Argentina will launch its citizenship by investment (CBI) program in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to a statement by Economy Minister Luis Caputo relayed to IMI by members of AMIGO who were in attendance at Argentina Week in Paris today. AMIGO is the company formed by the five-firm consortium advising the government on the program.
Applicants would choose between two routes:
- Treasury contribution: A non-refundable contribution to the National Treasury, starting at US$350,000
- Government bond: The purchase of a US$800,000 government security created for the program
The minister presented both routes as simple and transparent, the members said. That entry point sits below the US$500,000 that has circulated since the government first floated the program. IMI understands the plan is for a seven-year bond that pays no interest.
Dependents
Spouses and children could join an application by proving the family relationship and making an additional contribution to the National Treasury, according to the relayed statement:
- Spouses: US$100,000
- Children aged 18 to 25 who are unmarried and have no children: US$100,000
- Children under 18: US$25,000
IMI understands that those older children must never have married, and would not need to prove financial dependency. Consortium members say the bond covers only the principal applicant, so dependents would make the same Treasury contributions on either route.
For a typical family of four, meaning a principal applicant, a spouse, and two minor children, the totals would be:
- Treasury route: US$500,000 in contributions, the example given in the relayed statement
- Bond route: US$950,000 in all, made up of:
- The US$800,000 bond
- US$150,000 in Treasury contributions
Vetting
Applications would go through a rigorous evaluation meant to protect national security, the integrity of the financial system, and the international standing of Argentine citizenship, according to the relayed statement. The Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs (APCI) would lead each assessment, working with:
- The State Intelligence Secretariat
- The Financial Information Unit
- The Ministry of Security
- The Ministry of the Interior
Checks would cover, among other things, identity, the traceability and lawful origin of funds, assets and finances, jurisdictional risk, criminal and reputational records, and immigration history. APCI would then send its recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration, which would approve or reject each application.
Due diligence, financial transparency, and risk management would follow recommendations from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), by the members’ account. IMI understands that the government expects to reveal its criteria for certifying agents in about a month.
Every payment would have to move through the formal financial system and meet anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and financial transparency standards. Proceeds would go toward strengthening Argentina’s fiscal and financial position.
As relayed, the statement presents the program as part of Argentina’s international opening and its reforms to attract capital. It describes the country as a beacon of freedom and investment. The government, it says, wants to promote the value of Argentine citizenship abroad and cement Argentina’s standing as an open, trustworthy nation.
This is a developing story, based on information relayed to IMI by attendees in Paris. IMI will update this space as official details emerge.
