There are two routes. Regular naturalization is possible after two years of continuous legal residence, one of the shortest periods in the world. A citizenship-by-investment program announced on October 2, 2026 will accept applications from the fourth quarter of 2026 for a USD 350,000 Treasury contribution or a USD 800,000 government bond. Buying property qualifies for neither, and both rest on a 2025 decree that federal courts have challenged. Argentina does not require you to give up your current nationality.
Last updated October 12, 2026 · Part of the Foreign buyer guide
Route 1: naturalization after two years of residence
The citizenship law (Ley 346, as amended by Decree DNU 366/2025) lets adults apply after residing in Argentina continuously and legally for the two years before the application. The amended text adds that you must not have left the country during those two years. The application is filed online through Migraciones' RaDEX system while you are in Argentina, and the law states that the citizenship letter is free (consolidated Ley 346).
The official requirements list a temporary or permanent residence, an Argentine ID (DNI), a lawful occupation or means of support, and an Argentine criminal record certificate. There is no language test and no requirement to renounce your current nationality (Government of Argentina).
The 2025 reform moved the decision from federal judges to Migraciones. In June 2026 two federal appeals courts declared that part of the decree unconstitutional and ordered individual cases back to federal judges under the old law; the government has appealed to the Supreme Court (Infobae, June 30, 2026). Until it rules, ask an immigration lawyer which procedure and absence rule apply to you.
Route 2: citizenship by investment (announced October 2026)
On October 2, 2026 the Ministry of Economy announced that the citizenship-by-investment program will accept applications during the fourth quarter of 2026 (Government of Argentina). Applications are vetted by the new Citizenship by Investment Agency with the intelligence service (SIDE), the financial intelligence unit (UIF), and the security and interior ministries, and approved or rejected by Migraciones.
- Real estate does not qualify. Buying a house, vineyard, or land in Argentina is not one of the two options.
- Funds must come through the formal banking system with documented, lawful origin.
- Legal risk: the program rests on the same 2025 decree that courts have challenged, and opposition bills to repeal it were filed in October 2026 (Chequeado, October 9, 2026).
| Option | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Treasury contribution | USD 350,000 | Non-refundable |
| Government bond | USD 800,000 | Bond created for the program |
| Spouse, or child aged 18-25 | USD 100,000 each | Children must be single and without children |
| Child under 18 | USD 25,000 each | A couple with two minor children: USD 500,000 in total |
First step for most buyers: a residence permit
For people who want to live in Argentina, the practical path is residence first: the rentista permit for passive income or the pensionado permit for retirees, both at five times the minimum wage per month (about USD 1,270 in October 2026). See retiring in Mendoza and does buying property grant residency?.
Plan your time abroad carefully. Since the 2025 reform a temporary residence is cancelled after six months or more outside Argentina, and a permanent residence after one year, unless Migraciones authorizes the absence. Permanent residence by length of stay needs three years of temporary residence (two for Mercosur nationals), at least half of that time spent in Argentina, and no single absence of six months or more (Migraciones; Decree DNU 366/2025).
- Splitting the year six months here, six months at home does not work on a temporary residence: a six-month absence cancels it.
- On a permanent residence, long stays at home are possible as long as no single absence reaches one year.
- Naturalization under the current text requires two years without leaving at all.
What an Argentine passport gives you
The Argentine passport ranked around 15th-16th on the Henley Passport Index in 2026, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 168-169 destinations.
| Destination | Argentine passport holders |
|---|---|
| Schengen area (EU) | Visa-free, 90 days in any 180 |
| United Kingdom | Electronic travel authorization (ETA), stays up to 6 months |
| United States | Visa required |
| Canada | Visa required; eTA possible by air for travellers with a recent Canadian visa or a valid US visa |
Can you keep your current citizenship?
Argentina does not ask you to renounce your nationality when you naturalize. Whether you keep your current passport depends on your home country:
| Home country | Dual nationality after Argentine naturalization | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes, since June 27, 2024; no retention permit needed | German Foreign Office |
| United States | Yes; US citizenship is lost only with intent to give it up | US Department of State |
| Canada | Yes | IRCC |
| United Kingdom | Yes | GOV.UK |
Taxes: residence matters more than the passport
Citizenship and tax residence are different things. Foreigners who live in Argentina for reasons other than work generally become Argentine tax residents from their 13th month, and investment-route citizens do not become tax residents just by naturalizing (PwC Tax Summaries). Germany taxes anyone who keeps a home there or stays more than six months on worldwide income (§1 EStG, §9 AO). Get cross-border tax advice before you move.
Where property fits in
Property does not buy citizenship in Argentina, but it is often the base of a move: a home for your residence years, an address for your Migraciones file, and possibly rental income that counts toward the rentista permit. If you are weighing Mendoza wine country, start with the Mendoza buyer guide.
Questions buyers ask
Can I get Argentine citizenship by buying property?
No. The investment program announced in October 2026 accepts only a USD 350,000 Treasury contribution or a USD 800,000 government bond. Property counts for neither route.
How long does it take to become an Argentine citizen?
The law allows naturalization after two years of continuous legal residence. Under the 2025 text you must not leave the country during those two years; courts have challenged parts of that reform, so confirm the current rules with a lawyer.
Can Germans keep their German citizenship if they become Argentine?
Yes. Since June 27, 2024 Germans no longer lose their citizenship when they acquire another one on application, and Argentina does not require renunciation.
Does an Argentine passport allow travel to Europe?
Yes. Argentine citizens can visit the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The US still requires a visa.