Argentine citizenship for citizens of Belarus: investment, residence and birth

Argentine citizenship for citizens of Belarus: the essentials

In brief: as of the date it was announced, the Argentine programme places no restrictions on applications from citizens of Belarus. Belarus does not recognise a second citizenship, but it does not strip people of citizenship for holding one: the new citizenship must be reported within three months.

For citizens of Belarus, the choice of citizenship by investment programmes has narrowed in the same way as for citizens of Russia: the Caribbean countries have stopped accepting their applications, and EU programmes are closed. Vanuatu, Turkey, Egypt and Argentina remain open, and only Argentina offers a passport with visa-free access to the Schengen area. That is why interest in the Argentine programme among citizens of Belarus is understandable.

The programme is new, and its legal basis is being challenged in Argentina's Supreme Court. Applicant screening includes a country risk assessment, and Belarusian citizenship will be weighed alongside other factors. More on the risks in the article the legal basis of the Argentine programme.

The table shows four routes. For a family that stays in Belarus or lives in a third country, the investment programme is the right fit. For a family that relocates, it is naturalisation after two years. The birth of a child in Argentina gives the child citizenship immediately and the parents grounds for residence.

What Belarusian law says

In brief: Belarus does not recognise the citizenship of another country held by a Belarusian citizen. Since 2023, citizens have been obliged to report within three months that they have acquired foreign citizenship, a residence permit or a document granting benefits.

The Law of Belarus "On Citizenship" proceeds from the principle that a Belarusian citizen on Belarusian territory is solely a Belarusian citizen. Acquiring a second citizenship does not lead to the automatic loss of Belarusian citizenship, but Belarus does not recognise it: in dealings with the state, a person uses only Belarusian documents. The 2023 amendments introduced an obligation to report a second citizenship and a residence permit in another country.

The notification is filed with the internal affairs authorities at the place of residence, or with a Belarusian consulate if the person is abroad. The Belarusian passport and the foreign document showing the date and basis of acquiring citizenship are attached. The consulate issues a notice confirming that the information has been received. For a family, it is important to file a notification for every family member who has obtained Argentine citizenship.

The two periods are the same length but mean different things. 90 days is the visa-free stay allowed in Argentina per calendar year, which is enough for a trip to collect a passport or to file a residence application. Three months is the deadline for notifying the Belarusian authorities of Argentine citizenship or a residence permit.

Entry to Argentina

In brief: since 19 May 2017, citizens of Belarus have entered Argentina without a visa and can stay in the country for up to 90 continuous days within a calendar year.

The visa-free agreement between Belarus and Argentina has been in force since 2017. The 90 days are counted from the date of entry, and if the family leaves and returns within the same calendar year, the days are added up. Once the 90 days are used, a visa or residence is required. This period is enough for a trip to collect a passport under the investment programme; for relocation, the residence application is filed within these 90 days.

There are no direct flights: from Minsk you fly with a connection, usually via Istanbul or Dubai. A connection in Europe requires a Belarusian citizen to hold a Schengen or transit visa, so the journey is planned via Turkey or the Persian Gulf.

The investment programme

In brief: the main applicant contributes $350,000 or buys an $800,000 bond. A spouse and each child aged 18 to 25 add $100,000; each child under 18 adds $25,000. A family of four pays $500,000.

Applications are reviewed by the Agency for citizenship by investment programmes, with opinions from the security services, financial intelligence and the registries; the immigration service issues a decision within 30 working days of the recommendation. The review covers the source of funds, the payment route, country risks and reputation. In practice the programme is unavailable to people under US, EU or UK sanctions: banks will not process the payment.

Until the regulations are published and the Supreme Court rules, BRIDGES recommends preparing the documents and the money route, and paying once there is clarity. A preliminary check is free and takes place before any contract: the Argentina questionnaire. The calculation is in the article the cost of Argentine citizenship.

The application covers a spouse, children under 18, and unmarried children aged 18 to 25 who have no children of their own. The applicant's parents are not covered by the programme and apply separately. If the family has a child who will soon turn 26, the filing is planned before that date; otherwise the child will have to apply as a main applicant with a $350,000 contribution. Each adult family member prepares their own criminal record certificates from every country where they have lived in recent years.

Money and the payment route

In brief: transfers abroad from Belarusian banks are restricted by sanctions, so the payment usually goes from an account in a third country where the family has a transaction history.

Belarusian banks are under EU, US and UK sanctions, and international transfers from Belarus are difficult. Families living in Poland, Lithuania, Georgia or the UAE make the payment from an account in their country of residence. Everyone else needs an account in a third country with a transaction history, opened in advance. The bank that sends the transfer to Argentina checks the sender, the country and the source of funds.

The source of funds is confirmed with documents: income from employment and business, the sale of property, dividends, inheritance. BRIDGES assembles the history of the money and agrees the payment route with the bank in advance. More in the article a bank account in Argentina.

Residence and relocation

In brief: a citizen of Belarus enters visa-free, applies for temporary residence within 90 days and lives in Argentina on a residence permit. After two years of residence, they can apply for citizenship.

The grounds for residence are the same for all foreigners: rentier status with passive income from abroad, work, study or family. While the application is under review, the immigration service issues a permit to live and work, followed by a foreigner's DNI identity card. Belarusian families most often choose rentier residence based on income from renting out a home in Belarus, or remote work for foreign clients registered under Argentina's simplified tax regime.

After two years of residence, the main applicant applies for citizenship to a federal judge. The naturalisation rules are currently in dispute: Decree 366/2025 tightened them, and the National Electoral Chamber declared it null and void. Details in the articles Argentine residence permit and how to obtain Argentine citizenship.

The Belarusian authorities must also be notified of a residence permit: the law requires reporting not only a second citizenship but also a residence permit in another country. A family that has obtained Argentine residence therefore files a notification within three months, and another one after receiving citizenship.

Documents from Belarus

In brief: birth and marriage certificates, a criminal record certificate and documents on the funds. The documents are apostilled in Belarus and translated into Spanish by an Argentine sworn translator.

Belarus and Argentina are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Belarusian documents are apostilled in Belarus. If the family lives abroad, documents are ordered through a consulate or under a power of attorney. The criminal record certificate is obtained in Belarus and in the countries where the applicant has lived in recent years. The Latin spelling of the surname is aligned with the international passport before translation.

Giving birth in Argentina

In brief: a child born in Argentina is a citizen of the country from birth. The parents gain the right to residence.

Belarusian families have been coming to Argentina to give birth since the late 2010s. The child acquires Argentine citizenship by birth and Belarusian citizenship by descent. The parents gain grounds for residence, while their own path to citizenship after 2025 depends on the Supreme Court's ruling on Decree 366/2025. Details in the article giving birth in Argentina and the child's citizenship.

What an Argentine passport gives a citizen of Belarus

In brief: visa-free Schengen, the UK with an electronic travel authorisation, Japan visa-free and the right to live and work in the MERCOSUR countries. According to the BRIDGES index, an Argentine passport opens 168 destinations without a consular visa.

For a Belarusian citizen who receives Schengen visas only with restrictions, visa-free entry to Europe is the main value of an Argentine passport. Business trips to Germany, Poland, Lithuania and other EU countries no longer require visa centres, and the UK is open with an electronic travel authorisation. On Belarusian territory the citizen uses a Belarusian passport, and the Argentine one for travel to third countries. More in the article what Argentine citizenship gives you.

Taxes

In brief: an Argentine passport does not make its holder an Argentine tax resident while they live abroad. Tax residence in Belarus is determined by spending more than 183 days a year in the country.

Argentina does not tax a citizen who holds permanent status in another country or has lived outside Argentina for 12 consecutive months. Belarus treats as a tax resident a person who has spent more than 183 days in the country in a calendar year. If the family moves to Argentina, it becomes an Argentine resident and pays taxes there. More in the article taxes in Argentina.

Belarusians in Argentina

In brief: Argentina is home to descendants of settlers from Belarusian lands who arrived in the early 20th century, as well as families who have moved in recent years. Newcomers live mainly in Buenos Aires.

Belarusian settlers came to Argentina in the early 20th century along with the wider flows from Eastern Europe and settled in the provinces and the suburbs of Buenos Aires. In recent years they have been joined by families who moved to work remotely and to give birth: visa-free entry and lenient residence rules make Argentina accessible. Spanish is needed for daily life, but the Russian-speaking community in Buenos Aires helps in the first months. On life in the country, see the article living in Argentina.

Which other programmes are open

In brief: Vanuatu, Turkey and Egypt are open to citizens of Belarus. The Caribbean programmes are closed to them.

If a passport is needed quickly, Vanuatu issues one in 2-3 months from $130,000. Turkey grants citizenship for real estate from $400,000 while preserving the capital. None of these passports gives visa-free Schengen access, but with a Vanuatu passport families obtain residence in Greece and live in the EU. Comparisons in the articles Argentina or Vanuatu and a second passport for citizens of Russia and Belarus.

Where citizens of Belarus go wrong

In brief: they forget to notify the Belarusian authorities, exceed 90 days in a calendar year, plan the payment from Belarus and book a connection in Europe without a visa.

1. Not filing the notification of a second citizenship. The deadline is three months from the date the document is received.
2. Counting 90 days per trip. The visa-free allowance is 90 days per calendar year.
3. Transferring money from a Belarusian bank. Sanctions obstruct international payments.
4. Planning a Schengen connection without a visa. The route is built via Turkey or the Persian Gulf.
5. Paying the contribution before the regulations are issued. The procedure for payment and refunds has not yet been set.

What to check before deciding

In brief: whether there are sanctions risks, where the money comes from and through which country the payment will go, who is included in the application and how to file the notification in Belarus. How we handle an application from the initial check to the passport is described on the page support with the Argentina programme.

• Whether there are sanctions or other screening risks.
• Through which country and from which account the payment will go.
• Who is included in the application: spouse, children up to 25.
• Where and when to file the notification of Argentine citizenship.
• How much the programme costs for your family: the estimate.