Argentina could “kickstart” the CBI market in Latin America: 10 questions for David Bonelli

“10 On The Weekend” is IMI’s (roughly) weekly column. The idea is simple: each time, we ask the same set of ten questions to a different IMI Pro expert, so readers can get to know our guest in a more personal, informal way than in our usual day-to-day work conversations.

This week’s guest is David Bonelli, Vice President of Business Operations at World Talents

How do you spend your weekends?

I try to dedicate time to my wife and daughter. And on weekends, I also make a point of adding a bit of physical activity and training.

What are your three main business goals for this year?

My three goals are:

• To keep developing the partnerships we’ve been working with for many years;
• To find new partnerships that will help us scale the business;
• To explore new markets and potential programs for the product.

What worries you most right now about the business?

I’m concerned about the unpredictability of the immigration bureaucracy—and the risk of legal changes without a clear “grandfathering” mechanism for people who may be affected by new rules.

What book is currently on your nightstand?

Family Wealth: The Compact Among Generations by James E. Hughes.

I’m reading through his entire series on how exceptional families think about legacy, wealth, and how to preserve values for future generations.

How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?

My first official entry point into the industry was working with Ahmad and Christian on IMI content.

That was in 2021—I remember it clearly. For me, it was a surprising way to quickly get up to speed: I was studying and analyzing hundreds of immigration and citizenship acts from around the world.

At the time, I saw very clearly the difference between a “sellable product” and what already exists in legislation but isn’t being used as an official offering.

Alongside that, I was also running a side project: helping South African citizens with European heritage obtain citizenship. Mostly for descendants from the UK, Ireland, Portugal, and Lithuania—connecting people with legal professionals in their country of origin.

What moment makes you most proud as a service provider?

I especially enjoyed looking at the industry differently than “the usual way,” and then being able to present that approach to different institutions and government bodies.

The strength of competencies, experience, and networks in investment migration is often underutilized.

For example, passive investments without central links to the destination country—versus the active use of highly specialized expertise to genuinely influence development in a specific country.

This approach helps clients see that there is another way to connect with the state in a real, meaningful way—while following the same logic of the route and achieving comparable outcomes, just like passive pathways do. It was a long and challenging process to get all the pieces in place correctly.

What market development in investment migration surprised you the most over the past year?

The potential launch of an Argentina citizenship program. I think it could “catalyze” growth in CBI products from Southern and Central America.

These countries—especially MERCOSUR members—haven’t fully realized yet what “golden asset” they have thanks to the power of passports.

At the same time, they already have fairly progressive citizenship rules: shorter naturalization timelines in years, the possibility to obtain citizenship quickly—or even immediately through having a child—accelerated routes to permanent residence, and so on.

So a CBI program, or an official “Golden Visa”-style format with minimal physical presence, might not be as out of the ordinary as it may seem.

If you could go back ten years, what business decision would you change?

I would put more emphasis on using the opportunity while “the door is open.” Nobody knows when it will close. It’s likely that changes to investment programs or adjustments to rules in existing routes are simply not as accessible today.

I imagine many clients are currently in a “if only I’d acted earlier” mindset—especially regarding directions that existed ten years ago.

As a business, I would try to push harder and strengthen the work before “the doors close.”

Which personality in the investment migration industry do you respect the most?

Honestly, I don’t have a specific view—I’ll stay neutral. There are so many different people and approaches in the industry that it’s hard to pick just one.

But I definitely respect all the players who actively work on creating new market products.

If everything goes according to plan, what will you be doing in five years?

Being as private as possible in my personal life—and owning a Nokia 3310.

If Argentina moves to “launch” the CBI market in Latin America, it could be a meaningful signal for anyone considering citizenship by investment as a long-term family strategy. At Digital Nomad, we monitor program updates and help you realistically assess eligibility, timelines, and risks—so you make decisions based on facts. Get started 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