An IMGW News Report
Argentina has officially approved a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) framework, allowing foreigners to acquire citizenship for a minimum US$500,000 investment in “productive sectors” such as tourism and infrastructure, according to reports confirmed by Forbes, CitizenX, and Creimerman Law.
“It’s time to honour our history and make Argentina great again.”
– Manuel Adorni, Presidential spokesperson
First hinted at in IMGW News’ report “Argentina’s $500K Passport Gambit: Luring Capital to Escape Economic Freefall?”, the programme marks a major policy shift under President Javier Milei. Unlike traditional donation-based CBI schemes, Argentina’s plan prioritises job-creating investments, mirroring elements of the US EB-5 visa programme while aligning with Milei’s libertarian economic agenda of deregulation, fiscal consolidation, and privatisation.
The approval comes as Argentina battles economic instability. Inflation, once near 300% in 2024, has fallen to 47.3% year-on-year as of April 2025, thanks to sweeping reforms and a US$20 billion IMF deal. GDP remains weak, however, and unemployment persists, making foreign investment critical to recovery.
Yet this pro-investor move contrasts with a simultaneous immigration crackdown. An executive decree signed this week introduces strict conditions for residency and citizenship for ordinary migrants: two uninterrupted years in-country or a major investment, clean criminal records, proof of income, and even charges for foreigners accessing healthcare and education (AP News). Deportation will now be expedited for those entering illegally or committing minor offences.
Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni defended the decree, stating: “It’s time to honour our history and make Argentina great again.” Critics, including UN migration officials, accuse the government of politicising migration ahead of elections, noting Argentina’s foreign-born population – just 1.9 million in a nation of 46 million – is at its lowest in 150 years.
This dual strategy – welcoming affluent investors while tightening gates on vulnerable migrants – underscores a policy paradox. If executed effectively, Argentina could become a regional outlier: a South American country blending passport-for-capital opportunities with strict border controls, reviving a legacy of immigration through the prism of market-driven reform.
Read our earlier analysis: Argentina’s $500K Passport Gambit: Luring Capital to Escape Economic Freefall?
