Argentina Opens Tender to Appoint Master Agent for New CBI Program

Argentina’s Ministry of Economy has formally opened a public tender to select a master operator for the country’s upcoming Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program.

The tender covers a four-year contract to design, implement, and manage the program under the supervision of the newly created Agencia de Programas de Ciudadanía por Inversión (APCI).

Applications for the consultancy close January 20, 2026, with bid evaluations to follow immediately.

Program Overview

According to the Ministry of Economy, the selected firm will be responsible for:

• Drafting legislation and program rules
• Building the application infrastructure and agent network
• Developing international promotion strategies
• Overseeing application processing and due diligence

The government expects the operator to process up to 5,000 applications during the initial contract period.

Unlike most citizenship programs, Argentina’s model separates operational and commercial functions.

The contractor will receive government payments only for applications submitted through independent certified agents, preventing market monopolization and encouraging a wider agent ecosystem.

Evaluation and Structure

The selection process gives 60% weight to technical merit and 40% to economic competitiveness, with evaluation criteria covering:

• Program design and innovation
• Legal and operational experience in CBI or residence programs
• International promotion and partnership networks
• Financial solvency and corporate governance

To qualify, bidders must demonstrate prior government-level experience in citizenship or residency program development and submit certified financial statements verifying stability and solvency.

Implementation Timeline

The contract includes four main milestones:

• Program Design (2 months) – Regulatory framework and operational plan
• Implementation and Readiness (6 months) – Capacity building and launch strategy
• Launch Execution (12 months) – International marketing and application rollout
• Ongoing Operations (up to 48 months) – Promotion, support, and monitoring

Argentina expects to reach full operational capacity by late 2026 or early 2027.

Investment Details to Be Determined

While the framework confirms a Citizenship by Investment model, the tender does not define minimum investment thresholds.

The chosen consultancy will propose eligible sectors, investment types, and financial criteria, likely prioritizing productive investments in sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, technology, and tourism infrastructure.

Final investment amounts and program details will be confirmed once APCI and the Ministry of Economy approve the winning firm’s business plan.