Step by step
The Application Process for U.S. Citizens
How an application moves from preparation to decision, and which Argentine authorities are involved at each stage.
01
How does the process work?
Short answer
Prepare documents and funds, file with the Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión, pass due diligence, receive the Agency's report, and await a decision by the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
- 1
Preliminary assessment
Review eligibility, family composition, source of funds and the U.S. tax implications of each investment option. Argentine counsel and a U.S. tax professional should be involved before any funds move.
- 2
Document preparation
Obtain U.S. civil records, FBI Identity History Summary and financial evidence; arrange apostilles and Spanish translations; sign any powers of attorney.
- 3
Filing with the Agency
The application is submitted to the Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión, which assesses whether the investment qualifies as relevant.
- 4
Due diligence
The Agency gathers prior opinions from the Ministry of Security, UIF, the National Criminal Records Registry, RENAPER, SIDE and other bodies, and considers third-country security standards.
- 5
Agency report
The Agency issues a reasoned report recommending approval or refusal to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.
- 6
DNM decision
Under Decree 524/2025, the DNM decides within 30 business days of receiving the report. Approval is discretionary and not guaranteed.
- 7
DNI and passport
If citizenship is granted, the new citizen applies to RENAPER for a national ID (DNI) and an Argentine passport.
02
How long does it take?
Short answer
No overall timeline can be promised. The only fixed term announced is the DNM's 30 business days after receiving the Agency's report.
Document collection in the U.S. and due diligence can take considerably longer, and the program's operational rules are new.
03
Do I need to travel to Argentina?
No residence is required. Whether personal appearances are needed (for example for biometrics or the DNI) will depend on the Agency's and RENAPER's procedures. Much of the preparation can usually be handled by Argentine counsel under a power of attorney.
04
What happens in each phase?
Short answer
The work splits into four phases: document preparation in the U.S., translation and filing preparation in Argentina, review by the Agency, and the DNM decision followed by DNI and passport issuance.
Phase A — In the United States
Eligibility review, tax planning, certified civil records, FBI Identity History Summary, apostilles from the issuing state's Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and powers of attorney.
Phase B — In Argentina
Translation by an Argentine certified public translator (traductor público), legalization of the translator's signature, and assembly of the file by counsel.
Phase C — Agency review
Filing, qualification of the investment and inter-agency due diligence, ending with the Agency's reasoned report.
Phase D — Decision and documents
DNM decision (30 business days after the report, per Decree 524/2025), then DNI and passport through RENAPER if approved.
The phases often overlap, and their duration depends on U.S. agencies, Argentine authorities and the completeness of the file.
05
How are funds transferred from a U.S. bank?
Short answer
Funds should move only after counsel confirms the qualifying instrument and the official receiving account, by traceable wire transfer from an account in the applicant's name, with documented source of funds. Argentina's Financial Information Unit (UIF) is part of the due diligence.
- Prepare source-of-funds evidence in advance: sale of a business or property, salary, investments, inheritance.
- Avoid cash, third-party payers and intermediaries' personal accounts.
- Expect enhanced review by your U.S. bank for a large international wire; tell your bank in advance.
- Keep wire confirmations, statements and receipts: they support both the Argentine file and U.S. reporting.
Never send funds to anyone claiming to guarantee approval or a fixed timeline.
06
Can my application be refused?
Short answer
Yes. Under Decree 524/2025 the DNM decides on the basis of the Agency's report and the due diligence opinions, and approval is discretionary.
Incomplete documents, unclear source of funds, criminal records or security concerns can lead to refusal. Ask counsel how refunds, appeals and the treatment of funds already transferred would work under the final rules before committing capital.
Source: Decree 524/2025 (Boletín Oficial, July 31, 2025).
07
What auxiliary costs should a U.S. applicant budget for?
Short answer
Beyond the investment itself, applicants pay for U.S. records, apostilles, Argentine certified translations, powers of attorney, professional fees and any program or government fees set in the final rules. Each is modest alone but adds up across a family file.
| Item | Who issues it | Cost note |
|---|---|---|
| Certified birth / marriage / divorce records | State or county vital records office | Set by each state; usually a per-copy fee |
| State apostille | Secretary of State of the issuing state | Set by each state, per document |
| FBI Identity History Summary | FBI CJIS Division (directly or via an approved channeler) | Federal fee; channelers charge more for speed |
| Federal apostille (FBI report) | U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications | Per-document federal fee |
| Spanish translation | Argentine traductor público | Per page or per document, plus legalization by the Colegio de Traductores |
| Power of attorney | Argentine consulate or U.S. notary + apostille | Consular fee or notary + apostille fees |
| Courier and shipping | Private couriers | International shipping of originals |
| Professional fees | Argentine counsel; U.S. tax adviser | Agree scope and milestones in writing |
| Program / government fees | Argentine authorities | Not yet published in final form |
Fees change; check the current amount on each issuing authority's official website before ordering. Multiply document costs by each family member included in the application.
08
How long do U.S. documents take, and when do they expire?
Short answer
U.S. document collection is often the first bottleneck: the FBI report plus its federal apostille can take several weeks, and background checks are generally accepted only if recent — commonly within a window of a few months. Order them last, once the rest of the file is ready.
- Sequence matters: gather civil records and financial evidence first, then request the FBI report so it is still recent at filing.
- Apostille after certification: state records go to the issuing state's Secretary of State; the FBI report goes to the U.S. Department of State.
- Translate after apostille: the Argentine translator must translate the document together with its apostille.
- Validity windows: the exact acceptance period for background checks and civil records will be set by Argentine authorities; confirm it with counsel before ordering.
- Name consistency: names, dates and places must match across passport, records and bank documents; fix discrepancies before filing.
09
How does the Argentine calendar affect the timeline?
Short answer
January is Argentina's summer recess: the courts observe a judicial recess (feria judicial) and much of public administration and private practice slows down. Holy Week, the July winter recess and national holidays also pause activity.
- Avoid planning critical filings or appointments for January.
- Administrative deadlines in Argentina are generally counted in business days, so holidays extend them — including the DNM's 30-business-day term under Decree 524/2025.
- Argentina is 1–2 hours ahead of New York (UTC-3, no daylight saving time), which makes real-time coordination with counsel easy.
Source: Law 19.549 (National Administrative Procedure Law); Decree 524/2025.
10
How should I prepare my U.S. bank and records?
Short answer
Before any wire, assemble a source-of-funds file, alert your U.S. bank, and confirm with your U.S. tax adviser how the asset and any Argentine accounts will be reported.
- Collect tax returns, sale contracts, brokerage statements or estate documents that explain the origin of the funds.
- Ask your bank about wire limits, compliance questions and required in-person or callback verification.
- Never wire funds to an intermediary's personal account or before counsel confirms the official receiving account.
- Keep a single folder with every confirmation, receipt and correspondence for both Argentine and U.S. purposes.
11
Pre-filing operational checklist
- Eligibility and investment option reviewed with Argentine counsel.
- U.S. tax implications reviewed with a U.S. tax professional.
- Certified civil records for each family member, apostilled.
- Recent FBI Identity History Summary with federal apostille.
- Spanish translations by a traductor público, legalized.
- Power of attorney signed and apostilled or consular.
- Source-of-funds file complete; bank informed.
- Calendar checked for January recess and holidays.
A complete file does not guarantee approval; the decision remains discretionary.
Related questions
How long does the process take?
No total processing time can be promised. Decree 524/2025 provides that the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones decides within 30 business days of receiving the Agency's report, but the time needed to gather documents, complete due diligence and issue that report is not fixed. Add time afterward for DNI and passport issuance.
Who reviews the application?
The Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión, a decentralized body within the Ministry of Economy, receives the application and assesses whether the investment qualifies. It prepares a reasoned report based on prior opinions from the Ministry of Security, the Financial Information Unit (UIF), the National Criminal Records Registry, RENAPER and the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), among others. The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones then decides.
Can I apply while living in the United States?
The framework grants citizenship "regardless of the time of residence," so living in Argentina is not a prerequisite. The practical filing channel (in person, through a representative, or remotely) and any required appearances in Argentina will be set by the Agency's procedural rules. Argentine counsel can usually handle much of the process under a power of attorney.
Do I need an Argentine lawyer?
It is not a legal requirement in every case, but it is strongly advisable. The application involves Argentine legislation, new regulations, Spanish-language filings, apostilled and translated documents and rigorous due diligence. An Argentine lawyer can assess eligibility and prepare the file before any funds are committed.