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Argentina citizenship for Saudi citizens: permission comes first

An Argentine passport would open Europe and Japan to a Saudi family. But Saudi nationality law puts a permission step in front of any second nationality, and the risk falls hardest on children.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Saudi law prohibits acquiring a foreign nationality without the Prime Minister's prior permission (Saudi Arabian Citizenship System, Art. 11).
  • Acting without permission exposes you to withdrawal of Saudi nationality by decree (Art. 13). Minor children can lose Saudi nationality with their father (Art. 12).
  • Travel gain: Saudi passport 90 destinations (#57), Argentine passport 169 (#16) in the Henley Passport Index, July 2026.
  • Saudi Arabia is a full FATF member and is not on any FATF list. It has applied the Apostille Convention since 7 December 2022.
  • Cost: US$350,000 non-refundable, or a US$800,000 bond. Applications open in Q4 2026.

For most Saudi families, money is not the obstacle to Argentina citizenship by investment. The obstacle is a single article of the Saudi Arabian Citizenship System. Unless you have prior permission, taking a second nationality puts your Saudi nationality, and possibly your children’s, at the discretion of the state.

This guide covers the Saudi-specific questions. It is not legal advice. A Saudi lawyer should review your position before you file anything.

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.

Saudi nationality law: the permission rule

The Saudi Arabian Citizenship System dates from 1954 (1374 AH) and has been amended several times since. Three articles matter for an Argentine application:

  • Article 11. A Saudi may not acquire a foreign nationality without the prior permission of the Prime Minister.
  • Article 13. The government may withdraw Saudi nationality by decree from a person who acquired another nationality in breach of Article 11. The same article covers service in a foreign army without permission. The person must be warned at least three months before the decree.
  • Article 12. Where a Saudi father takes a new nationality, his minor children lose Saudi nationality if they also acquire it. They can restore Saudi nationality within one year of reaching adulthood. A wife does not lose Saudi nationality automatically.

Without permission, the new nationality does not by itself end your Saudi nationality. Saudi Arabia continues to treat you as Saudi, and the risk is a later withdrawal decree. A 2022 study for the Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) notes that some prominent Saudis are known to hold a second nationality, which suggests that enforcement is uneven. “Uneven” is not a basis for planning. A withdrawal decision can also bring other consequences under the law, so treat Article 11 as a firm rule.

Argentina, for its part, allows dual and multiple nationality, and it does not ask new citizens to renounce their original nationality. The restriction comes only from Saudi law. See our dual citizenship guide.

What this means for your family

The family route is one of the programme’s main features: US$100,000 for a spouse and US$25,000 for each child under 18. For a Saudi family, Article 12 changes the calculation. Including a minor child could cost that child Saudi nationality until adulthood, even if the father has permission.

Some families may therefore prefer to apply for the principal alone, or to wait until children are adults. Ask your Saudi lawyer before you decide. Our family guide covers the Argentine side of the rules.

The mobility gain

The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index ranks the Saudi passport 57th, with 90 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations. The Argentine passport ranks 16th, with 169.

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

The main gains are Europe, Japan and Latin America. Some gains are smaller than they look. Saudi citizens already use the UK’s ETA system, and Argentina is not in the US Visa Waiver Program. Mercosur residence rights come later: the Agreement covers naturalised nationals only after five years of Argentine nationality. See our passport guide.

Funding the investment

For most Saudi applicants, the funding question is documentation, not access to dollars. The riyal has been held at 3.75 to the US dollar for decades, and the payment is in dollars. Saudi Arabia has no individual income tax scheme, according to PwC, so you will not have personal tax returns to show the origin of income. Plan for that gap.

Argentina’s checks cover identity, the traceability and legality of funds, financial and asset analysis, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational background, and migration history. All funds must move through the formal financial system. In practice, a Saudi file is likely to rely on:

  • company accounts, dividend records and audited statements for family businesses;
  • title deeds and sale contracts for property;
  • inheritance documents, including court deeds of inheritance where relevant;
  • bank statements that follow the money from its source to the outgoing transfer.

Gifts within a family are common in the Gulf. If a parent or sibling funds the investment, the file must show the gift and the donor’s own source of wealth. Our source of funds guide and due diligence guide explain what reviewers look for.

FATF status and documents

Saudi Arabia is a full member of the FATF. It is not on the grey list or the black list after the June 2026 plenary. Jurisdictional risk is therefore not a special obstacle for Saudi-resident applicants. Politically exposed persons, and families with links to state entities, should still expect closer questions about their wealth.

Apostilles. Saudi Arabia acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, which entered into force for the Kingdom on 7 December 2022. Argentina has been a party since 1988. Saudi birth, marriage and police records can therefore be apostilled instead of going through consular legalisation. All documents also need certified Spanish translations. The Agency had not published its document list as of 10 October 2026.

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 Saudi Arabia, Argentina’s tests are not met. See our guide to tax residency and CBI, and 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. The official example, a couple with two minors, is US$500,000. The bond route is US$800,000. Press reports say the bond is held for seven years at zero interest. Government fees and processing times are not yet published. See our cost guide.

Is it right for you?

It may suit you if:

  • You have obtained, or can realistically obtain, prior permission under Article 11.
  • You travel often to Europe or Latin America and want to avoid visa applications.
  • Your wealth is well documented through companies, property and bank records.

It is probably not right for you if:

  • You plan to apply without permission and hope the issue never arises.
  • Your plan depends on adding minor children and keeping their Saudi nationality.
  • You mainly want visa-free access to the United States or Canada.

For a confidential assessment, request a private briefing.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can a Saudi citizen hold Argentine citizenship?

Only safely with prior permission. Article 11 of the Saudi Arabian Citizenship System prohibits a Saudi from acquiring a foreign nationality without the prior permission of the Prime Minister. Argentina itself does not ask you to give up Saudi nationality.

What happens if I become Argentine without permission?

Saudi Arabia continues to treat you as a Saudi national, but Article 13 allows the government to withdraw Saudi nationality by decree from a person who acquired another nationality in breach of Article 11. The law requires a warning at least three months before such a decree.

Are my children affected?

Yes. Under Article 12, minor children lose Saudi nationality if they acquire the new nationality that their father has obtained, although they can restore it within one year of reaching adulthood. Take advice before you include minors in an application.

Can Saudi documents be apostilled for Argentina?

Yes. Saudi Arabia acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, and it entered into force for the Kingdom on 7 December 2022. Argentina has been a party since 1988, so Saudi public documents can be apostilled instead of legalised.

Does the Argentine passport give visa-free entry to the United States?

No. Argentina is not in the US Visa Waiver Program, so a B1/B2 visa is still required. The main gains for a Saudi passport holder are the Schengen Area, Japan, Ireland and much of Latin America.

Next stepPrivate Briefing

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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.

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