Developing Story
Argentina – 'Golden Passport' Citizenship-by-Investment Scheme (2026)
Argentina under President Milei is reportedly plotting a citizenship-by-investment 'golden passport' scheme as a debt-reduction mechanism, which would make it one of the world's largest such programs. The plan carries significant legal, reputational, and geopolitical risk given international AML scrutiny of such programs.
Importance: 72%Confidence: 75%Mentions: 1Updated: June 28, 2026
## Argentina – 'Golden Passport' Citizenship-by-Investment Scheme (2026)
### Overview
Argentina is reportedly planning to become one of the world's largest countries to offer a citizenship-by-investment program under President Javier Milei, according to the Financial Times. The scheme is described as part of a broader strategy to pay down sovereign debts (FT, June 27).
### Program Structure
Specific investment thresholds and qualifying asset classes have not been publicly confirmed. Argentina would join a global market of golden passport schemes that typically require real estate, business, or fund investments in exchange for citizenship or residency rights.
### Strategic Context
- **Debt reduction**: The Milei administration has aggressively pursued heterodox fiscal tools; citizenship-by-investment revenue would provide a non-debt capital inflow.
- **Scale**: Argentina's population and geographic size would make it one of the largest sovereign issuers of investment-linked citizenship, potentially attracting significant capital from Latin American, Chinese, and Middle Eastern high-net-worth individuals.
- **Milei administration track record**: The government has pursued rapid deregulation (Ley Hojarasca), labor reform, and privatization alongside this scheme.
### Legal & Reputational Risks
- EU and US authorities have historically scrutinized golden passport programs for money laundering, sanctions evasion, and tax avoidance.
- Argentina's IRGC terrorist designation and Iran foreign policy shift may complicate vetting of applicants from certain jurisdictions.
- FATF and OECD may flag the program depending on design.
### Watch
- Legislative or executive action implementing the program.
- Investment minimums and qualifying categories.
- International regulatory reactions, particularly from FATF.