Brief
Argentina to sell citizenship for $350,000 contributions or $800,000 bond investments
Economy Minister Luis Caputo unveiled a “golden passport” scheme in Paris, aiming to raise billions for the debt‑laden nation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Argentina announced on 2 October that it will create a “golden passport” program allowing wealthy foreigners to obtain Argentine citizenship in exchange for a cash contribution or a bond investment, Economy Minister Luis Caputo said at an investor event in Paris.
Applicants can choose between a non‑refundable $350,000 contribution to the Argentine Treasury or an $800,000 purchase of a new government bond that must be held for seven years. The contribution amount rises with family size; a family of four would pay $500,000, according to officials.
Caputo said the scheme is intended to secure dollars ahead of President Javier Milei’s re‑election bid next year. Argentina faces nearly $25 billion in foreign‑currency debt payments due in 2027 and has limited access to international bond markets, prompting the search for alternative revenue sources.
A consortium of investment firms advising the government estimates the program could raise up to $2.5 billion if the expected number of applicants materialises.
Golden‑visa programmes are common in cash‑strapped countries; about 60 nations currently offer residency for one‑off investments, while roughly a dozen provide full citizenship. The Argentine passport, Caputo noted, is accepted visa‑free in more than 140 countries, including China, Russia, the Schengen area and most of Latin America.
Kristin Surak, a London School of Economics professor and author of “The Golden Passport: Global Mobility for Millionaires,” said the Argentine passport could help wealthy individuals from visa‑restricted regions such as Southeast Asia or the Arab world travel and conduct business more easily.
Key facts
- Argentina will offer citizenship for a $350,000 treasury contribution or an $800,000 bond purchase. (fortune.com)
- A family of four would need to pay $500,000 under the contribution option. (fortune.com)
- The program could raise up to $2.5 billion, according to an advisory consortium. (fortune.com)
- Argentina’s foreign‑currency debt payments due in 2027 total nearly $25 billion. (fortune.com)
- The Argentine passport is visa‑free in more than 140 countries. (fortune.com)
Sources
- [1] fortune.com — originally reported as “The 'golden passport': Argentina to offer citizenship for foreigners that make a $350,000 contribution to its treasury—or invest $800,000 in its bonds”
