In a bold move to bolster its dwindling dollar reserves and attract fresh capital, the Argentine government has unveiled a new citizenship-by-investment program. President Javier Milei, who has been aggressively working to deregulate the nation’s economy, aims to reverse a trend where Argentina has significantly trailed regional neighbors like Brazil and Mexico in foreign direct investment. Under the proposed plan, foreign nationals can obtain an Argentine passport by either making a non-refundable $350,000 contribution to the National Treasury or purchasing $800,000 in specialized government bonds.

The initiative, announced during Argentina Week in Paris, also allows for the inclusion of spouses and children for additional fees, with the government emphasizing that all applicants will undergo a strict vetting process to prevent money laundering and ensure national security. While the administration views this as a vital fiscal tool, the policy has sparked debate among local analysts. Critics worry about the quality of potential investors and the moral implications of what some have dubbed an "Argentina for sale" approach, particularly as other recent reforms—such as lifting caps on foreign ownership of rural land—face strong pushback from political opposition and veterans’ groups.