Argentina Citizenship by Investment 2026: The $350,000 Programme, the Court Challenge and Where It Stands

Argentina is the programme many UAE residents ask about first, because on paper it is attractive: no residence requirement in the legal framework, dual citizenship allowed, and a passport that is visa free for the Schengen area for short stays. The reality in November 2026 is more complicated. This guide separates what the government has announced from what is actually available, so you do not pay for something that cannot yet be delivered.

What Argentina has announced

The Argentine government presented the pricing on 2 October 2026. The figures below are the announced amounts. They are not yet written into published implementing rules, so treat them as subject to final regulations.

• Option A: a direct contribution of $350,000 to the national treasury. It cannot be refunded.
• Option B: an $800,000 subscription to a public bond created for the programme. Official bond terms have not been published.
• Spouse: $100,000.
• Unmarried child aged 18 to 25 without children: $100,000 each.
• Child under 18: $25,000 each.
• Parents: no category has been announced.

The government’s own example is a couple with two children under 18, who would pay $500,000 on Option A. Government fees, background check costs and professional fees have not been published, so the real total for a family will be higher.

Is the programme open yet?

No. The government says applications are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, but it has not published an opening date, an application portal, a list of documents or any rules on who may submit an application for you. An independent firm review dated 8 October 2026 states that no application channel exists, and independent trackers in late October said the same. One law firm page mentions a possible start on 20 November 2026, but we found no official confirmation, so we do not rely on it.

The legal route itself is real. Decree 366/2025 (published 29 May 2025) added naturalisation by relevant investment to Argentina’s citizenship law, and Decree 524/2025 (July 2025) set out the procedure. A dedicated agency reviews the investment and the applicant, then the national migration directorate decides, with 30 business days to approve or reject after it receives the agency’s report. The total processing time has not been published.

The legal challenge you need to know about

In June 2026 two federal courts ruled against parts of the decree that changed the citizenship system. On 18 June an appeals chamber in civil and commercial matters held it unconstitutional as applied to the applicant in that case. On 30 June the national electoral chamber declared the decree null in another citizenship case, reasoning that citizenship is an electoral matter that a presidential decree cannot regulate. Both were ordinary naturalisation cases, not investment applications, and the rulings bind only the parties. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court, and we have not found a ruling.

In parallel, opposition lawmakers have filed bills to repeal the investment citizenship provisions. One of them would also ban private intermediaries. None has passed as of 3 November 2026. In plain words: the programme exists on paper, but its legal footing is not settled. That is a real risk for anyone who pays before the rules are final.

Do you need to live in Argentina?

The legal framework says naturalisation by investment applies regardless of how long the person has lived in Argentina, and no residence requirement has been announced. What is not published is how and where identity documents and the passport would be issued. We do not know yet whether a visit to Argentina or an embassy appointment will be needed, so do not assume either way.

What does an Argentine passport give you?

Argentina ranked around 15th to 16th in the Henley Passport Index in January 2026, with about 168 to 169 destinations. Figures change with each edition, so check the current index before you rely on a number.

• Schengen area: visa free for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180. The EU’s online travel authorisation, ETIAS, is expected to start from late 2026 and may slip into 2027, and it would apply to Argentine citizens.
• United Kingdom: no visa for visits, but an Electronic Travel Authorisation is required.
• United States: a visa is required. Argentina is not in the visa waiver programme.
• South America: Argentine citizens can visit most neighbouring countries without a visa, and a regional residence agreement can make residence easier in many of them, subject to each country’s rules.

Argentina allows dual citizenship. Whether your home country does is a separate question, and it matters a lot for some nationalities. See our guide on dual citizenship for UAE residents.

Tax: does the passport make you an Argentine tax resident?

A labour modernisation law promulgated on 6 March 2026 (Law 27.802) reportedly states that naturalisation through the investment route does not by itself make a person an Argentine tax resident. This comes from law firm summaries rather than the official gazette text, and anyone who already holds permanent residence stays a tax resident. Get Argentine tax advice before you move or spend significant time there.

What UAE residents should do now

• Register interest rather than paying. There is nothing to pay for yet. Be careful with anyone who asks for a deposit, a “reservation fee” or a guaranteed place.
• Prepare your documents. Source of funds evidence, bank statements, passport copies, and marriage and birth certificates will be needed. UAE documents will probably need attestation. We can start the file so you are not rushing later.
• Check your home country’s rules on dual citizenship before you spend anything.
• Watch three dates: the official opening of applications, the Supreme Court decision and the publication of agent rules.

How Visa Doctor helps

Visa Doctor is a licensed UAE documentation company in Dubai. For Argentina, we keep a register of interested clients, tell you the moment official rules appear, and help you prepare documents. We do not take investment money. Argentine legal work would be done by an independent Argentine lawyer or firm. Read our full Argentina citizenship page or compare other routes in the second passport guide.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and last check

Checked on 3 November 2026. Rules, prices and dates change, so confirm current details before you commit money. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

• Argentine government decrees 366/2025 and 524/2025 (Boletin Oficial and argentina.gob.ar)
• Argentine government announcement of the programme, 2 October 2026 (argentina.gob.ar)
• KPMG alert on the Argentine programme, 8 October 2026
• IMI Daily reporting on the court rulings, repeal bills and agent rules, June to October 2026
• Henley Passport Index, January 2026 edition, as reported by Argentine media