Would You Pay $350,000 for Argentina's Golden Passport?

Americans will soon have a new option for dual citizenship in South America, with Argentina on track to launch the continent's fist golden passport by the end of this year.For the uninitiated, a so-called golden passport is an immigration scheme in which countries give individuals or families citizenship in exchange for large investments towards specific economic sectors. Argentina recently unveiled new investment requirements and application process details for the scheme, which experts say is expected to begin accepting applications by the fourth quarter of 2026.Argentina’s program is poised to be one of the most popular options on the market, due to the country's comparative proximity to the United States, strong economy, and passport power. The program “provides a notable new option for investors considering citizenship planning, alongside the wider regional, economic, and lifestyle attributes of one of Latin America’s largest economies,” says Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at residence and citizenship planning firm Henley & Partners.The new launch is part of a broader trend of travelers and families building international portfolios of residence rights, citizenships, and investments across multiple countries around the globe. “Many of the families we advise already have lives, businesses, investments, and family interests spanning several jurisdictions, and are increasingly building sovereign portfolios that give them greater geographic diversification and optionality,” Volek says. “Argentina adds a new dimension to that landscape.”Here’s everything that travelers should know about one of the most talked-about golden passport programs right now.When is Argentina launching a golden passport?What are the perks?What are the investment requirements?When will applications open?This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.When is Argentina launching a golden passport?Argentina’s Economy Minister Luis Caputo officially unveiled a framework for the nation’s citizenship by investment program in early October 2026. The government has identified two paths of investment for applicants to follow in order to participate in the program: a treasury contribution and a bond subscription.Officials have also decided on a general application screening and approval process, including what types of background checks will be necessary and which government agencies should be involved.The new scheme is expected to be operational and begin accepting applications by the fourth quarter of 2026, according to information from Henley & Partners. A consortium of five leading investment migration firms (called AMIGO) is continuing to advise the government on the implementation of the new program through its launch.What are the perks?Argentina’s citizen by investment scheme will offer numerous perks for travelers, including unlocking frictionless access to some of the most popular international destinations. The country’s passport is ranked No. 16 in the world, offering top-tier mobility and visa-free access to 114 countries, according to Passport Index.This will be a key draw for investors and global citizens. “Given its proximity to the United States, and suspected visa-free access to the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Japan, Argentina’s program will be a very appealing option for those wanting optionality without having to entirely relocate their lives,” says Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital and founder of the Passport Index. Arton Capital is one of the firms advising Argentina’s government on the new program.Travelers with an Argentine passport also get open travel access to South American nations that are part of the Mercosur bloc, including Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.Another key perk is the program’s short approval time. Applications are set to take 30 business days to process, according to Argentina’s Ministry of Economy. This will likely make Argentina’s golden passport “very competitive within the industry,” Arton says. “It could distinguish itself with projected 30-day processing times, rivaling the current market-leading processing times of Caribbean programs, including Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda,” he says.However, it’s important to note that these are all just proposals at this point. Travelers will need to wait for the program’s official launch to know for sure how it will be structured.What are the investment requirements?Argentine officials have unveiled two investment pathways for its golden passport program: The first is a treasury contribution of $350,000 USD for a single applicant, with higher investment amounts for additional family members. For instance, the contribution amount for a family of four is expected to be $500,000, according to AMIGO.The second pathway is an $800,000 USD subscription to a new government bond being created specially for the program.“Both routes are designed to support Argentina’s fiscal and financial objectives while providing different investment pathways to accommodate a broader range of investor profiles,” a press release from AMIGO says.When will applications open?Applications for the program are expected to open by the end of 2026.Argentina’s new Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs will be the government office in charge of assessing applications for the new passport scheme. According to Henley & Partners, the screening process will include due diligence and financial transparency standards. Applicants can expect checks into their identity, source of funds, finances and assets, jurisdictional risk, as well as their criminal, reputational, and immigration history.The agency will coordinate with several government bodies on the background checks, such as Argentina’s State Intelligence Secretariat, Financial Information Unit, and Ministry of Security, as well as international intelligence.Once checks are complete, the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs will submit a recommendation to the National Directorate of Migration, which has final approval over issuing a golden passport.Exact details on what the application includes have not yet been unveiled.With this fast-approaching launch date and the program’s brief approval window, travelers could have an Argentine passport in hand in a matter of months. “Given the anticipated 30-business-day processing window, the earliest citizenships could be granted by early to mid-2027,” says Arton.