Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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Investment migration glossary: 48 terms explained

Investment migration mixes immigration law, tax, anti-money-laundering rules and Argentine administrative vocabulary. This glossary defines the terms you will meet, in plain English, with Argentina-specific notes where they matter.

Updated 9 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • 48 terms, grouped alphabetically.
  • Spanish terms are given with an English explanation.
  • Argentina-specific details reflect the position on 2 October 2026.
  • Definitions are general information, not legal advice.

Terms appear in alphabetical order within each group. Where an Argentine term has a standard English equivalent, we give both.

A–C

Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión

The Citizenship by Investment Programmes Agency, a decentralised body under Argentina’s Ministry of Economy. It evaluates applications and reports to Migraciones, which decides.

Apostille

A certificate under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 that authenticates a public document, such as a birth certificate, for use in another member country.

ARCA

Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero, Argentina’s tax and customs agency. Decreto 953/2024 created it in October 2024 to replace AFIP.

Beneficial owner

The natural person who ultimately owns or controls an asset, company or account, even when a nominee or legal entity holds it on paper.

Boletín Oficial

Argentina’s official gazette. Laws, decrees and resolutions take effect through publication there. DNU 366/2025 appeared on 29 May 2025.

Cámara Nacional Electoral

Argentina’s national electoral appeals court. On 30 June 2026 it declared DNU 366/2025 unconstitutional. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court. See legal status.

CARF

The OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, a standard for automatic exchange of tax information on crypto-asset transactions. First exchanges are expected in 2027.

Citizenship by investment (CBI)

A legal route to nationality in exchange for a qualifying contribution or investment, without the usual residence period. See Argentina citizenship by investment.

Common Reporting Standard (CRS)

The OECD standard under which banks report account information to the tax authorities of the account holder’s tax residence. More than 110 jurisdictions take part.

Contribution

A non-refundable payment to a state fund or treasury. Argentina’s route I is a US$350,000 contribution to the National Treasury.

CUIT

Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria, Argentina’s tax identification number. Under Decreto 524/2025, ARCA issues one to each new citizen.

D–F

Decreto 524/2025

The regulation of Argentina’s investment citizenship procedure, published on 31 July 2025. It sets the agencies consulted and a 30-business-day deadline for Migraciones to decide.

Dependant

A family member included in an application, usually a spouse and children. Argentina charges US$100,000 for a spouse and US$25,000 per child under 18. See family.

Dirección Nacional de Migraciones

Argentina’s National Directorate of Migration. It gives final approval to investment citizenship applications.

DNI

Documento Nacional de Identidad, the Argentine national identity card. It is accepted as a travel document in eight South American countries.

DNU

Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia, a presidential emergency decree with the force of law. DNU 366/2025 created the investment route to citizenship.

Dual citizenship

Holding two or more nationalities at once. Argentina permits it, but some other countries restrict it. See dual citizenship.

Due diligence

The checks a programme runs on an applicant: identity, criminal and reputational background, sanctions, source of funds and source of wealth.

EES

The EU’s Entry/Exit System, which records non-EU travellers’ entries and exits, including biometric data, at Schengen borders. Roll-out ran from October 2025 to April 2026.

ETA (United Kingdom)

The UK’s electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, including Argentines. It costs £20 and allows visits of up to six months.

eTA (Canada)

Canada’s electronic travel authorisation. Argentines can use one, instead of a visa, if they hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or held a Canadian visa in the past ten years.

ETIAS

The EU’s planned pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors to the Schengen area. It was not yet in operation on 2 October 2026.

FATF (GAFI)

The Financial Action Task Force, the global standard-setter on anti-money-laundering. GAFI is its Spanish and French acronym.

G–M

The idea that nationality should reflect a real connection between a person and a state. EU rules now use it to judge investor citizenship schemes.

Golden passport

An informal name for citizenship obtained through investment.

Golden visa

An informal name for residence by investment. See golden visa vs CBI.

Henley Passport Index

A ranking of passports by the number of destinations reachable without a prior visa. In its July 2026 edition Argentina ranked 16th, with 169 destinations.

Ley 346

Argentina’s citizenship law of 1869. It sets three routes: birth, option and naturalisation after two continuous years of residence.

Mercosur

The Southern Common Market, founded by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with associated states across South America.

Mercosur Residence Agreement

The 2002 treaty giving nationals of participating states residence rights in each other’s territory. Naturalised nationals qualify after five years. See Mercosur residence.

N–R

Nationality by origin

Nationality held from birth or by descent (in Argentina, nativo or por opción), as distinct from nationality acquired by naturalisation.

Naturalisation

The acquisition of nationality by a foreigner after meeting legal conditions, such as residence or, under DNU 366/2025, a relevant investment.

OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It runs the CRS and maintains a list of potentially high-risk CBI/RBI schemes.

Option (ciudadanía por opción)

The route by which children born abroad to native Argentines claim Argentine nationality. It does not cover children of naturalised Argentines.

PEP

Politically exposed person: someone who holds or held a prominent public function, or a close family member or associate. PEPs face enhanced due diligence.

Physical presence requirement

A minimum number of days an applicant or citizen must spend in the country. Argentina has not published one.

Programme bond

Argentina’s route II: a US$800,000 subscription to a dedicated public bond. Press reports say it must be held for seven years and pays no interest.

Residence by investment (RBI)

A residence permit granted for a qualifying investment. It does not give a passport.

RENAPER

Registro Nacional de las Personas, the Argentine agency with exclusive responsibility for issuing the DNI and passports.

S–Z

Sanctions screening

Checking an applicant, family and funds against UN, US, EU, UK and other sanctions lists.

Schengen 90/180 rule

Visa-exempt visitors, including Argentines, may stay up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area.

SIDE

Secretaría de Inteligencia de Estado, Argentina’s State Intelligence Secretariat. It takes part in vetting investment citizenship applicants.

Source of funds

The origin of the specific money used for the investment, such as a share sale, dividend or property sale.

Source of wealth

How the applicant built total net worth over time. The FATF and OECD recommend checking it in addition to source of funds. See crypto wealth and source of funds.

Tax residence

The country or countries that may tax you as a resident, usually based on where you live. In Argentina, citizenship by investment does not by itself create tax residence.

UIF

Unidad de Información Financiera, Argentina’s financial intelligence unit. It takes part in vetting applicants.

VASP (PSAV)

Virtual asset service provider (in Spanish, proveedor de servicios de activos virtuales). Since Ley 27.739 of 2024, Argentine VASPs report to the UIF and register with the CNV.

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The US scheme allowing visa-free visits of up to 90 days with an ESTA. Argentina left it in 2002. See US visa waiver status.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CBI and RBI?

CBI (citizenship by investment) grants nationality and a passport in exchange for a qualifying investment or contribution. RBI (residence by investment) grants only a residence permit, which may lead to citizenship after years of residence.

What is a DNU in Argentina?

A Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia, an emergency decree with the force of law that the President can issue in exceptional circumstances. Argentina's investment citizenship route rests on DNU 366/2025, which is under legal challenge.

What does source of wealth mean?

Source of wealth is how you built your total net worth over time, through work, business, investments or inheritance. It is different from source of funds, which is where the specific money for the investment comes from.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a certificate under the 1961 Hague Convention that authenticates a public document for use in another member country, replacing slower consular legalisation.

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