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Is Argentina's CBI Program Open Yet? Live Status and Timeline
Argentina's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program has moved from political announcement to legal framework, and it is now in its most consequential phase. On 2 October 2026, the Ministry of Economy officially announced the program's pricing and a government target of Q4 2026 to begin receiving applications. These figures are not yet codified in a published regulation. DNU 366/2025, the decree behind the program's no-residency principle, remains under Supreme Court review after two federal courts declared it invalid in June 2026. The original procurement tender was cancelled in April 2026, but the program itself continues. Applications are not yet open.
This page tracks every confirmed milestone in one continuously updated reference: official decrees, court rulings, government announcements and what comes next. Every figure is labelled as codified, officially announced or reported. For a full overview of the program, visit our main Argentina Citizenship by Investment guide.
Announced Pricing: What Is Official and What Is Not
On 2 October 2026, the Ministry of Economy officially announced the program's investment routes and family contributions. This is a ministerial statement, not a legal instrument. No figure below is codified in a published regulation, and each may change when the implementing regulation is issued.
On the contribution route, a main applicant, a spouse and two children under 18 total USD 500,000, the example the Ministry gives in its own statement. For worked totals on both routes and what each one costs in today's money, see our cost breakdown by family size.
Why the Court Rulings Matter
Argentina's CBI framework rests on two instruments. DNU 366/2025 amended the Citizenship Law so that a qualifying investment can replace the traditional two-year residency requirement. Decree 524/2025 then built the program's administrative structure on top of that change.
In June 2026, two federal appellate courts declared DNU 366/2025 invalid, ruling that citizenship touches political rights the Constitution reserves for Congress and cannot be changed by emergency decree. The government has appealed to the Supreme Court.
If the Court upholds the decree, the program's foundation is restored and implementation can resume. If the Court confirms the annulment, the same investment pathway would need to pass through Congress as ordinary legislation, where the government holds a stronger position after the 2025 midterm elections.
The government announced its Q4 2026 launch target on 2 October 2026 while the appeal was still pending. The announcement does not resolve the appeal, and the timing and outcome of the Court's decision remain the largest variable in any launch date.
Argentina CBI Program Timeline
Live Tracker: This timeline is continuously updated as new developments are confirmed.
May, 2025
DNU 366/2025: Immigration and Citizenship Reform Decree (Pre-CBI Legal Framework)
› Decree of necessity and urgency amending the Citizenship Law
› Allows a foreign national who makes a qualifying investment to apply for citizenship regardless of time of residence
› Creates the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs within the Ministry of Economy
Investor Impact
This is the instrument that waives the two-year residency requirement, and it is the one now under constitutional challenge (see Phase 8). Decree 524/2025 builds the application procedure on top of it. For investors, the no-residency principle that makes the program attractive depends on this decree, or on equivalent legislation from Congress.
July 31, 2025
Decree 524/2025 Published: Application Procedure Established
› Sets out the procedure for citizenship by investment applications
› Applications go to the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs, which assesses the investment and coordinates security and financial checks
› The National Directorate of Migration must decide within 30 business days of receiving the Agency's report
Further reading: Full analysis: Decree 524/2025 explained
Investor Impact
Decree 524/2025 is the program's procedural and institutional framework. It defines who handles an application, which state bodies run the background checks, and a 30-business-day deadline for the National Directorate of Migration to decide once it receives the Agency's report. The time the Agency needs for its own assessment has not been announced, so the total processing time is not yet known. The decree remains formally in force, but it builds on DNU 366/2025, so its practical effect depends on the Supreme Court's decision on that instrument.
Late December 2025
International Procurement Tender Launched
› The Ministry of Economy opens Tender 34-0001-CPU25 to procure specialised international firms for the program
› Proposals cover program design, application management and due diligence frameworks
Further reading: Argentina CBI Tender & Investment Updates
Investor Impact
At the time, a formal tender was read as a sign of institutional seriousness, with the government seeking international expertise rather than building the program in-house. The tender was later cancelled in April 2026 (see Phase 7).
January 20, 2026
Tender Submission Deadline Closes
› Formal deadline for all firms to submit CBI operator proposals
› Marks the end of the competitive bidding phase
› Shortlisting and evaluation of proposals begins
Investor Impact
The closure of bidding moved the tender into evaluation. Because the tender was cancelled in April 2026 (see Phase 7), this milestone is now of historical relevance only.
February 2026
Labor Reform Passed (Strengthening Argentina's Investment Climate)
› Major labor market reforms passed, increasing economic flexibility
› Reforms designed to reduce barriers to foreign business operations
› Part of the Milei administration's broader structural reform agenda
Investor Impact
While not directly tied to the CBI program itself, these labor reforms are directly relevant to investors evaluating Argentina's long-term stability and business environment. A more flexible, business-friendly economy strengthens the investment case for the country more broadly and increases confidence that the CBI program will be supported by a government committed to its pro-market direction.
February 27, 2026
Tax Residency Clarified: CBI Investors Will Not Be Automatically Taxed on Foreign Income
› Government confirms CBI investors will NOT automatically become Argentine tax residents
› Tax residency determined by physical presence (183+ days per year), not citizenship
› Foreign-sourced income not subject to Argentine tax unless the investor establishes residency
Further reading: Argentina CBI Tax Exemption (No Automatic Tax Residency for Investors 2026)
Investor Impact
This clarification is strategically significant. One of the most common investor concerns about CBI programs is unexpected tax exposure. By confirming that citizenship does not equal tax residency, Argentina removes a major barrier to participation and positions itself as a tax-efficient second citizenship option for investors who do not intend to relocate. This brings Argentina's tax treatment in line with the global standard for CBI programs.
March 5, 2026
Four-Firm Consortium Recommended in the Tender
› The Ministry of Economy recommends a four-firm consortium as the winning bidder in the procurement tender
› No contract was awarded: the tender was cancelled on April 14, 2026 (see Phase 7)
Investor Impact
At the time, the recommendation was read as a sign that the program was approaching operational readiness. Because the tender was cancelled, no master agent contract exists, and no firm has been appointed as an approved application channel.
March 25, 2026
Foreign Investment & Land Ownership Reforms Announced
› Argentina announces plans to relax restrictions on foreign land and asset ownership
› Reforms designed to encourage international capital inflows at scale
› Part of a broader regulatory overhaul attracting global investor attention
Investor Impact
The easing of foreign ownership restrictions is a direct complement to the CBI program. It signals that Argentina is not just opening a citizenship pathway, it is restructuring its entire investment environment to be more welcoming to international capital. For CBI applicants, this broader reform environment provides additional confidence that the government's pro-investment direction is sustained and systemic.
April 14, 2026
Resolution 522/2026: International Tender Cancelled
› Argentina's Ministry of Economy cancels Tender 34-0001-CPU25 in its entirety› This ended the tender only, not the program, which continues under the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs
› Decree 524/2025 and the tax residency clarification remain in force. DNU 366/2025 has since been declared invalid by two federal courts (see Phase 8)
Further reading: Argentina CBI Tender Cancelled: What Resolution 522/2026 Means for Investors
Investor Impact
The cancellation reset the procurement process. It did not end the program. What it delayed was the operational layer: agent infrastructure, investment thresholds and the application portal. The legal foundation was challenged separately, through the court rulings in June 2026 (see Phase 8).
June 18, 2026
Federal Appeals Court Rules Against DNU 366/2025 (Volosh Case)
› Sala III of the Camara Civil y Comercial Federal declares DNU 366/2025 unconstitutional
› The court finds the government did not demonstrate the emergency circumstances required to change citizenship rules by decree
› Jurisdiction over the applicant's citizenship petition returns to the federal courts
Investor Impact
This is the first appellate ruling against the decree that enables citizenship without prior residency. On its own it affects one case, but it signals that the judiciary views citizenship changes by emergency decree as constitutionally vulnerable, and it set the stage for the broader ruling that followed twelve days later.
June 30, 2026
National Electoral Chamber Declares DNU 366/2025 Null (Yang Liping Case)
› The Camara Nacional Electoral declares DNU 366/2025 absolutely null
› The court rules that citizenship is tied to political rights, which the Constitution reserves for Congress and excludes from emergency decrees
› The ruling is communicated to all federal electoral judges nationwide to unify criteria
Investor Impact
This is the most significant legal development since the program was created. DNU 366/2025 is the instrument that allows a qualifying investment to replace the two-year residency requirement, the foundation on which Decree 524/2025 rests. With two courts reaching the same conclusion, the program's fate now depends on the Supreme Court. Importantly, this does not cancel the program concept: even if the annulment stands, Congress can enact the same pathway through ordinary legislation.
Late June and July, 2026
Government Appeals to the Supreme Court; Investment Structure Reported
› The government files an extraordinary appeal against the annulment of DNU 366/2025
› Media reporting in late June, citing people familiar with the government's plans, describes a non-refundable donation of approximately USD 500,000 or approximately USD 1,000,000 in zero-coupon government bonds
› These figures were never officially confirmed and differ from those the Ministry of Economy announced on October 2, 2026
Investor Impact
The Supreme Court's decision became the single most important milestone before any launch. That reporting was the first on a possible investment structure, but it relied on unnamed sources, and several industry websites restated its figures as confirmed. They were not. The figures officially announced on 2 October 2026 differ from this report (see Phase 9), which is why this page labels every figure as reported, officially announced or codified.
October 2, 2026
Ministry of Economy Announces Pricing and a Q4 2026 Launch Target
› Announced in Paris during Argentina Week by Minister of Economy Luis Caputo and Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli
› Main applicant: USD 350,000 non-refundable Treasury contribution, or USD 800,000 in a government security that Minister Caputo described as a zero-rate bond, plus contributions for family members (see Announced Pricing above)
› Government target to begin receiving applications: Q4 2026
› Due diligence led by the Agency with the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), the Financial Information Unit (UIF) and the Ministries of Security and the Interior, following OECD and FATF recommendations
› All funds must move through the formal financial system
› A ministerial statement, not a legal instrument: no implementing regulation has been published
Further reading: Official announcement (Ministry of Economy, in Spanish)
Announcement video (Minister Caputo's channel, in Spanish)
Investor Impact
This is the first time the government has stated official figures, and they are lower than the approximately USD 500,000 that had been widely reported for a main applicant. It is also the first official timeline. Two caveats matter. The figures are officially announced, not codified, so they may change in the implementing regulation. And the announcement does not resolve the Supreme Court appeal on DNU 366/2025, which remains the largest variable for the Q4 2026 target. Investors can use the figures for planning, but should not treat them as final.
What Happens Next: The Remaining Milestones Before Launch
Three milestones remain before the program can open to applicants. The first two do not have to happen in this order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Argentina created a Citizenship by Investment framework by decree in 2025. DNU 366/2025 allows a qualifying investment to replace the two-year residency requirement, and Decree 524/2025 sets out the application procedure. On 2 October 2026 the Ministry of Economy officially announced pricing and a government target of Q4 2026 to begin receiving applications. The program is not yet open, and DNU 366/2025 is under Supreme Court review.
No. As of 2 October 2026, applications are not open and no application portal exists. The government's target is Q4 2026, but launch still depends on an implementing regulation and the pending Supreme Court appeal on DNU 366/2025, so slippage remains possible. Check your eligibility now, and you will be notified the moment applications open.
Yes, in the sense that it was created by official government decree and is a genuine state initiative, not a private scheme. Its legal foundation is under judicial review: two federal courts declared DNU 366/2025, the decree enabling citizenship without prior residency, invalid in June 2026, and the government's appeal is before the Supreme Court. Decree 524/2025 remains formally in force. The 2 October 2026 pricing announcement is a ministerial statement, not a legal instrument, and does not resolve the appeal.
No. In April 2026, Resolution 522/2026 cancelled the procurement tender for the program, not the program itself. The program continues under the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs within the Ministry of Economy, which officially announced pricing and a Q4 2026 launch target on 2 October 2026.
The Ministry of Economy has set a government target of Q4 2026. Before applications can open, an implementing regulation must be published, and the Supreme Court appeal on DNU 366/2025 is still pending. The target is the government's, not a guarantee, and slippage remains possible. ArgentinaCitizenships.com will update this page the moment anything material changes.
On 2 October 2026 the Ministry of Economy officially announced two routes for the main applicant: a non-refundable contribution of USD 350,000 to the National Treasury, or a subscription of USD 800,000 in a government security created for the program. A spouse adds USD 100,000, each unmarried, childless child aged 18 to 25 adds USD 100,000, and each child under 18 adds USD 25,000, so a family of four with two minor children totals USD 500,000 on the contribution route. These figures are not yet codified in a published regulation and may change. Government fees, due diligence fees and advisory fees have not been announced.
The framework is designed to require no physical residency for CBI applicants, which is its key difference from standard naturalization. This is also the provision at the center of the current court challenge, since the no-residency principle comes from DNU 366/2025, now before the Supreme Court. The final rules will depend on that outcome and on the implementing regulations. This page will be updated immediately upon official confirmation.
No, and this has been officially clarified. The Argentine government confirmed in late February 2026 that CBI investors will not automatically become Argentine tax residents. Tax residency in Argentina is determined by physical presence (generally 183+ days per year), not by citizenship status. Investors who obtain Argentine citizenship but do not relocate to Argentina will not be subject to Argentine tax on their foreign-sourced income. You should still consult a qualified cross-border tax advisor for your specific circumstances.
The Argentine passport currently provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 170 countries and territories, including the Schengen Area (29 European countries). It also grants Mercosur freedom of movement (the right to live and work across South America's largest economies), an advantage no Caribbean CBI passport offers. For a full breakdown of where Argentine passport holders can travel without a visa, see our dedicated passport guide.
Learn more: Argentine Passport Visa-Free Country List
Yes. Argentine law does not require you to renounce your existing citizenship when you naturalize as Argentine. You can hold both your current passport and an Argentine passport simultaneously. Note that your country of origin may have its own rules on dual nationality, so it is worth verifying your home country's position before proceeding.
