🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇧🇷 Brazil · Investor
Brazil or Argentina investment visa?
Brazil sells residence that leads to citizenship over time. Argentina now offers both: a residence for investors in a local business, and a new program that grants citizenship directly for a large contribution.
In short
Brazil's investor residence starts at R$150,000 for innovation, R$500,000 for a company or R$700,000–1,000,000 for property, and leads to citizenship after years of residence. Argentina's new citizenship-by-investment program, opening to applications in the fourth quarter of 2026, grants nationality for a US$350,000 non-refundable contribution or a US$800,000 government bond, with no residence required.
Side by side
| 🇧🇷 Brazil investor residence | 🇦🇷 Argentina (investor residence and citizenship by investment) | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Company: R$500,000 (about US$97,000). Innovation project: R$150,000 (about US$29,000). Urban property: R$1,000,000 (about US$194,000), or R$700,000 (about US$136,000) in the North and Northeast | Citizenship: US$350,000 non-refundable contribution, or a US$800,000 government bond. Investor residence: a productive investment in an Argentine business, assessed case by case |
| What you get | Company route: indefinite residence from the start. Property route: 4 years, then indefinite | Citizenship route: Argentine nationality directly. Investor route: temporary residence, then permanent after 3 years, or 2 for Mercosur nationals |
| Time in the country | Property route: at least 14 days in Brazil in every 2 years | Citizenship route: no residence required. Residence routes: continuous residence, and leaving for long periods can reset the clock |
| Citizenship | Naturalization after 4 years of indefinite residence (shorter in some family cases). Brazil allows dual nationality | Directly, through the investment program; or by naturalization after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. Argentina allows dual nationality |
| Where you apply | From abroad before the visa, or from inside Brazil | Citizenship: the Agency for Citizenship by Investment Programmes, with a decision targeted in 30 business days after vetting. Residence: Migraciones |
| Family | Spouse and dependants can be included | Citizenship program: spouse US$100,000, children 18–25 US$100,000 each, under-18s US$25,000 each |
| Tax | Tax resident once you hold residence and stay; worldwide income taxed at up to 27.5%. Income up to R$5,000 a month is exempt from 2026 | Tax residency follows where you live; holding Argentine citizenship alone doesn't make you tax resident |
Which one fits you
🇧🇷 Brazil
Choose Brazil if you want to live there and build a business or own property, with a far lower entry point than Argentina's citizenship program.
Check my Brazil optionsInvestor visa calculator →Tax residency check →Brazilian naturalization →🇦🇷 Argentina
Choose Argentina if a second passport is the goal and you don't plan to relocate — and you're comfortable with a large, non-refundable contribution.
Worth knowing
- Argentina's citizenship program is brand new. Applications open in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the detailed rules may still change.
- A court struck down the citizenship changes in Decree 366/2025 in June 2026, and the government has appealed to the Supreme Court. Confirm the program's legal status before committing money.
- Brazil's real estate route needs urban property, built or under construction; bare land doesn't qualify. Several properties can be combined.
- Dollar figures for Brazil use about R$5.16 per US dollar (July 2026); the real moves, so check the conversion on the day.
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Official sources
Resolution CNIg nº 13/2017 (company investment), Ministry of Justice ↗
Resolution CNIg nº 36/2018 (property investment), Ministry of Justice ↗
Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, Argentina ↗
Decree 616/2010 (Migration Law regulation), Annex I, art. 22, Argentina ↗
Checked against official sources on October 25, 2026. Emigro gives preliminary guidance, not legal advice. Emigro is a private company, not affiliated with any government. Emigro is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Lawyers listed are independent, registered with the OAB, and solely responsible for their advice. Rules for countries other than Brazil are summarized for comparison; confirm them with a qualified adviser in that country.
Common questions
Which is cheaper?
Brazil, by a wide margin: from R$150,000 (about US$29,000) for an innovation project. Argentina's citizenship program starts at US$350,000.
Do I have to live in Argentina for the citizenship program?
No residence is required on the investment route. Argentina's standard naturalization needs two years of continuous residence.
Can I get Brazilian citizenship by investment?
Not directly. Investment gives you residence, and you can apply for naturalization after four years of indefinite residence.
Is Argentina's program open yet?
The government says it will take applications in the fourth quarter of 2026. Its legal basis is being challenged in court, so check its status first.
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