BUENOS AIRES – Argentina is poised to reshape the Latin American migration landscape as it formalizes the structure for its first-ever Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. Overseen by the newly established Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión (APCI), the initiative is moving from regulatory decree into operational reality, with a specialized master agent expected to be appointed in the coming weeks.
A Landmark Tender: Six Bidders Compete
Following the international tender issued in late 2025, six global firms have submitted formal offers to design and manage the program for an initial four-year period. The list includes industry heavyweights such as:
- Henley & Partners
- Latitude Consultancy
- Salzburg International (Reach Immigration)
- A Four-Firm Consortium (Apex Capital Partners, AIM Global, Passport Legacy, and Arton Capital)
The winning firm will act as the “program architect,” responsible for everything from due diligence frameworks to global marketing.
The $10-Per-Application Strategy
The most significant talking point of the procurement process is the aggressive pricing strategy proposed by the four-firm consortium. The group offered a total compensation of just $50,000 for the first 5,000 applications, effectively $10 per approval.
In contrast, other bidders like Henley & Partners proposed models that could total up to $25 million in government payments. This low-cost bid suggests a shift toward a private-revenue model, where the master agent generates income through direct investor fees for due diligence and processing, rather than relying on government tranches.
Program Design: What Investors Can Expect
While official thresholds are still being finalized, the program (created under Decree 366/2025 and Decree 524/2025) is expected to prioritize productive investments.
- Investment Thresholds: Media speculation points to a potential $500,000 minimum, though the government has yet to confirm a figure.
- Eligible Sectors: Agribusiness, renewable energy, technology, and tourism infrastructure are likely to be prioritized over real estate.
- Mercosur Benefits: One of the strongest selling points is the Argentine passport’s ranking (currently 15th globally) and the settlement rights it grants across the nine Mercosur member states.
Launch Timeline: Q3 2026
As of April 2026, the APCI is in the final stages of bid evaluation. According to industry insiders, the program is slated for an operational rollout in the second half of 2026.
Unlike traditional naturalization, this new mechanism allows foreigners to initiate the citizenship process without a prior period of residency, provided they pass stringent background checks and security screenings by national agencies, including the SIDE and UIF.
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