Argentina Set to Launch South America’s First Citizenship-for-Investment Program in 2026

Argentina is on track to become the first South American country to offer a golden passport program, with a planned launch in the second half of 2026. The initiative, signed into law by President Javier Milei in July 2025, will allow foreign investors to apply for citizenship without living in Argentina first.

What makes this program stand out? For starters, Argentina’s passport ranks 16th globally, granting visa-free access to 114 countries, including key destinations like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Uruguay. It also offers open travel across the Mercosur bloc—Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and others. And because Argentina is a G20 economy close to the United States, investors get a strategic foothold without uprooting their lives.

Processing times are expected to be just 30 business days, which would rival fast-track programs in the Caribbean. Family members can join the primary investor at no extra cost. Those are the proposals, anyway—final details won’t be confirmed until the program officially opens.

The biggest unknown is the investment threshold. Experts predict the government will target high-growth sectors like technology, tourism, and renewable energy. Options may include buying real estate, investing in a local business, or contributing to state bonds. Officials are considering seven investment categories and a pre-approval registry for companies seeking foreign capital.

With an executive director appointed in April 2026, the program is in its final implementation phase. If all goes as planned, the earliest approved applicants could hold an Argentine passport by early to mid-2027.