with your bank.

Can Pakistani documents be apostilled?

Yes. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Pakistan on 9 March 2023. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues apostilles, and online registration has been mandatory since 27 July 2026.

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