Eligibility & documents
Requirements for Argentine Citizenship by Investment
What a U.S. applicant should expect to prove, and how American documents are prepared for use in Argentina.
01
What are the core requirements?
Short answer
A qualifying investment under a mechanism defined by the Ministry of Economy, proof of identity and civil status, a clean background, documented lawful source of funds, and a favorable outcome of Argentine due diligence.
- Qualifying investment – currently announced as a Treasury contribution or program bond.
- Identity – valid passport; birth certificate.
- Civil status – marriage, divorce or name-change records as applicable.
- Background – criminal record certificates from the U.S. and other countries of residence.
- Source of funds – evidence of how the funds were earned and transferred.
- Security review – opinions from the Ministry of Security, UIF, Criminal Records Registry, RENAPER and SIDE.
The Agency's procedural rules will define the definitive checklist. Treat this as a planning guide.
02
Which U.S. documents are typically needed?
| Document | Issued by | Authentication |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. passport | U.S. Department of State | Certified copy as required |
| Birth certificate | State vital records office | Apostille from that state's Secretary of State |
| Marriage / divorce records | State or county | State apostille |
| FBI Identity History Summary | FBI (federal) | Apostille from the U.S. Department of State |
| Notarized documents (e.g. powers of attorney) | U.S. notary | State apostille |
| Financial records | Banks, brokers, CPAs, IRS | As required by the Agency |
03
Do U.S. documents need an apostille and Spanish translation?
Short answer
Generally yes to both. The U.S. and Argentina are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, and documents in English are usually translated by an Argentine certified public translator.
Order apostilles from the correct authority: state documents through the issuing state; federal documents through the Department of State Office of Authentications. Ask counsel about translation before you start, as translations done in the United States may not be accepted without further formalities.
04
How should Americans prepare source-of-funds evidence?
Short answer
Build a documented trail from the origin of wealth (salary, business sale, investments, inheritance) to the account that funds the investment.
- U.S. federal tax returns and W-2 / K-1 / 1099 forms.
- Bank and brokerage statements for the accounts involved.
- Closing statements for business or real estate sales.
- Company financial statements and distribution records for business owners.
- Estate documents for inheritances; gift letters and records for gifts.
Funds held in third countries (for example the UAE or Europe) should be documented with the same rigor.
05
What about family members?
Short answer
Spouses and certain children may be included, each with proof of relationship and their own background documents. Announced figures add an amount per family member, subject to the final rules.
| Family member | Typical proof | Announced additional amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Apostilled, translated marriage certificate | USD 100,000 (subject to final rules) |
| Children under 18 | Apostilled, translated birth certificate; consent of both parents where required | USD 25,000 per child (subject to final rules) |
| Unmarried children 18–25 without children | Birth certificate plus evidence of dependency | To be confirmed by implementing rules |
Adult family members generally provide their own criminal record certificates. Ask counsel how domestic partnerships, stepchildren and adopted children are treated.
06
How does the U.S. apostille process work in practice?
Short answer
The authority that apostilles a document depends on who issued it: the state's Secretary of State for state and notarized documents, and the U.S. Department of State for federal documents such as the FBI report.
- Order a certified copy of each civil record from the state or county vital records office. Plain photocopies cannot be apostilled.
- Request the state apostille from the Secretary of State (or equivalent office) of the state that issued the record. Each state sets its own fees and processing method.
- Request the FBI Identity History Summary with fingerprints, then send it to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications for a federal apostille.
- Notarized documents such as powers of attorney are apostilled by the state where the notary is commissioned.
- Check validity windows. Background certificates are usually expected to be recent; confirm the accepted age of each document before ordering.
Processing times vary by state and by season. Plan the order of requests so time-sensitive documents are obtained last.
07
Who translates U.S. documents into Spanish?
Short answer
In Argentina, official translations are usually done by a certified public translator (traductor público) and legalized by the translators' professional association, such as the Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
A translation certified by a U.S. translator or notary is not automatically equivalent. Translate the document after it has been apostilled, so the apostille itself is also translated. Confirm with counsel which documents require translation and legalization under the Agency's rules.
08
What can cause an application to be refused?
Short answer
Approval is discretionary. Criminal records, sanctions exposure, unexplained funds, inconsistent documents or adverse security opinions can lead to refusal.
- Criminal convictions or pending proceedings in any country of residence.
- Appearing on sanctions lists (for example U.S. OFAC or UN lists) or links to sanctioned persons.
- Gaps or contradictions in the source-of-funds trail.
- Inconsistent names, dates or civil status across documents.
- Adverse opinions from the Ministry of Security, UIF, RENAPER, SIDE or other reviewing bodies.
- False or incomplete statements in the application.
09
Pre-filing checklist for U.S. applicants
- Valid U.S. passport with enough remaining validity.
- Certified, apostilled birth certificate (and for each family member).
- Apostilled marriage, divorce or name-change records, if applicable.
- FBI Identity History Summary with federal apostille; records from other countries of residence.
- Source-of-funds file: tax returns, statements, sale documents, company records.
- Spanish translations by an Argentine certified public translator.
- Power of attorney for Argentine counsel, if filing through a representative.
- Advice from a U.S. tax professional on the chosen investment option.
This list is a planning aid; the Agency's procedural rules define the definitive requirements.
Related questions
10
Which U.S. income and assets can document the source of funds?
Short answer
Any lawful, documented source can work if a clear paper trail links it to the funds transferred. Common U.S. evidence includes tax returns, W-2s, K-1s, closing statements and brokerage records. Argentine anti-money-laundering rules (Law 25.246, UIF) apply.
| Source | Typical evidence |
|---|---|
| Salary or bonuses | W-2 forms, pay records, Form 1040 returns |
| Business income (LLC, S-Corp, partnership) | Schedule K-1, company financials, distribution records |
| Sale of real estate | Closing statement (settlement statement), deed, bank deposit record |
| Investment accounts | Brokerage statements, Form 1099 records, sale confirmations |
| Retirement withdrawals (401(k), IRA) | Distribution statements, Form 1099-R |
| Inheritance or gift | Probate or estate documents, gift letter, donor's source of funds |
| Digital assets | Exchange history, reported gains, conversion and bank transfer records |
Send funds by bank wire from an account in the applicant's own name, following the instructions issued by the Argentine authorities. Avoid cash, third-party payers and unverified intermediaries. Keep the full wire confirmation.
The Argentine authorities will define the accepted evidence and transfer channel; this table is a planning aid only.
Related questions
What documents do U.S. citizens need?
Expect, at a minimum, a valid passport, a birth certificate, civil status documents (marriage or divorce records), criminal background certificates, and detailed source-of-funds evidence such as bank statements, tax returns, sale agreements or corporate records. The definitive list will be set by the Agency's procedural rules.
Do U.S. documents need an apostille?
Generally, yes. Both the United States and Argentina are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. State-issued documents such as birth and marriage certificates are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state; federal documents such as an FBI Identity History Summary are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.
Do U.S. documents need to be translated into Spanish?
Yes. Documents in English generally must be translated into Spanish, and Argentine authorities commonly require translations by a certified public translator (traductor público) whose signature is legalized by the relevant professional association in Argentina. Ask counsel before commissioning translations in the United States.
What background or police documents may be required?
For U.S. applicants, the usual federal record is the FBI Identity History Summary, apostilled by the Department of State. Certificates may also be requested from other countries where you have lived. Argentine authorities will separately consult the National Criminal Records Registry and security agencies.
How is source of funds verified?
The Government has said the program will apply due diligence and financial transparency standards aligned with OECD and FATF recommendations, and the UIF (Argentina's financial intelligence unit) issues an opinion on each case. Applicants should be ready to document how the funds were earned and how they moved from origin to investment.
Can my children apply with me?
Yes. The announced rules allow children under 18 (contribution announced at USD 25,000 each) and unmarried children aged 18 to 25 without children of their own (USD 100,000 each). The parent-child relationship must be documented with apostilled, translated birth certificates.