Argentina Launches $500K Schengen Visa Alternative as EU Bans Golden Passports

EU Court Bans Golden Passports as Argentina Offers New Schengen Pathway

In a seismic shift for global mobility, Argentina is launching a $500,000 citizenship-by-investment program that includes visa-free Schengen access - just as the European Court of Justice declares Malta's golden passport scheme illegal. This dual development creates new opportunities for investors while signaling Europe's crackdown on citizenship commercialization.

Argentina's Strategic Investment Citizenship

The Argentine program, part of President Javier Milei's economic reforms, requires productive investments in sectors like agriculture, energy, and tourism infrastructure rather than passive real estate purchases. Successful applicants gain:

• Visa-free access to 172 countries including the Schengen Area
• Residency rights across nine Mercosur nations
• Potential for $1 billion annual revenue for Argentina

Europe's Golden Passport Crackdown

The European Court's April 2025 ruling against Malta establishes a landmark precedent, finding that:

• Citizenship cannot be treated as a commercial transaction
• Genuine connection to a country is legally required
• EU values prohibit commodification of citizenship

This decision effectively ends all European investor citizenship programs, creating a vacuum that Argentina and other non-EU nations may fill.

Global Mobility Redefined

The contrasting developments highlight a growing divide in immigration policies. While Europe strengthens its citizenship integrity, developing nations see investor programs as economic tools. Argentina's focus on job-creating investments may set a new standard for ethical citizenship-by-investment models.