Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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Argentina citizenship for Vietnamese investors

Few nationalities gain more in travel from an Argentine passport than the Vietnamese. The due-diligence and fund-transfer questions are also harder, and worth planning before anything else.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Travel gain is large: 48 destinations on a Vietnamese passport, 169 on an Argentine one (Henley, July 2026).
  • Vietnam applies a one-nationality principle but does not automatically remove citizenship from those who naturalise abroad.
  • Vietnam is on the FATF grey list (since June 2023, still listed after June 2026), so expect enhanced due diligence.
  • Vietnam's Apostille Convention membership took effect on 11 September 2026.
  • Cost: US$350,000 non-refundable, or a US$800,000 bond. Applications open in Q4 2026.

For a Vietnamese entrepreneur, a passport is often the main barrier to international business. Almost every trip to Europe, the UK, Japan or the Americas starts with a visa file. That is the context in which Argentina citizenship by investment is worth a serious look.

It is also a programme that applies the full weight of anti-money-laundering checks, and Vietnam’s current FATF status means those checks will be thorough. Plan for both.

Dual nationality under Vietnamese law

Vietnam’s Law on Vietnamese Nationality (2008, amended since) is built on a one-nationality principle. In practice, however, a Vietnamese citizen who acquires a foreign nationality does not automatically lose Vietnamese citizenship. Loss of nationality usually follows an approved application to renounce, or a deprivation decision by the state.

That leaves room for dual nationality, but with conditions you should check:

  • People who hold certain public offices may face stricter rules.
  • Inside Vietnam, you will normally be treated as Vietnamese.
  • Rules on property, inheritance and family registration can depend on how you present yourself to the Vietnamese authorities.

Argentina, for its part, allows dual and multiple nationality and does not ask naturalised citizens to renounce their original nationality. Our dual citizenship guide explains the Argentine rules. Take advice from a Vietnamese lawyer on your own case.

The mobility gain

Destination Vietnamese passport Argentine passport
Schengen Area Visa required Visa-free, 90/180 days
United Kingdom Visa required ETA
Japan Visa required Visa-free
Argentina itself Visa required (fast-track e-authorisation if you hold certain US visas) Citizen
United States Visa required Visa required
Canada Visa required Visa, or eTA if you hold a US visa or a recent Canadian visa
Henley Passport Index, July 2026 48 destinations (#88) 169 destinations (#16)

Argentines also have 30 days visa-free in China until 31 December 2026. The two gaps that remain are the United States, because Argentina is not in the Visa Waiver Program, and Canada. Our Argentine passport guide covers the full list.

FATF grey list: what it means for your file

The FATF placed Vietnam under increased monitoring in June 2023. After the June 2026 plenary, Vietnam was still on the list. Argentina’s official release says due diligence will cover jurisdictional risk alongside identity, the traceability and legality of funds, asset analysis, criminal and reputational background, and migration history, aligned with OECD and FATF standards.

In practice, prepare for:

  • a full, documented history of how your wealth was created, with company accounts, tax filings and sale contracts;
  • evidence that the funds were taxed where required in Vietnam;
  • clear explanations of any nominee or family holdings;
  • questions from correspondent banks as the transfer passes through them.

The State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of the Interior take part in the review, and Migraciones gives final approval. A well-prepared file is the best answer to a grey-list nationality.

Moving the funds out of Vietnam

All funds must move through the formal financial system. For Vietnamese residents, the outward transfer is a regulatory question in itself. We have not been able to confirm, as of 2 October 2026, how Vietnamese banks and the State Bank of Vietnam will classify a transfer to an Argentine government programme, or what supporting documents they will ask for.

Do not assume. Ask your bank and a Vietnamese lawyer early, before you sign anything with an agent, and never use informal or third-party channels. Funds that arrive by an unclear route will fail Argentina’s traceability check.

Tax

Vietnamese tax residents pay personal income tax on worldwide income, with a top rate on employment income of 35%. A new nationality does not change your Vietnamese tax residence.

On the Argentine side, people naturalised through investment are not treated as Argentine tax residents solely because of the naturalisation. Argentine tax residence follows ordinary tests, such as permanent residence. Speak to a qualified adviser in both countries if you plan to relocate.

Documents: the new apostille regime

Until September 2026, Vietnamese documents for use abroad usually needed consular legalisation. Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2025, and the Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. Argentina has been a party since 1988.

That should make birth, marriage and police certificates simpler to use in Argentina. Because the system is new, confirm with the Argentine consulate which Vietnamese authority issues apostilles and whether certified translations into Spanish are required.

The investment route rests on DNU 366/2025. On 18 June 2026, Chamber III of the federal civil and commercial appeals court (the Volosh case) struck down the parts of the decree that give citizenship decisions to Migraciones. On 30 June 2026 the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared the whole decree unconstitutional. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court and says the decree remains in force until the ruling is final. See our legal status page.

Cost

Family Donation route
Main applicant US$350,000
+ spouse US$100,000
+ each child aged 18–25 (single, no children) US$100,000
+ each child under 18 US$25,000
Official example: couple + 2 minors US$500,000

The bond route is US$800,000 for the main applicant; press reports say it 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?

Strong fit if travel and business access are your main constraint, your wealth is well documented, and you have a clear, lawful way to move funds abroad.

Wait if your source-of-funds file has gaps, or if your bank cannot yet tell you how it will treat the transfer. A rejected application costs time and fees, and the grey-list context makes the review stricter.

A private briefing can help you test your file before you commit.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose Vietnamese nationality if I become Argentine?

Vietnamese law formally recognises one nationality, but acquiring a foreign nationality does not automatically end Vietnamese citizenship. Loss normally requires an approved renunciation or a deprivation decision. Confirm your own position with a Vietnamese lawyer, especially if you hold a public post.

How much would my travel access change?

Substantially. The Henley Passport Index (July 2026) places the Vietnamese passport at 48 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, against 169 for Argentina, including the Schengen Area, the UK with an ETA, and Japan.

Does Vietnam's FATF grey listing stop me from applying?

Nothing published by Argentina excludes Vietnamese nationals. But Vietnam has been on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring since June 2023, and Argentina's Agency assesses jurisdictional risk, so expect closer scrutiny of your source of funds.

Can Vietnamese documents now be apostilled?

Vietnam acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31 December 2025, with entry into force on 11 September 2026. Argentina is a party, so apostilles should replace consular legalisation, but confirm the procedure with the Argentine consulate because the system is new.

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