Official · 02.10.2026Argentina announces South America's first Citizenship by Investment Programme→
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The Programme

Residence permit or passport? Choosing a route

Argentina has long offered residence to retirees, people with passive income and investors. The new programme offers citizenship instead. Here is how the options compare in 2026.

Updated 8 min readSourced from official announcements

Key facts

  • Rentista and pensionado: income of at least five SMVM a month per applicant; up to 3 years, renewable.
  • Investor residence: an investment of interest to the country, assessed by the Ministry of Economy.
  • Digital nomad: transitory residence of up to 180 days, applied for online.
  • Two years of continuous legal residence can lead to ordinary naturalisation.
  • Citizenship by investment needs no residence, but costs from US$350,000.

Before October 2026, the only way to an Argentine passport for most foreigners was to live in Argentina. That route still exists, and for many families it remains the better one. This article sets out the main residence categories as they stand in 2026 and compares them with the new citizenship by investment programme.

Rules and peso amounts change often. Check each requirement with the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, or a qualified lawyer, before you apply.

Rentista (passive income)

The rentista category is for people who support themselves in Argentina from their own resources brought from abroad, or from lawful income from foreign sources.

  • Income: at least five times the Salario Mínimo Vital y Móvil (SMVM) a month, per applicant (Disposición 1732/2023).
  • Duration: temporary residence of up to three years, renewable.
  • Funds: the regulation requires income to enter Argentina through financial institutions authorised by the Central Bank, and to be shown to come from lawful sources.
  • Documents: a valid passport, an Argentine criminal-record certificate for applicants over 16, and proof of address. Foreign documents need consular legalisation or an apostille.

The SMVM is a peso figure that the government adjusts. Five SMVM is a modest sum by the standards of most CBI applicants, but the figure moves with Argentine inflation. Check the current amount before you apply.

Pensionado (retirees)

The pensionado category works in the same way for people with a pension from a foreign government, an international organisation or a private company for services provided abroad.

  • Income: at least five SMVM a month, per applicant.
  • Duration: up to three years, renewable.

Inversionista (investor residence)

Argentina has had an investor residence category since its 2004 migration law, Ley 25.871. The rules sit in Article 23 of Decreto 616/2010.

  • Investment: a productive, commercial or service investment “of interest to the country”. The regulation text still states a minimum of ARS 1,500,000, a figure set in 2010.
  • Process: you present the project to Migraciones and prove the origin and legality of the funds, and their entry through authorised banks. The Ministry of Economy gives a non-binding technical opinion on the project.
  • Duration: commentators describe an initial one-year permit, renewable.

In practice, the open-ended “interest to the country” test has made outcomes hard to predict. Legal commentary in 2025 described long delays and subjective criteria. That uncertainty is part of why the government created a separate citizenship route.

Digital nomad

Argentina offers a digital nomad permit to nationals of countries that do not need a tourist visa to enter.

  • Status: transitory residence of up to 180 days. Legal commentary at launch described it as extendable.
  • Work: remote work for foreign employers or clients only.
  • Application: online, through Migraciones’ electronic entry system.
  • Documents: a request letter, a CV, passport, photo, and proof of remote work such as contracts or income receipts.

The permit is transitory. It is useful for testing life in Argentina, but time on it is unlikely to count towards the two years of legal residence needed for naturalisation. Confirm with a lawyer.

Mercosur residence

Nationals of states that apply the Mercosur Residence Agreement, signed in 2002, can obtain temporary residence for up to two years. They can convert it to permanent residence if they apply within 90 days before expiry. The agreement is applied by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

One limit matters for investors. The Agreement covers naturalised nationals only after they have held that nationality for five years. A new Argentine citizen by investment therefore cannot use it straight away to live elsewhere in South America.

Permanent residence and DNU 366/2025

Under Decreto 616/2010, non-Mercosur nationals can generally apply for permanent residence after three years of temporary residence. DNU 366/2025 added conditions: applicants must show sufficient economic means and no criminal record. The decree also requires people without residence to hold health insurance or pay for public health care.

How they compare

Rentista / pensionado Investor residence Digital nomad Citizenship by investment
What you get Temporary residence Temporary residence Transitory residence Citizenship and passport
Key condition 5 SMVM monthly income Investment of interest to the country Remote work, visa-free nationality US$350,000 contribution or US$800,000 bond
Must live in Argentina? Yes, to keep and count residence Yes Yes, during the stay No residence period stated
Path to citizenship After 2 years of continuous legal residence After 2 years of continuous legal residence Unlikely to count Direct
Legal certainty Established Established, slow Established Depends on DNU 366/2025, under appeal

Tax: the hidden difference

Residence in Argentina can make you an Argentine tax resident. PwC summarises the rule: foreigners who live in Argentina for reasons other than work become tax resident after 12 months, from the 13th month. Residents pay tax on worldwide income.

Citizenship by investment alone does not trigger tax residence. For a family that does not plan to live in Argentina, that is a major difference. See tax residency and CBI.

Which route fits?

  • You want to live in Argentina. A residence permit, followed by ordinary naturalisation after two years, costs far less. See naturalisation vs investment.
  • You want a passport without moving. Only the investment route offers that, at a price and with legal risk.
  • You want to try Argentina first. The digital nomad permit is a low-commitment option.

For other countries’ options, see our comparison guide. For the Argentine passport itself, see passport guide. For the full document list, see requirements.

The investment route depends on DNU 366/2025, which the Cámara Nacional Electoral declared unconstitutional on 30 June 2026. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court. See legal status.

Note. Migration rules and peso thresholds change often. This is general information, not legal advice. Speak to a qualified Argentine immigration lawyer.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What income do I need for Argentina's rentista or pensionado residence?

Migraciones requires monthly income of at least five times the Salario Mínimo Vital y Móvil (SMVM) per applicant. Because the SMVM is adjusted in pesos, check the current figure before you apply.

Is there an investor residence permit in Argentina?

Yes. The regulation sets a productive, commercial or service investment of interest to the country, with a minimum still stated as ARS 1,500,000. The Ministry of Economy gives a technical opinion on the project.

Does Argentina have a digital nomad visa?

Yes. Nationals of countries that do not need a tourist visa for Argentina can apply online for transitory residence of up to 180 days to work remotely for foreign employers or clients.

Does residence lead to citizenship?

Under Ley 346, two continuous years of legal residence can lead to naturalisation. The forum for those applications is disputed while the Supreme Court considers an appeal.

Next stepPrivate Briefing

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