The History of Argentina’s Citizenship Laws and Decree 524/2025 Explained

Introduction: Why Decree 524/2025 Is Historic

In 2025, Argentina formally redefined the framework of its nationality law with the introduction of Decree 524/2025, establishing the legal foundation for the country’s first Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program.

This reform represents a pivotal moment. For the first time, foreign investors can obtain Argentine citizenship directly through economic contribution rather than years of physical residency.

Decree 524/2025 is more than an administrative update. It marks Argentina’s entry into the global investment-migration market, positioning the country as a credible alternative to traditional programs in Europe and the Caribbean. Understanding its background and legal underpinnings is essential for investors preparing to participate once applications open.

To explore the broader program framework, visit Argentina Citizenship by Investment 2026 Guide.

Evolution of Argentina’s Nationality Law

Argentina’s citizenship framework has deep constitutional roots. Since the adoption of the 1853 Constitution, the country has followed a combination of jus soli (citizenship by birth on national soil) and jus sanguinis (citizenship by descent) principles.

The cornerstone of modern nationality law remains Law No. 346, enacted in 1869 and later codified within the Argentine Civil Code. This law established that any person born in Argentina, or abroad to an Argentine parent, automatically acquires Argentine nationality. It also set out conditions for naturalization, typically requiring two years of continuous residence and a petition before a federal court.

Over time, several judicial precedents broadened access to citizenship. Courts occasionally waived residence requirements for applicants who demonstrated “strong social or economic ties” to Argentina. These cases quietly laid the groundwork for what would become a more formalized, investment-based path to citizenship.

However, prior to 2025, Argentina had no legal mechanism for direct citizenship by investment. The traditional process relied on judicial discretion, often resulting in inconsistent outcomes and lengthy timelines. Decree 524/2025 was designed to standardize this process within a clear administrative framework.

Legal Foundation for Citizenship by Investment

Decree 524/2025 does not replace Argentina’s existing nationality law—it expands upon it. Its foundation lies in the constitutional principle of equal civil rights for foreigners, stated in Article 20 of the Argentine Constitution. This article grants foreign residents the same civil rights as citizens, including property ownership, industry participation, and the ability to acquire nationality under prescribed conditions.

Building on this, Decree 524/2025 introduces an economic contribution pathway under which qualified investors can obtain citizenship directly through investment in Argentina’s national-priority sectors. This structure effectively modernizes the long-standing naturalization model by substituting prolonged residence with verified economic participation.

The decree also establishes a new institutional body: the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programs (Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión), to oversee application processing, investment verification, and compliance with anti-money-laundering standards.

This framework signals Argentina’s intent to align with international transparency norms, creating a citizenship model that is both efficient and legally robust.

For a deeper look into how this framework interacts with dual nationality, see Argentina Dual Citizenship: Rules, Taxes, and Legal Considerations for Investors.

What Decree 524/2025 Changes

The decree introduces three primary legal and administrative reforms:

• Citizenship through Economic Contribution
  For the first time, investors can qualify for Argentine citizenship by making a government-approved investment, expected around USD 500,000, into designated sectors such as renewable energy, agribusiness, technology, infrastructure, or tourism.

• Defined Processing Timelines
  The decree mandates that all applications be adjudicated within 30 business days once submitted, providing unprecedented efficiency compared to prior judicial processes that often took years.

• Multi-Agency Oversight and Compliance
  A coordinated compliance framework has been established between the Ministry of Economy, Migration Authority, Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), and Ministry of Justice. This ensures due diligence procedures meet global anti-money-laundering (AML) and counterterrorism-financing (CTF) standards.

Together, these reforms transform Argentina’s citizenship process from a purely judicial matter into a regulated, executive-administered framework, combining legal certainty with administrative transparency.

Implementation Timeline and Next Steps

Decree 524/2025 was published in July 2025, initiating Argentina’s first structured citizenship-by-investment framework. The next phase involves the publication of technical regulations defining specific investment categories, capital transfer procedures, and application documentation standards.

The implementation timeline currently anticipates:

• Q4 2025: Drafting of technical regulations and framework definitions.
• Q1 2026: Official program guidelines published by the Ministry of Economy.
• Q2 2026: Applications expected to open for qualified investors.

Until these regulations are finalized, investors are encouraged to begin preparing documentation, proofs of funds, and due diligence materials to ensure readiness for the first application window.

Legal Experts’ Interpretations

Legal scholars and policy experts in Buenos Aires describe Decree 524/2025 as a constitutional innovation that reflects Argentina’s shift toward global economic integration.

They note that the decree:

• Preserves Argentina’s sovereign control over nationality.
• Aligns investment-based citizenship with economic development objectives.
• Embeds transparency mechanisms consistent with OECD and FATF standards.

Early commentary emphasizes that this reform is not a departure from Argentina’s legal tradition but an evolution of it—modernizing a centuries-old system to meet the needs of an internationalized economy.

Some experts also highlight the decree’s potential to reinvigorate Argentina’s image as a secure, rule-based jurisdiction for global investors seeking both opportunity and mobility.

Conclusion: The Legal Foundation of a New Global Opportunity

Decree 524/2025 represents the most significant transformation in Argentina’s nationality framework since Law No. 346 was enacted over 150 years ago.

By formally establishing an investment-based pathway to citizenship, Argentina has positioned itself as a credible, G20-backed alternative in the global citizenship-by-investment market.

The combination of constitutional grounding, administrative efficiency, and international transparency standards ensures that Argentina’s Citizenship by Investment program is built on solid legal foundations, not temporary policy.

To understand how Argentina’s new program compares globally, read Argentina vs Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (Comparison Guide).