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Interest in an Argentina Citizenship by Investment (CBI) pathway has surged, but buyers should be cautious. This is a new and still-evolving framework. In July 2025, Argentina published Decree 524/2025, which establishes a legal route for foreign nationals who make a “relevant investment” to apply directly for citizenship without first going through a residence period. The decree also creates an Agency for Citizenship-by-Investment Programs under the Ministry of Economy to receive applications and coordinate vetting. This is a major signal, but the program is far from ready. Key operating rules are still pending, and the agency itself has yet to become operational.
Under the decree, an investor who has made a “relevant investment” submits a dossier to the new agency. If the agency concludes the investment qualifies, it triggers security, identity, and financial-crime checks by multiple bodies including the National Security Ministry, Financial Intelligence Unit, and RENAPER. After this, Argentina’s National Migration Directorate has 30 business days to issue a decision once the agency’s report is delivered.
The catch: the decree sets a 30-day deadline only after the report is submitted. It does not establish timelines for the agency’s own review. In practice, the initial screening process could take much longer. Importantly, the definition of “relevant investment” has not been provided and will be set later by the Ministry of Economy through secondary regulations.
At this stage there is no official minimum investment amount. The oft-quoted figure of US$500,000 is only a market estimate and not mentioned anywhere in the decree. The policy intent is clear: attract capital that creates jobs and economic activity. However, there are no thresholds for job creation, no clarity on approved sectors, no limits on the number of investors per project, and no published criteria for minimum economic activity. These details are expected in future regulations.
The decree references the involvement of the Financial Intelligence Unit and other agencies, which indicates strong anti-money laundering and compliance oversight. But exact procedures for how incoming funds will be managed, safeguarded, or audited have not yet been published.
Argentina holds federal legislative elections on October 26, 2025. While the decree is already in force, governments typically avoid rolling out new agencies and detailed regulations in the run-up to elections. Realistically, the operationalization of the agency and publication of investment criteria are not likely to happen until after the elections. The results of that election could influence the speed, scope, and even the viability of the program.
Argentina’s government has been pursuing reforms to stabilize the economy, cut inflation, and attract foreign capital. Incentives such as the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) show the policy direction is pro-investment and focused on projects that can generate jobs, exports, and long-term economic activity. This context supports the reasoning behind launching a CBI program but also explains why regulators are cautious about opening the doors too quickly.
Argentine citizens currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 170 destinations, including the Schengen Area and the United Kingdom. The United States is not currently visa-free, but earlier in 2025 Washington and Buenos Aires discussed Argentina’s potential re-entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. If successful, this would significantly increase the attractiveness of an Argentine passport.
What’s clear now:
• A legal basis exists under Decree 524/2025 for citizenship via “relevant investment.”
• A new agency will receive applications, multiple agencies will conduct security and compliance checks, and the Migration Directorate must decide within 30 days once the agency delivers its report.
What remains unclear:
• No official minimum investment amount or sector priorities have been published.
• No rules yet on job creation, economic impact thresholds, or caps on the number of investors per project.
• No binding timelines for the agency’s own review stage.
• No published mechanisms yet on how incoming funds will be handled or how investor protections will be enforced.
At INGWE Immigration, we are closely monitoring the rollout of Argentina’s CBI. Based on the current timeline and political uncertainties, we do not expect this program to open before the second quarter of 2026 at the earliest. Even then, details on approved projects and investment thresholds are likely to take time to finalize.
We expect a flood of unregulated projects and questionable operators entering the market once the program is announced. Many of these could fail, and early investors risk losing their capital if they are not careful. Processing times, even once the program is live, are unlikely to be less than 12 months in the initial phase as the new agency works out procedural issues.
Our advice is simple: do not be rushed into paying deposits upfront to firms promising shortcuts. INGWE is maintaining an official intake list for interested applicants. Registering your interest with us takes just 60 seconds through our secure online intake form. By doing so, you will receive verified updates directly from us as soon as the Argentine government releases official regulations. This ensures you are prepared to move quickly when the program is truly operational, without exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.
Your next step? Align your priorities (speed, return, or impact) and consult with our team.
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