When Will Argentina Citizenship by Investment Open?

When Will Argentina's Citizenship by Investment Program Begin Accepting Applications?

Argentina has already established a legal framework for naturalization based on a relevant investment.

In May 2025, Decree 366/2025 amended Citizenship Law No. 346 by introducing a specific basis for naturalization for foreigners who, regardless of their period of residence in Argentina, demonstrate that they have made a relevant investment in the country.

The same reform authorized the Ministry of Economy to determine which investments qualify as relevant and created the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs as a decentralized agency within the Ministry of Economy.

In July 2025, Decree 524/2025 established the administrative procedure for applications based on relevant investment. Under that procedure, the Agency evaluates whether the investment qualifies as relevant and conducts the necessary institutional review before submitting a reasoned recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration.

The Government subsequently announced, on October 2, 2026, that the Citizenship by Investment Program is expected to be operational to receive applications during the fourth quarter of 2026.

The program has therefore progressed beyond the stage of a purely conceptual proposal. At the same time, the announcement of an expected operational period should not be confused with the publication of a specific opening day.

Has Argentina Announced a Specific Opening Date?

No.

As of October 17, 2026, the Argentine Government has announced that the program will be operational to receive applications during the fourth quarter of 2026, but it has not announced a specific calendar date on which applications will open.

The fourth quarter comprises October, November and December. Consequently, the Government's announcement should be understood as an expected implementation period rather than as a commitment to begin accepting applications on October 1 or on another particular date.

For prospective applicants, this distinction is legally and practically relevant.

An announcement that a program is expected to become operational during a particular quarter is not necessarily equivalent to an official notice that the application channel has been activated.

Statements claiming that applications are already open, or that applications will open on a particular date, should therefore be assessed against an official Argentine government source.

What Does "Operational to Receive Applications" Mean?

The wording used by the Government is significant.

The official announcement states that the program will be operational to receive applications during the fourth quarter of 2026.

This indicates the Government's expected timeframe for moving the program into operational application processing.

It does not, by itself, establish that an applicant may submit an application on any date within the quarter without further confirmation.

An operational application process requires the relevant administrative mechanisms, channels and instructions to be available to applicants and the competent authorities.

For that reason, prospective applicants should distinguish among three different stages:

1. The legal framework establishing investment-based naturalization;

2. The Government's announcement concerning the expected operational period and investment mechanisms; and

3. The actual activation of the application process through the competent authorities.

This distinction is particularly important for applicants considering a substantial financial commitment.

What Is the Legal Framework for Argentina's Citizenship by Investment Program?

The legal framework was established before the October 2026 launch announcement.

Citizenship Law No. 346

Decree 366/2025 amended Article 2 of Citizenship Law No. 346 to provide a naturalization route for foreigners who, regardless of their period of residence, demonstrate that they have made a relevant investment in Argentina.

Article 2 bis further provides that the Ministry of Economy will determine which investments are considered relevant and may establish specific investment projects for that purpose.

This is the fundamental legal basis for investment-based naturalization.

Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs

Decree 366/2025 also created the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs as a decentralized agency within the Ministry of Economy.

Among its statutory functions are receiving citizenship-by-investment applications, requesting information from relevant institutions, evaluating applications and submitting a reasoned recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration.

Decree 524/2025

Decree 524/2025 subsequently established the administrative procedure through which an applicant who has made a relevant investment may seek Argentine citizenship.

The decree provides that the Agency evaluates whether the investment qualifies as relevant. If the requirements are satisfied, the Agency requests reports from relevant government bodies and other sources before submitting a reasoned recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration.

The National Directorate of Migration then decides whether to grant or reject the application through a reasoned administrative act.

The decree establishes a period of 30 business days for Migration to decide after receiving the Agency's report. This should not be interpreted as a guaranteed total processing time from the beginning of the applicant's case, because the 30-business-day period begins when the Agency's report has been received by the National Directorate of Migration.

What Investment Mechanisms Has Argentina Announced?

On October 2, 2026, the Government announced two investment mechanisms for the Citizenship by Investment Program.

The first consists of a USD 350,000 direct, non-refundable contribution to the National Treasury.

The second consists of the subscription of a USD 800,000 public security created specifically for the program.

The Government also announced contribution amounts for qualifying family members. Spouses and children between 18 and 25 years of age who are unmarried and have no children may apply through a USD 100,000 contribution, while children under 18 may apply through a USD 25,000 contribution.

These amounts are part of the Government's October 2026 announcement.

However, applicants should distinguish the announced investment mechanisms from the complete operational rules governing an individual application. The existence of an announced investment amount does not, by itself, mean that an applicant should transfer funds before the competent authorities have activated and explained the applicable application and payment procedures.

Does the Announcement Mean That Applications Are Already Open?

No.

The Government has announced the investment mechanisms and stated that the program is expected to be operational to receive applications during Q4 2026.

Those announcements should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation that an applicant can already submit an application through an operational application channel.

The distinction is particularly important because the legal framework and the operational implementation are separate questions.

The legal framework can exist before an application channel becomes operational.

Accordingly, prospective applicants should verify:

• whether the official application channel has been activated;

• which authority is formally receiving applications;

• what documentation is required;

• how the investment must be structured or transferred;

• which payment instructions are officially authorized;

• what due-diligence requirements apply; and

• whether any additional regulations or instructions have been issued.

How Will Applications Be Processed?

The basic administrative structure has already been established by Decree 524/2025.

An eligible foreign investor who has made a relevant investment may submit an application to the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs.

The Agency evaluates whether the investment qualifies as relevant under the applicable framework. If the investment satisfies the applicable requirements, the Agency requests information and reports from relevant institutions.

The procedure expressly contemplates the participation of institutions including the Ministry of Security, the Financial Information Unit, the National Criminal Records Registry, RENAPER and the State Intelligence Secretariat, as well as other public or private bodies where appropriate.

The Agency then prepares a reasoned report recommending approval or rejection and submits it to the National Directorate of Migration.

Migration is responsible for the final decision under the procedure established by Decree 524/2025. It must issue a reasoned administrative act within 30 business days after receiving the Agency's report.

This structure is important because the citizenship-by-investment process is not simply a transaction in which an applicant makes an investment and automatically receives citizenship.

The investment is one element of an administrative naturalization process that includes institutional review and a final decision by the competent authority.

Will Applicants Be Subject to Due Diligence?

Yes.

The Government has expressly stated that the program will incorporate standards concerning due diligence, financial transparency and risk management, including standards aligned with recommendations of the OECD and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF/GAFI).

The legal procedure established in 2025 also provides for information and reports from multiple government institutions, including the Financial Information Unit and security and intelligence authorities.

For prospective applicants, this means that preparation should not focus solely on proving that the applicant has access to the required investment amount.

The applicant should also be prepared to document matters such as identity, civil status, financial background, source and traceability of funds and other information relevant to the applicable due-diligence process.

The precise documentary requirements should, however, be assessed against the operational instructions applicable when the application is actually filed.

Should an Investor Transfer USD 350,000 or USD 800,000 Before the Program Opens?

The Government's announcement should not be treated as an instruction to transfer funds immediately.

Although the investment amounts have been publicly announced, an applicant should verify the official payment mechanism, destination, timing and documentary requirements before transferring a substantial amount of capital.

The October 2026 announcement states that funds must be channelled through the formal financial system and comply with applicable standards concerning anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and financial transparency.

The practical rule is therefore straightforward:

Do not treat an announced investment amount as a substitute for official application and payment instructions.

Prospective applicants should use the designated official channels once the program is formally operational and the applicable procedures have been confirmed.

What Should Prospective Applicants Prepare Before the Program Opens?

The period before operational launch can be used productively.

Prospective applicants may begin by:

• reviewing the legal basis for investment-based naturalization;

• determining whether the proposed investment fits one of the announced mechanisms;

• organizing identity and civil-status documentation;

• reviewing the origin and traceability of the funds intended for the investment;

• preparing financial documentation relevant to due diligence;

• identifying potential issues arising from international tax, immigration or nationality considerations;

• reviewing the implications for accompanying family members; and

• monitoring official Argentine government sources for the activation of the application process.

Preparation, however, should be distinguished from filing.

Until the competent authorities confirm that applications are being received and provide the applicable operational instructions, prospective applicants should not assume that preparatory steps constitute an application or that an investment transfer is required merely because the Government has announced the program.

What Has Been Confirmed and What Remains to Be Confirmed?

As of October 17, 2026, several elements can be established from official sources.

Confirmed

Argentina has established a legal basis for naturalization based on a relevant investment.

The Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs has been created and assigned functions in the evaluation of investment-based citizenship applications.

Decree 524/2025 has established an administrative procedure for these applications.

The Government has announced two investment mechanisms: USD 350,000 and USD 800,000.

The Government has stated that the program is expected to be operational to receive applications during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Not yet specified by a particular opening date

As of October 17, 2026, no specific calendar date for the opening of applications has been announced in the official Government announcement.

The practical application channel, applicable operational instructions and other implementation details should therefore be verified against the latest official communications before filing.

What If the Program Does Not Open on October 1?

October 1 should not be treated as a mandatory opening date.

The Government announced the fourth quarter of 2026 as the expected period during which the program will become operational to receive applications.

The fourth quarter runs from October through December.

Therefore, the absence of an operational application channel on October 1 would not, by itself, contradict the Government's announcement.

The relevant question is whether the program becomes operational during the announced period and whether the competent authorities provide the necessary confirmation and procedures for receiving applications.

What If the Opening Is Delayed?

A change in the expected operational timetable would not necessarily mean that the underlying legal framework had disappeared.

The legal basis for investment-based naturalization was established through the 2025 amendments to Citizenship Law No. 346, and the administrative procedure was established by Decree 524/2025.

However, prospective applicants should always rely on the latest official information when determining whether the program is open and what procedures apply.

A previously announced timetable should not be treated as a substitute for the current regulatory and administrative position.

Current Legal Status

Argentina's Citizenship by Investment framework should currently be understood as a legally established investment-based naturalization framework approaching operational implementation.

The distinction between legal existence and operational availability is important.

The 2025 legislation and regulations established the legal basis and administrative architecture for investment-based citizenship. In October 2026, the Government announced the investment mechanisms and stated that the program is expected to be operational to receive applications during Q4 2026.

The remaining practical question for prospective applicants is therefore not whether Argentina has established a legal basis for citizenship by investment, but when and under what officially published operational instructions applications will actually be received.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Argentina Citizenship by Investment open now?

The Government has announced that the program is expected to be operational to receive applications during Q4 2026. As of October 17, 2026, no specific opening date has been announced in the official Government announcement.

When will Argentina Citizenship by Investment applications open?

The Government expects the program to be operational to receive applications during the fourth quarter of 2026. A specific calendar date has not been announced.

What is the minimum investment for Argentina Citizenship by Investment?

The Government has announced a USD 350,000 non-refundable contribution to the National Treasury as one of the program's two investment mechanisms. It has also announced a USD 800,000 public security created specifically for the program.

Can I apply for Argentine citizenship by investment without living in Argentina for two years?

The investment-based naturalization route is distinct from the ordinary two-year residence route. Citizenship Law No. 346, as amended by Decree 366/2025, provides that foreigners may qualify for naturalization based on a relevant investment regardless of their period of residence in Argentina.

Who decides an Argentina Citizenship by Investment application?

The Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs evaluates the application and submits a reasoned recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration. Migration makes the final decision through a reasoned administrative act.

How long does Argentina's citizenship by investment decision take?

Decree 524/2025 establishes a period of 30 business days for the National Directorate of Migration to decide after receiving the Agency's report. This is not necessarily the total duration of the entire application process.

Should I transfer the investment before applications officially open?

Prospective applicants should not transfer substantial funds merely because the Government has announced the investment amounts. The applicable payment mechanism, destination, timing and documentation should be verified through the official operational framework before funds are transferred.

What should investors do before the program opens?

Investors can use the pre-launch period to understand the legal framework, assess the announced investment mechanisms, prepare documentation and review the source and traceability of funds that may be relevant to the due-diligence process.

Official Sources

• Argentine Citizenship Law No. 346, as amended — official text of the current law.

• Decree 366/2025 — amendment of Citizenship Law No. 346 and creation of the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs.

• Decree 524/2025 — administrative procedure for citizenship applications based on relevant investment.

• Argentine Government announcement, October 2, 2026 — announcement of the program's expected Q4 2026 operational period and investment mechanisms.

Author

Written and reviewed by Juan Pablo Rojas Pascual, Argentine CBI Attorney, Rojas Pascual Abogados.

Last Updated

October 17, 2026

This article reflects the legal and regulatory information available as of the date indicated above. The operational status of Argentina's Citizenship by Investment Program may change as Argentine authorities issue additional regulations, administrative instructions or official announcements.