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

Update of 21 October 2026. For Ukrainians in the EU, another date also matters: temporary protection has been extended until 4 March 2028. How to switch to a standard residence permit is explained in our piece on temporary protection after 2028.

Argentine citizenship for citizens of Ukraine: the essentials

In brief: a citizen of Ukraine enters Argentina visa-free for 90 days and can obtain citizenship through investment, naturalisation or a child born in the country. Argentina is not on Ukraine's dual citizenship list, and this must be taken into account before applying.

For Ukrainian families, Argentina is attractive as a country with a strong passport, a large economy and lenient residence rules. Since 2022, the Ukrainian-speaking and Russian-speaking community in Buenos Aires has grown, and some families come to give birth: a child born in Argentina is a citizen from birth. The citizenship by investment programme announced on 2 October 2026 has added a route that requires no residence.

Yet for a Ukrainian citizen, the decision on a second citizenship does not depend on Argentina alone. Ukraine's law on multiple citizenship determines with which countries a second citizenship is recognised, and Argentina is not on that list. So the conversation starts with Ukrainian law, not with the size of the contribution.

The table shows that different goals call for different routes. If the goal is to live in the EU, a Ukrainian citizen may be better served by a status in an EU country, where Ukraine recognises a second citizenship. If the goal is a strong passport without relocating, or life in Latin America, Argentina fits, taking into account the limits of Ukrainian law.

What Ukrainian law says about a second citizenship

In brief: Law No. 4502-IX, which entered into force on 16 January 2026, recognises multiple citizenship when a Ukrainian citizen acquires the citizenship of one of the 34 countries on the Cabinet of Ministers' list. Argentina is not on the list.

Until 2026, Ukraine's Constitution and citizenship law were based on a single citizenship, and voluntarily acquiring the citizenship of another country was a ground for losing Ukrainian citizenship. Law No. 4502-IX added an article recognising multiple citizenship. The government approved the list of countries by Resolution No. 1412 of 5 November 2025, and it was then expanded in May and June 2026. The list contains 34 states: the EU countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Moldova.

For countries not on the list, including Argentina, the previous rule still applies: voluntarily acquiring another country's citizenship remains a ground for losing Ukrainian citizenship, which is formalised under the established procedure. On Ukrainian territory, a citizen is in any case regarded solely as a Ukrainian citizen and uses Ukrainian documents. The list may change: the government is entitled to add and remove countries according to criteria that take into account support for Ukraine.

The practical conclusion: before applying in Argentina, a Ukrainian citizen decides whether they are prepared to accept the risk of losing Ukrainian citizenship and obtains advice from a Ukrainian lawyer on their own situation. BRIDGES takes this question into account when choosing a programme and, where needed, offers options among the countries on the list.

Entry to Argentina for citizens of Ukraine

In brief: citizens of Ukraine enter Argentina without a visa and can stay in the country for up to 90 days. This is enough both for a trip to collect a passport and for filing a residence application when relocating.

There are no direct flights from Ukraine, and Ukrainian airspace is closed under martial law, so families depart from neighbouring countries such as Poland, Moldova or Romania with a connection in Europe. Men of conscription age face restrictions on leaving Ukraine under martial law, so a trip to Argentina is planned in line with the current exit rules.

For naturalisation, visa-free entry is the first step: within 90 days an application for temporary residence is filed, and a permit to live and work is issued while it is under review. The grounds are work, study, rentier status or family. More in the article Argentine residence permit.

Citizenship by investment for citizens of Ukraine

In brief: the main applicant contributes $350,000 or buys an $800,000 bond; a spouse and children up to 25 add $100,000 or $25,000 each. The programme has not announced any restrictions on Ukrainian citizens.

Argentina's programme screens applicants in several stages: the Agency for citizenship by investment programmes, the security services, financial intelligence and the registries. Identity, the source and route of the money, country risks and reputation are all assessed. For Ukrainian citizens, the main screening question is the origin of the funds and the payment route, especially if the money is being moved out of Ukraine, where currency restrictions apply under martial law.

The programme's legal basis is being challenged: the National Electoral Chamber declared Decree 366/2025 null and void, and the dispute is before the Supreme Court. Until there is clarity, BRIDGES recommends preparing the documents and the money route, and paying once the regulations are issued. Details in the articles the cost of Argentine citizenship and the legal basis of the programme.

Relocation and naturalisation

In brief: a citizen of Ukraine obtains a residence permit, lives in Argentina for two years and applies for citizenship to a federal judge. The naturalisation rules are currently being contested.

The naturalisation route is the same for all foreigners: lawful residence, two years of living in the country, a lawful source of income, no obstacles arising from criminal records, and an application to the federal judge for the place of residence. Decree 366/2025 required two years without leaving the country and permanent residence, but the National Electoral Chamber declared the decree null and void, and courts that follow its ruling apply the law in its previous wording. Details in the article how to obtain Argentine citizenship.

For Ukrainian families, relocation is often tied to remote work for European or American clients. Such income qualifies for residence if it arrives in Argentina through a bank. On life in the country and prices, see the articles moving to Argentina and living in Argentina.

Giving birth in Argentina

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

For the child, Argentine citizenship creates no conflict with Ukrainian law: the child acquires Ukrainian citizenship by descent from the parents and Argentine citizenship by birth, and this is not a voluntary acquisition of another country's citizenship. 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 articles giving birth in Argentina and the child's citizenship and the cost of giving birth in Argentina.

Documents from Ukraine

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

Ukraine and Argentina are both parties to the Hague Convention, so Ukrainian documents are apostilled in Ukraine without consular legalisation. The certificate of no criminal record is ordered online through the state portal, and the apostille on it is affixed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; civil registry documents are apostilled by the justice authorities. If the family lives outside Ukraine, documents can be ordered through a consulate or by a representative under a power of attorney.

If the applicant has lived in other countries in recent years, for example in Poland or Germany after 2022, criminal record certificates are obtained from there as well. The Latin spelling of the surname is checked against the international passport before translation, so that it is identical across all documents.

Money and the payment route

In brief: under martial law, Ukraine restricts transfers of funds abroad. The programme payment usually goes from the family's account in an EU country with a transaction history.

The National Bank of Ukraine restricts transfers abroad under martial law, and sending a large sum for an investment abroad directly from Ukraine is difficult. Since 2022, many Ukrainian families have lived in EU countries and hold accounts there: the Argentine bank reviews a transfer from such an account under the ordinary rules. The origin of the funds is confirmed with documents: the sale of property or a business, income, dividends, taxes.

BRIDGES prepares the payment route in advance and agrees it with the bank, so that the transfer clears the checks without delay. More in the article a bank account in Argentina.

What an Argentine passport gives a citizen of Ukraine

In brief: visa-free travel to 168 destinations, including the Schengen area and the UK with an ETA, the right to live and work in the MERCOSUR countries, and the passport of a country with a large economy.

Ukrainian citizens already enter the Schengen area without a visa, so for them the value of an Argentine passport lies elsewhere. The UK is open to Argentine citizens with an electronic travel authorisation and Japan without a visa, while in the MERCOSUR countries an Argentine citizen gains the right to live and work under the residence agreement. For a family considering life in Latin America, this is what matters most. More in the article what Argentine citizenship gives you.

Taxes

In brief: an Argentine passport does not make its holder an Argentine tax resident if they live abroad. Tax residence is determined by where a person lives; in Ukraine, by the centre of vital interests and the number of days spent 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. Ukraine treats as a tax resident a person whose place of residence or centre of vital interests is in Ukraine, and where this is unclear, it looks at the number of days. Since 2022, many Ukrainian families have lived in EU countries and become tax residents there. If the family moves to Argentina, it pays taxes in Argentina. More in the article taxes in Argentina.

Ukrainians in Argentina

In brief: Argentina has one of the oldest Ukrainian communities in Latin America, which took shape more than a century ago. Since 2022, it has been joined by families who moved recently.

The Ukrainian community in Argentina dates back to the late 19th century, when settlers developed the province of Misiones, and today descendants of Ukrainian emigrants live throughout the country. Buenos Aires has Ukrainian churches, cultural centres and schools, and in Misiones the Ukrainian heritage is visible in its towns and festivals. For a family arriving from Ukraine, this is a ready-made support network.

Recently arrived Ukrainians live mainly in Buenos Aires and work remotely. Spanish is needed for everyday life, but in the first months communities and professionals who speak Ukrainian and Russian are a great help. On life in the country, see the article living in Argentina.

Which other programmes are open to citizens of Ukraine

In brief: the Caribbean programmes, Vanuatu, Turkey and Egypt are open to citizens of Ukraine. If keeping Ukrainian citizenship lawfully is important, it is worth looking at statuses in the countries on the Cabinet of Ministers' list.

Unlike citizens of Russia and Belarus, citizens of Ukraine can apply to the Caribbean programmes: St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia. None of these countries, like Argentina, is on Ukraine's dual citizenship list. If the family wants to keep Ukrainian citizenship with no risk of losing it, the route is residence followed by citizenship in an EU country, the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada. Comparisons in the articles Argentina or the Caribbean and the Argentine passport and Europe.

Where citizens of Ukraine go wrong

In brief: they do not check the dual citizenship list, plan travel without regard to martial law and transfer money from Ukraine without preparation.

1. Assuming dual citizenship is now allowed with every country. Only with the 34 countries on the list.
2. Ignoring the exit rules. Men of conscription age face restrictions on leaving under martial law.
3. Transferring money directly from Ukraine. Martial law currency restrictions get in the way of the transfer.
4. Confusing a child's citizenship with a voluntary acquisition. A child born in Argentina is a citizen by birth.
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: the consequences for your Ukrainian citizenship, the exit rules, the money route, the documents and the family's goal. What we do and what is left to you is shown on the page an Argentine passport by investment.

• How obtaining Argentine citizenship will affect your Ukrainian citizenship.
• Which family members can leave the country and how to plan the trip.
• From which account and from which country the payment will go.
• Which documents are needed from Ukraine and from the countries where you have lived.
• How much the programme costs for your family: the estimate.