Argentina's Golden Passport to Attract Wealthy Americans

Argentina's forthcoming citizenship-by-investment program is projected to become a highly sought-after status symbol among wealthy Americans, according to Nuri Katz, founder of Apex Capital Partners and a consultant who assisted in the program's design. Katz stated to Fortune on Friday that he anticipates the program will become so popular with American high-net-worth individuals that possessing an Argentinian passport will be a point of pride, potentially leading to embarrassment for those who do not acquire one. This initiative marks South America's first program of its kind, aiming to attract foreign capital and bolster the nation's dollar reserves amidst significant debt. Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced the program's impending launch, with applications slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The program offers two distinct investment pathways for individuals seeking Argentinian citizenship. The first route involves a non-refundable contribution of $350,000 for a single applicant, while a family of four would be expected to contribute $500,000. The second pathway requires an investment of $800,000 in a government security specifically created for this program. However, the announcement does not specify the maturity, yield, or repayment terms for this particular bond. The application process will be overseen by the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs, which will collaborate with several key government bodies, including the State Intelligence Secretariat, the Financial Information Unit, and the Ministry of Security. These agencies will conduct thorough checks covering identity verification, the source of funds, criminal and reputational records, and an applicant's immigration history. All financial contributions must be processed through the formal financial system, with the National Directorate of Migration holding the ultimate authority for approving or denying applications. Katz's firm, Apex Capital Partners, is part of a consortium of five investment-migration firms known as Argentina Mobility for Investment and Global Opportunity Limited, which has provided advisory services to the Argentinian government on this program. Katz himself has extensive experience in the field, having previously advised on the creation of Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship-by-investment program in 2013 and contributing to the drafting of investor legislation in Cyprus in 2011. In June, Katz had previously informed Fortune that Argentina was in the process of developing South America's inaugural citizenship-by-investment program, predicting it would attract substantial interest from American investors.