Argentina’s CIP Is in the Final Stretch: Immigration Specialists Weigh In and Key News of the Week

This week, investment migration news is once again taking center stage. Discussions focused on the expected timeline for launch, potential shifts in Argentina tax regulation, and how rule changes and freezes abroad may affect applicants.

Below is a roundup of perspectives from attorneys and specialists who regularly advise clients on residency and citizenship by investment:

• Martín Hecht (MH Legal Hub)
• Jennifer Farquharson (Norte Sur Group)
• Get Golden Visa
• Stefan Moraïs (Indico Capital Partners)
• Pedro Lino (Optimize)
• Antonio Schwalbach (Spear Legal)
• João Magalhães Ramalu (Antas da Cunha Ecija)
• Christina Georgaki (Georgaki and Partners)
• Chris Farhy (Bayleys Realty Group)
• Alex Martelli
• Cam Winter (Oliver Road)
• Michael Wildes
• Mona Shah (Mona Shah & Associates)
• Ron Klasko (Klasko Immigration Law Partners)
• Elena Ruda (Immigrant Invest)
• Gavin Lloyd (Trade Me Property)

Forbes: Why Argentina could become a “Plan B” for Americans

According to Martín Hecht, an immigration lawyer based in Buenos Aires (MH Legal Hub), Argentina’s citizenship pathway for foreign nationals remains comparatively accessible. He points to Law 346: foreign residents may apply for citizenship after two continuous years of lawful residence. By international standards, that is indeed a relatively short period.

Jennifer Farquharson (Norte Sur Group) added that the new Citizenship by Investment (CBI) initiative is currently in its final phase of implementation and is expected to launch by the end of 2026. In her view, the program is designed to provide eligible investors with a more direct route to Argentine citizenship—offering access to a “strong passport.”

Farquharson highlighted what could be a potential turning point: an anticipated change in the Argentine National Tax Code. The practical effect would be to remove automatic recognition of tax residency status for naturalized citizens under this program.

Forbes: EU citizenship—Which countries issued the most passports in 2024

Analysis prepared by Get Golden Visa, drawing on the American Retirement Exodus Report, underscores a steady trend: more U.S. citizens are relocating abroad. The drivers include “pull factors” (quality of life, cost of living) as well as “push factors” such as increasing difficulty accessing healthcare in the United States. The report also notes that roughly 5.5 million Americans live outside the U.S., and nearly one in four are retirees.

Martín Hecht also cautioned that waiting can create risks. Political decisions may alter rules for non-European applicants. He notes that “windows of opportunity” can close quickly—for example, Portugal and Italy tightened their approach within about a month. In his opinion, the biggest advantage goes to those who prepare and submit while the “door is still open.”

Newsweek: Social security data suggests U.S. retirees are choosing Italy

Based on figures reviewed by Get Golden Visa from the Social Security Administration (SSA), approximately 15,465 American retirees receive benefits while living in Italy. The data reflects not only migration preferences, but also sustained demand for European destinations as a “life after retirement” option.

Portugal Decoded: Citizenship reform freezes Golden Visa funds

Stefan Moraïs (Indico Capital Partners, President of APCRI—the Association of Portuguese Private Capital and Venture Investments) said many investors feel disappointed by decisions linked to Golden Visa. From an investor perspective, he noted, it signals inconsistent government action and leaves those who have already allocated hundreds of thousands of euros unclear about what to expect next.

Pedro Lino, CEO of Optimize, shared a similar concern. He explained that in the U.S., where he promoted a fund aligned with the ARI framework, investors began asking more questions of legal professionals and re-evaluating trust in the process. While international events have helped revive interest, he emphasized that momentum alone doesn’t make everything “simple.”

Antonio Schwalbach (Spear Legal) argued that the logic behind the changes appears reasonable. He pointed to the legal principle of “a reserve of legality”—a requirement for legal certainty and a solid basis in law.

Meanwhile, João Magalhães Ramalu (Antas da Cunha Ecija) said the decision is still too new to draw final conclusions; a deeper analysis is needed. At the same time, he warned that when Portugal is “under pressure” in a Golden Visa-related dispute, the next shift could deal a serious blow to the country’s reputation.

Parliament: Why investor visa schemes push Europe to rethink Schengen oversight

As Christina Georgaki (Georgaki and Partners) stressed, the situation needs to be viewed holistically rather than through unilateral visa issuance policies. She referenced the Greek case: in her account, Greece received only about 10,000 applications for this type of visa in 2025.

Georgaki suggested a coordinated European mechanism with more rigorous checks to prevent abuse—something that has already been documented in the past. In her view, this would allow investments to be monitored not only through formal procedures, but also through genuine integration into local communities and effective residence within the relevant region.

She also noted that investment residence programs shouldn’t be treated solely as tools of migration policy. In the EU context, they sit at the intersection of financial, social, and geopolitical considerations.

NZA: Golden Visa buyers are shifting New Zealand’s luxury property map—but not the whole market

Chris Farhy, head of insights at Bayleys Realty Group, told OneRoof that early deals are likely explained by demand that had already built up while buyers waited for rule changes. He suggested there may be an initial surge followed by slower activity once “delayed” buyers have completed their decisions.

According to Alex Martelli, a buyer’s agent, most applicants are already well-informed about the country in advance. He said the transactions rarely resemble a “hear it today, buy in Auckland tomorrow” scenario—decisions are usually shaped beforehand, and “instant migration” is typically not the reality.

For his part, Cam Winter (Oliver Road) expects more transactions as suitable options come onto the market. He believes 16 approvals over two months are more likely the start of a longer-term trend than proof that the policy has failed.

Washington Post: Lawyers for the global elite don’t believe in the “golden card”

Michael Wildes is an immigration attorney who has represented the Trump family and handled cases involving visas for well-known individuals. However, when prospective clients contact him about a “gold card visa” marketed to wealthy foreign nationals, he flags the program as legally questionable.

He said that keeping someone in the process would be unethical because, given the high level of legal uncertainty, he sees no basis for promising outcomes. Mona Shah (Mona Shah & Associates) similarly reported that court documents indicate a mismatch between claims of quick timelines and the actual prospects. She warns clients that even with money available to pursue the opportunity for residency, their applications may not produce the result they expect.

In a case involving a “gold card visa,” Ron Klasko (Klasko Immigration Law Partners) brought in a colleague to review the ethical implications and prepared a side-by-side comparison of “gold card visa” versus EB-5 to help clients make an informed decision. Based on his experience, after initial consultations, clients often choose EB-5 instead.

Attorney Rosanna Berardi also noted that she does not take these matters due to risk: concerns about legality and the cost of filing without any guarantee of approval. From her perspective, as a lawyer, she must protect the client’s interests and therefore does not recommend programs carrying high legal uncertainty and financial exposure.

National Law Review: São Tomé and Príncipe issues its first citizenship-by-investment passport in January 2026

Elena Ruda (Immigrant Invest) said that the first passport issuance in January 2026 is an important milestone demonstrating the program’s operational functionality. She explained that it confirms the legal and administrative framework works not only to process applications, but to deliver the outcome—citizenship.

She also emphasized that for new initiatives, moving from accepting applications to actually issuing documents is a critical step. It effectively tests whether the system is “workable” in practice and whether applicants can place real trust in it.

NZA: Golden Visa continues to attract luxury hunters—outside Auckland

Gavin Lloyd (Trade Me Property) explained that buyers’ interest isn’t driven solely by the pursuit of prestigious addresses. He said high-net-worth buyers from the U.S. and the U.K. are considering not only the Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) area, but also the Northland coast and lifestyle blocks in Bay of Plenty.

Expert note on Argentina investment migration: One often-overlooked aspect of Argentina investment migration is the role of practical “follow-through” after eligibility is established. In many CBI and residency frameworks, the decisive factor isn’t only the legal text, but how quickly applicants can satisfy documentation requirements, demonstrate continuity, and align tax and compliance reporting with local expectations. Seasoned advisors frequently recommend treating the investment and the administrative timeline as one combined project—because delays in paperwork can be just as consequential as the investment itself.

Argentina is back on the investment migration radar: the CBI rollout, expected timelines, and practical points around residency and citizenship are being actively discussed. If you’re evaluating investment-based residence/citizenship as a “plan B” or want to understand tax and compliance risks upfront, Digital Nomad can help you map options and build a clear strategy. Get the latest updates and guidance here: https://digital-nomad.gr/en/goldenvisa

Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr