Argentina citizenship: a guide to obtaining and passport benefits

Argentina does not have a citizenship by investment program. At the same time, getting a passport through naturalisation is quite fast and easy compared to many other countries.

Argentina attracts expats: around 5% of the country's population are immigrants. However, in recent years, Argentina's net migration rate has been declining and is drawing closer to zero. This means the number of immigrants per year equals the number of emigrants.

Naturalisation takes two years of residence; it is the fastest process of obtaining citizenship in the world. To compare, the period of naturalisation in neighbouring Paraguay is 4 years. As for the EU, it takes 5 years, like in Portugal or Sweden, to 8 years in Germany, to obtain citizenship by naturalisation.

According to the national law, to naturalise in Argentina, a foreigner must:

1. Be 18 years old or older.

2. Continuously live in the country for at least two years with a temporary or permanent residence permit. This requirement is waived if a foreigner has an Argentine spouse or children.

3. Have an occupation or an honest means of subsistence.

4. Express their willingness to become a citizen of Argentina before the federal judges.

The grounds to reject a citizenship application are criminal prosecution of the candidate, prison term over 3 years within the last 5 years, or an illegitimate source of income.

How to get citizenship by investment within 1+ month

Marriage. A spouse of an Argentinian citizen can get a passport without having to live in the country for 2 years. This means a foreigner gets married and then applies for citizenship straight away.

The marriage should be legal, including same-sex marriage. A foreign spouse cannot be under 18 or face criminal prosecution.

Birth. The country follows the principle Jus soli, which means Argentina citizenship is granted to any child born there. Parents of such children obtain citizenship by naturalisation in a simplified way after 3 months of living in the country.

Descent. Any person who has an Argentine mother or father is eligible to obtain citizenship of the country by descent. A person over 18 should present evidence of parentage before the federal judge. A parent provides a birth certificate as proof at the local Argentine embassy for a minor.

1. Visa-free travel to 163 countries. An Argentine passport is a gateway to global mobility, allowing holders to visit the UK for up to 180 days and countries of the Schengen Areas for 90 days each 180 days. Hong Kong and Japan are also available for 90-day visits without visas.

2. Dual citizenship. It is allowed for Argentineans to have dual citizenship. The country has signed 11 international agreements on recognising dual citizenship, mostly with Latin countries but also with Spain, Italy, Norway, and Sweden.

The citizens of other countries will have second citizenship in Argentina.

3. No renouncement. Another perk of becoming an Argentinean is that its passport cannot be renounced. The only exception is illegally obtaining a passport.

There is no requirement to reside in Argentina after getting citizenship.

4. Low cost of living. According to the price aggregator Numbeo, Argentina is among the 20 cheapest countries in the world. With a favourable exchange rate, individuals with Argentine citizenship can enjoy an enhanced quality of life as their income and savings stretch further.

On average, a single person living in Argentina will need around $670 monthly for expenditures and rent a single-bedroom apartment. The cost of living in Spain is close to the EU average and is approximately €1,500, or $1,612. In the US, the estimated sum is $2,750.

5. Fast way to naturalisation. It takes two years of living in Argentina to get a passport, which is one of the fastest naturalisation processes in the world.

There is also no requirement to obtain permanent residence before nationality, which means getting a 1-year residence permit and then renewing it is enough to become eligible for citizenship.

Argentina boasts stunning nature like Iguazu falls on the border with Brazil

High-net-worth individuals have several options to receive a residence permit. With the permit, they are eligible to apply for Argentina citizenship two years later.

The Pensioner Permit is issued to a retired foreigner who regularly gains a pension from a private or government organisation abroad. The permit is issued for one year with the possibility of an extension.

The amount of the monthly pension must be equal to 5 Minimum Living and Mobile Wages of Argentina. As of the beginning of 2024, one such salary is 156,000 pesos, or about $190. So, to get a Pensioner Visa, a foreigner must receive not less than $950 per month.

The sum of the required income is growing quickly because of a high inflation rate in Argentina. For example, at the end of 2022, the minimum salary was 61,953 pesos, or $75, compared with $190 a year later.

To get such a permit, a pensioner collects the necessary documents to prove their status and income and submits them on the National Directorate of Migration website RaDEX. If the application is approved, a foreigner has an appointment at the Directorate to collect a residence certificate.

The Financier Permit is designed for financially independent persons. The income requirements are the same as the pensioner visa, which is 5 minimal wages in Argentina, or around $950 per month, as of January 2024.

The income may come from dividends, entrepreneurship, rent, freelance, or other sources outside Argentina. The permit is issued for 1—3 years.

To obtain a permit, a financier should submit their application and documents to the Headquarters of the National Directorate of Migration in Buenos Aires or its representative office in Argentina.

The Investor Permit is granted to those who contribute to the Argentine economy. The investment should be directed to production, service, or other commercial activity of interest to Argentina. The required sum is 1.5 million pesos, or approximately $1,822.

A foreigner applies to the Ministry of Industry for an investment project to get a permit. The Ministry evaluates the project and sends its opinion to the National Directorate of Migration.

The list of documents to get a residence permit in Argentina includes:

1. Passport valid for at least 15 months.

2. Certificates proving the absence of criminal conviction should be issued by the authorities of each country where an applicant has resided for more than one year during the last three years. The certificate is required for applicants over 16.

3. Bank statements.

4. Proof of income for pensioners and financially independent persons.

5. Proof of financial contribution for investors.

6. Marriage certificate, if applicable.

7. Health insurance.

8. Receipts of the paid fees.

9. Birth certificate.

The Directorate of Migration may request additional documents.

A foreigner must confirm residency in Argentina and provide a national ID for the permit extension and then a passport.

Paraguay. A neighbour of Argentina, Paraguay is an affordable option to obtain a second citizenship. A foreigner lives there for 2 years with a residence permit, then for 2 years as a permanent resident, and then applies for a passport. Citizenship of Paraguay opens gates to 143 without visas.

Five countries of the Caribbean region grant citizenship to investors: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. Investment requirements start at $100,000, with obtaining periods of at least 3—6 months.

Caribbean citizenship offers various benefits, such as visa-free travel to 140+ states, including Schengen countries, financial safety, reduced tax burden, and international business opportunities.

Vanuatu offers the fastest citizenship by investment program in the world with the obtaining period of just 1—2 months. The minimum investment is $130,000.

With Vanuatu citizenship, an investor may get a 5-year business visa to the USA and a preferential corporate tax regime.

Egypt has one of the newest citizenship programs, which launched in 2021. The minimal investment is $250,000. It takes 6—12 to obtain Egypt citizenship. There is no requirement to know Arabic to get a passport and reside in the country to keep it.

Egyptian citizens can get an E‑2 business visa to the US, which allows them to live and work there.

Turkey has one of the most popular programs among investors. Cosmopolitans obtain Turkey citizenship by investing $400,000+ in the country’s economy. In return, they may travel to 126 countries without a visa, make profits on investment, and include family members in the application. The obtaining period is 6—8 months.

Investors may apply for Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. An investor contributes at least €600,000 to the National Development and Social Fund and makes a charitable donation of €10,000. Another requirement is to rent real estate for 5 years for €16,000 annually or purchase one for €700,000.

Malta is a member of the European Union, which means getting high-quality medical treatment, prestigious education for children, and conducting international business. They also get to travel to 186 countries visa-free, including the Schengen Area, the UK, the US, and Canada.

1. Ways to obtain Argentina citizenship include marriage, birth, descent, and naturalisation.

2. To get Argentina citizenship by naturalisation, a foreigner applies for a residence permit for 1 year and then extends it for 1 more year. After that, they are allowed to apply for citizenship.

3. Pensioners and financially independent persons get a residence permit in Argentina by proving a monthly income of $950 from outside the country. Investors need to financially contribute at least $1,822 to the economy of Argentina.

4. Argentina passport allows its holder to travel to 163 countries without visas, including countries of the Schengen Area. Argentine nationals are allowed to have dual citizenship.

5. A faster alternative to Argentina citizenship by naturalisation is getting a passport by investment. For example, citizenship in the Caribbean requires at least $100,000 and 3—6 months.