As global volatility accelerates, high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are reassessing their citizenship strategies. A new development from South America has caught the attention of forward-looking investors: Argentina is in the process of drafting a direct citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program, expected to require a minimum capital contribution of USD $500,000.
If implemented, this would mark Argentina’s entry into the direct citizenship investment market—and would position it as a unique geopolitical asset for global investors seeking mobility, protection, and strategic leverage.
Why Argentina: Access, Influence, and Independence
Argentina is a G20 member and part of Mercosur, the South American trade bloc offering mobility and economic access to countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile.
A future Argentine passport could provide:
- Visa-free travel to over 170 countries, including the EU, UK, and most of South America
- Geopolitical diversification outside of EU/OECD-heavy frameworks
- Bilateral agreements that facilitate regional and global movement
As the U.S. and other Western nations face growing fiscal deficits and restrictive tax regimes, Argentina offers a non-aligned and resource-rich jurisdiction that may soon reward investors with a direct citizenship route.
What We Know So Far
While still under review by Argentine lawmakers, the proposed program would reportedly:
- Require a USD $500,000 investment in approved sectors (e.g., real estate, agribusiness, innovation, or national development funds)
- Offer direct access to citizenship—not linked to residency or naturalization
- Target foreign investors and HNWIs looking for global mobility and legal second citizenship
Implementation details, including timelines, fund allocation methods, and due diligence procedures, are yet to be finalized.
Strategic Value of Argentine Citizenship
If the law is passed, the Argentine passport could offer a unique mix of:
- Mobility: Ranked among the top 20 globally for visa-free access
- Tax efficiency: Argentina currently does not tax foreign-sourced income for non-domiciled residents, which may extend to new citizens with proper structuring
- Asset protection: Citizenship in a jurisdiction outside of OECD-centric information-sharing treaties may offer insulation from global overreach
- Currency and regional diversification: The ability to operate in Latin American markets while holding assets across currencies
Who This Program Would Serve
The upcoming program is designed for:
- HNWI and entrepreneurs seeking a fast-track, low-barrier second passport
- Investors looking to hedge geopolitical risk
- Global citizens aiming to secure long-term optionality beyond traditional Western systems
- Families pursuing legacy planning through legal multi-citizenship structures
Argentina in the Freedom Stack
If introduced, Argentina’s CBI program would fit neatly into a broader mobility strategy:
- Pairing with EU or Caribbean passports for layered access
- Combining with territorial tax residencies (e.g., UAE, Panama)
- Utilizing regional presence to enter Latin American markets with favorable trade terms
It would also appeal to those seeking a non-Western second passport in a stable democracy with deep natural resources and cultural capital.
Final Thoughts: The Time to Prepare Is Now
Although Argentina’s $500K citizenship-by-investment program is not yet launched, the direction is clear: countries outside the traditional CBI space are starting to compete for global capital and talent.
At Globalia Consulting partner of Globevisa Group, we closely monitor legislative developments in emerging CBI markets. For clients seeking early access to frontier opportunities and strategic advantage, Argentina’s potential program may become a critical component in a diversified citizenship portfolio.
We recommend pre-positioning now—by aligning capital, conducting due diligence, and preparing documentation—to move quickly when the law is formalized.