Argentina's Golden Passport Investment Option coming in 2026?

[earlyretirement]

My firm @BuySellBA has advised President Milei's administration to do a Golden Passport program since last 2023. We also advised to do a Mega Blanqueo a few months ago which they took our advice and now in the midst of implementing as you can see in the news. Now the Golden Passport program is in the works. Our suggested amount is $300,000 USD minimum investment in real estate or a business here to get an Argentine passport.

It's going to be amazing.

 

[Uncle Wong]

My firm @BuySellBA has advised President Milei's administration to do a Golden Passport program since last 2023. We also advised to do a Mega Blanqueo a few months ago which they took our advice and now in the midst of implementing as you can see in the news. Now the Golden Passport program is in the works. Our suggested amount is $300,000 USD minimum investment in real estate or a business here to get an Argentine passport.

It's going to be amazing.

This would be HUGE. Argentina would get a ton of people doing it. Too bad it's too much. I don't have $300,000! Do you think there is any chance they will reduce that Mike?

It is great that the government reversed course on China. China is far too important for Argentina to turn its back on now. The relationship should get stronger and stronger.

Mega tax amnesty seems like a great idea!

 

[JonJLA]

This would be HUGE. Argentina would get a ton of people doing it. Too bad it's too much. I don't have $300,000! Do you think there is any chance they will reduce that Mike?

It is great that the government reversed course on China. China is far too important for Argentina to turn its back on now. The relationship should get stronger and stronger.

Mega tax amnesty seems like a great idea!

I doubt any country can turn their back on China at this point. Too powerful now. I think their future moving forward is potentially more powerful than the USA. Seeing what is going on there and some of the technology there is putting US cities to shame. They will be the country to watch heading into the future.

 

[sophos]

This would indeed be a good way for more investments into Argentina. Very quickly. The government’s migraciones is not known to make things easy or quick so if they did offer this CBI - Citizenship by Investment option I would hope they would do it it’s another departament of the government.

This has worked extremely well in other parts of the world. I don’t see why it would not here either.

 

[CraigM]

I doubt any country can turn their back on China at this point. Too powerful now. I think their future moving forward is potentially more powerful than the USA. Seeing what is going on there and some of the technology there is putting US cities to shame. They will be the country to watch heading into the future.

I would advise the government to tread very carefully here. Talk to countries like Canada and Australia that had similar programs and saw their real estate markets overrun with Chinese investors which made them completely unaffordable to citizens - I don't mean prices went up 20%, they went up 2-5x depending on the market. China has 1.4 billion people vs Canada's 40 million and Australia's 25 million, and the Chinese still don't trust their own government or economy so they try to get their money overseas and mainly into property. It just doesn't take many Chinese relative to their total population to overrun smaller countries' housing markets. Chinese investors are also not concerned about overpaying because the bigger risk to them is losing it all via confiscation at home. The one good thing for Argentina right now is China's economy is struggling for the first time in decades and the main culprit is massive overinvestment in real estate, so they're not the eager buyers of foreign property like they used to be.

Canada finally stopped allowing foreign property purchases but they were at least a decade too late. Now with property prices rolling over and all the mortgage rate resets going on (Canada doesn't have fixed 30yr mortgages) this restriction is likely to bite them in the rear, because bargain buyers from the US can't save them if things get bad, which they very well might. It's a mess and there's no easy way out, especially after 8 years of horrible government that caused the economy and wages to stagnate.

 

[FuturoBA]

This would be HUGE. Argentina would get a ton of people doing it. Too bad it's too much. I don't have $300,000! Do you think there is any chance they will reduce that Mike?

It is great that the government reversed course on China. China is far too important for Argentina to turn its back on now. The relationship should get stronger and stronger.

Mega tax amnesty seems like a great idea!

Maybe I'm missing something but for the average person, why would one want CBI(citizenship by investment) or golden visa when it's much cheaper to go through the residency to citizenship route (although longer)? Somebody already looking to invest or buy, or who otherwise wouldn't qualify for residency I could see pursuing it.

 

[Colin]

Maybe I'm missing something but for the average person, why would one want CBI(citizenship by investment) or golden visa when it's much cheaper to go through the residency to citizenship route (although longer)? Somebody already looking to invest or buy, or who otherwise wouldn't qualify for residency I could see pursuing it.

No strings or hassles and very very quick and immediate. If you are going to invest anyway it’s a great program. It will immediately get you it. Other countries were very successful with these problems and raised so much they had to shut it down.

I would advise the government to tread very carefully here. Talk to countries like Canada and Australia that had similar programs and saw their real estate markets overrun with Chinese investors which made them completely unaffordable to citizens - I don't mean prices went up 20%, they went up 2-5x depending on the market. China has 1.4 billion people vs Canada's 40 million and Australia's 25 million, and the Chinese still don't trust their own government or economy so they try to get their money overseas and mainly into property. It just doesn't take many Chinese relative to their total population to overrun smaller countries' housing markets. Chinese investors are also not concerned about overpaying because the bigger risk to them is losing it all via confiscation at home. The one good thing for Argentina right now is China's economy is struggling for the first time in decades and the main culprit is massive overinvestment in real estate, so they're not the eager buyers of foreign property like they used to be.

Canada finally stopped allowing foreign property purchases but they were at least a decade too late. Now with property prices rolling over and all the mortgage rate resets going on (Canada doesn't have fixed 30yr mortgages) this restriction is likely to bite them in the rear, because bargain buyers from the US can't save them if things get bad, which they very well might. It's a mess and there's no easy way out, especially after 8 years of horrible government that caused the economy and wages to stagnate.

Excellent point Craig. I want to buy something before they do this program!! My friend lives in Toronto and homes are out of reach there now because of it. Buenos Aires properties are still very cheap so I think Chinese would probably buy bigger properties or high end properties. If they make it $500,000 like the government wants I think it would drive up the prices of the most expensive or high end properties. But you are right. Any CBI program in Argentina will make prices that are already out of reach for the typical local skyrocket!

 

[FuturoBA]

No strings or hassles and very very quick and immediate. If you are going to invest anyway it’s a great program. It will immediately get you it. Other countries were very successful with these problems and raised so much they had to shut it down.


Excellent point Craig. I want to buy something before they do this program!! My friend lives in Toronto and homes are out of reach there now because of it. Buenos Aires properties are still very cheap so I think Chinese would probably buy bigger properties or high end properties. If they make it $500,000 like the government wants I think it would drive up the prices of the most expensive or high end properties. But you are right. Any CBI program in Argentina will make prices that are already out of reach for the typical local skyrocket!

For the other countries what were the other ways for residency or citizenship?? I would think the more complex and the more useful the passport the more a CBI would be worth. For Argentina, I see lists ranking it pretty strong but is pretty simple by alternate routes - can obtain after 2 year residency.

There is the benefit, from my understanding, is it generally has family inclusion and no physical presence limitations required. For certain people this could be a big deal.

 

[FuturoBA]

For the other countries what were the other ways for residency or citizenship?? I would think the more complex and the more useful the passport the more a CBI would be worth. For Argentina, I see lists ranking it pretty strong but is pretty simple by alternate routes - can obtain after 2 year residency.

There is the benefit, from my understanding, is it generally has family inclusion and no physical presence limitations required. For certain people this could be a big deal.

According to Bowtiedmara they may be changing this as well

"Also, from what has leaked so far, this normal residency route to citizenship would require a petitioner to obtain permanent residency first, meaning that the full process to citizenship without investment would entail five years in the case of non-Mercocur citizens and four years for Mercosur citizens."

My understanding was that currently after renewing your temporary residency and after the 2nd year you could apply for citizenship, but it if changes go through you'd have to obtain permanent residency first - which takes 3 years - and then wait another 2 years to apply for citizenship.

 

[CraigM]

No strings or hassles and very very quick and immediate. If you are going to invest anyway it’s a great program. It will immediately get you it. Other countries were very successful with these problems and raised so much they had to shut it down.


Excellent point Craig. I want to buy something before they do this program!! My friend lives in Toronto and homes are out of reach there now because of it. Buenos Aires properties are still very cheap so I think Chinese would probably buy bigger properties or high end properties. If they make it $500,000 like the government wants I think it would drive up the prices of the most expensive or high end properties. But you are right. Any CBI program in Argentina will make prices that are already out of reach for the typical local skyrocket!

I remember naively thinking the Chinese would never buy in Montreal because of cultural differences and how far away it is. This held true for awhile but eventually they were attracted to the relative bargains, and now Montreal is expensive for the first time since probably the 1970's. I was at a hotel there in 2018 and the lobby was packed with Chinese on home buying tours with big buses out front.

China is just so big it doesn't take many of them to swamp a market. As a new property owner in BA I should want this to happen, but I'd prefer that it didn't.

 

[Betsy Ross]

I remember naively thinking the Chinese would never buy in Montreal because of cultural differences and how far away it is. This held true for awhile but eventually they were attracted to the relative bargains, and now Montreal is expensive for the first time since probably the 1970's. I was at a hotel there in 2018 and the lobby was packed with Chinese on home buying tours with big buses out front.

China is just so big it doesn't take many of them to swamp a market. As a new property owner in BA I should want this to happen, but I'd prefer that it didn't.

Craig my friends all say the same thing. They were surprised so many Chinese bought in Canada. Montreal used to be cheap. Now Canada is flooded with Chinese in many major cities. China is HUGE. My sister in Santa Barbara said many are moving in for the first time she noticed and buying up all the multi-million dollar homes.

 

[Che Vos]

I would advise the government to tread very carefully here. Talk to countries like Canada and Australia that had similar programs and saw their real estate markets overrun with Chinese investors which made them completely unaffordable to citizens - I don't mean prices went up 20%, they went up 2-5x depending on the market. China has 1.4 billion people vs Canada's 40 million and Australia's 25 million, and the Chinese still don't trust their own government or economy so they try to get their money overseas and mainly into property. It just doesn't take many Chinese relative to their total population to overrun smaller countries' housing markets. Chinese investors are also not concerned about overpaying because the bigger risk to them is losing it all via confiscation at home. The one good thing for Argentina right now is China's economy is struggling for the first time in decades and the main culprit is massive overinvestment in real estate, so they're not the eager buyers of foreign property like they used to be.

Canada finally stopped allowing foreign property purchases but they were at least a decade too late. Now with property prices rolling over and all the mortgage rate resets going on (Canada doesn't have fixed 30yr mortgages) this restriction is likely to bite them in the rear, because bargain buyers from the US can't save them if things get bad, which they very well might. It's a mess and there's no easy way out, especially after 8 years of horrible government that caused the economy and wages to stagnate.

Things here get so expensive so quickly! My family member die and leave me money in will. I hear better to buy asap! I try buy investment property with it. Prices everyday go up quickly! I see this in news.

El Gobierno creará una agencia para darle la ciudadanía a quienes inviertan en proyectos de más de US$500.000 | TN

Será una estructura descentralizada dentro del Ministerio de Economía. Los equipos técnicos de la Casa Rosada están revisando los detalles para prevenir la judicialización de la medida.

tn.com.ar

 

[Johnny]

I remember naively thinking the Chinese would never buy in Montreal because of cultural differences and how far away it is. This held true for awhile but eventually they were attracted to the relative bargains, and now Montreal is expensive for the first time since probably the 1970's. I was at a hotel there in 2018 and the lobby was packed with Chinese on home buying tours with big buses out front.

China is just so big it doesn't take many of them to swamp a market. As a new property owner in BA I should want this to happen, but I'd prefer that it didn't.

It is already starting here too! Mike and I were at a restaurant in Palermo Chico last night. Half the restaurant was ALL Chinese people! I was shocked. We asked the waiter what was going on and he said all of them lived in the neighborhood and were celebrating a birthday party. He said they are always in there. He said more and more Chinese are buying here. Crazy seeing that and they were all speaking Chinese. It was at least half the restaurant. La Dorita. I was shocked! It is already happening in Buenos Aires.

Things here get so expensive so quickly! My family member die and leave me money in will. I hear better to buy asap! I try buy investment property with it. Prices everyday go up quickly! I see this in news.

El Gobierno creará una agencia para darle la ciudadanía a quienes inviertan en proyectos de más de US$500.000 | TN

Será una estructura descentralizada dentro del Ministerio de Economía. Los equipos técnicos de la Casa Rosada están revisando los detalles para prevenir la judicialización de la medida.

tn.com.ar

This is crazy! I got here a few days ago and @BuySellBA told me this $500,000 USD investment citizenship was coming! In fact Mike posted about it days ago before the news broke!

 

[CraigM]

It is already starting here too! Mike and I were at a restaurant in Palermo Chico last night. Half the restaurant was ALL Chinese people! I was shocked. We asked the waiter what was going on and he said all of them lived in the neighborhood and were celebrating a birthday party. He said they are always in there. He said more and more Chinese are buying here. Crazy seeing that and they were all speaking Chinese. It was at least half the restaurant. La Dorita. I was shocked! It is already happening in Buenos Aires.

Oh wow. With citizenship on offer I suspect many, many more will buy in BA. I won't comment further but sincerely hope the government monitors it carefully. If Canada could put that genie back in the bottle, I'm quite certain they would.

Hope you guys are having fun down there!

 

[earlyretirement]

Oh wow. With citizenship on offer I suspect many, many more will buy in BA. I won't comment further but sincerely hope the government monitors it carefully. If Canada could put that genie back in the bottle, I'm quite certain they would.

Hope you guys are having fun down there!

Having a blast @CraigM! I wish you and your brother were here! Having so much fun but in meetings from 8 AM to 3 AM almost every night. @Johnny almost fell asleep in a meeting yesterday. LOL.

It was nuts seeing La Dorita so packed with Chinese. The Manager told me regulars that all live in the area. I was shocked as I see a lot of Chinese in Chinatown but never saw that and the manager said they all live in Palermo Chico and come in all the time.

If the CBI comes in you’re going to see all the Chinese buying here. Craig I doubt the government cares how expensive it becomes. Things here are already expensive. $50 USD for 2 Ramens and friend chicken today.

 

[Darksider415]

It is already starting here too! Mike and I were at a restaurant in Palermo Chico last night. Half the restaurant was ALL Chinese people! I was shocked. We asked the waiter what was going on and he said all of them lived in the neighborhood and were celebrating a birthday party. He said they are always in there. He said more and more Chinese are buying here. Crazy seeing that and they were all speaking Chinese. It was at least half the restaurant. La Dorita. I was shocked! It is already happening in Buenos Aires.

I remember talking to a taxista last year, and he mentioned that his kids were already taking Chinese classes as well as English. The sentiment I’ve gotten from folks is that they’re shrewd in business and that it’s a massive wave of potential investment.

 

[CraigM]

Having a blast @CraigM! I wish you and your brother were here! Having so much fun but in meetings from 8 AM to 3 AM almost every night. @Johnny almost fell asleep in a meeting yesterday. LOL.

You're an animal Mike! I'd be falling asleep too with that crazy schedule.

It was nuts seeing La Dorita so packed with Chinese. The Manager told me regulars that all live in the area. I was shocked as I see a lot of Chinese in Chinatown but never saw that and the manager said they all live in Palermo Chico and come in all the time.

If the CBI comes in you’re going to see all the Chinese buying here. Craig I doubt the government cares how expensive it becomes. Things here are already expensive. $50 USD for 2 Ramens and friend chicken today.

I hear you but home prices tripling or quintupling is a whole other thing from restaurants being expensive. Not to mention a host of other issues. I would just caution the government to consult other countries who've seen this movie because it's not a good one.

 

[earlyretirement]

You're an animal Mike! I'd be falling asleep too with that crazy schedule.


I hear you but home prices tripling or quintupling is a whole other thing from restaurants being expensive. Not to mention a host of other issues. I would just caution the government to consult other countries who've seen this movie because it's not a good one.

Yes, no one can keep up with my schedule. Johnny is always surprised when he is here. My WhatsApp is going off non-stop one after another. Sometimes 200 in a day. So many meetings. But so much business here now.

I agree that home prices tripling and restaurants being expensive are two different things but when the EBI happens, look out below. You gave great points about Canada Craig. If that happens here based on what I’m seeing, the Chinese are going to flood the market buying up nice properties in great areas. Same thing happened after the corralito. The locals couldn’t afford as they had no money but they had no resentment as foreigners were driving the economy. Somehow I think this time around it will be different when property prices triple.

Most of my new clients are of Chinese descent now. Americans or Canadians by passport but Chinese by descent. I have a few clients that are hiring me 5 at a time to buy for them.

 

[CraigM]

Yes, no one can keep up with my schedule. Johnny is always surprised when he is here. My WhatsApp is going off non-stop one after another. Sometimes 200 in a day. So many meetings. But so much business here now.

Amazing, better you than me!

Most of my new clients are of Chinese descent now. Americans or Canadians by passport but Chinese by descent. I have a few clients that are hiring me 5 at a time to buy for them.

That is exactly how they roll....

 

[Canada Goose]

Amazing, better you than me!

That is exactly how they roll....

That is what they do in Canada. I live in Vancouver and they will buy up everything. Then their family members come and want to be close and they buy everything too. Interesting that is happening in Buenos Aires already. I figured it would only be a matter of time. I didn’t see too many Chinese people besides Chinatown and each block seemed like it had a Chinese grocery store. But wow this is going to snowball. Get ready for price increases!