Latin American Countries Offering Discretionary Citizenship (Including By Investment)…

What is exceptional or discretionary citizenship, which Latin American countries offer it, and how can I get it in 2025?

When it comes to Citizenship By Investment Programs, Latin America, as a region, has been woefully underrepresented on the world stage – despite 15 out of the 21 LATAM countries enjoying visa-free travel access to Schengen Europe.

To date, the only countries bucking this trend have been Peru, which briefly operated a controversial $25,000 CBI Program from 1992-1993, and El Salvador, which launched its Freedom Passport Program in late 2023. But with a donation-based price tag of $1 million (or the Bitcoin equivalent), this CBI Program has been slow to gain traction.

Despite the dearth of Latin American CBI options, numerous countries in the region have legislation supporting the naturalization of foreigners based on exceptional services in the national interest, based on exceptional merit, and a range of other discretionary criteria (including on the basis of cultural and economic contribution).

In fact, approximately 69% of all countries in the world have immigration laws enabling them to grant citizenship to foreign nationals who can make an exceptional contribution in the fields of science, education, culture, sport, or society (or by making a significant financial contribution to these sectors’ development).

Countries offering formal Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Programs tend to have specific legislation defining the precise requirements for granting fast-track citizenship to foreigners on the basis of either a significant donation or investment. This level of specificity and formalization creates a predictable application path for foreign applicants, and offers applicants with peace of mind.

In contrast, Citizenship By Exceptional Merit Programs are typically quite broad and vaguely defined. And the governments offering these pathways to citizenship tend to enjoy a large amount of discretion in terms of whom they will naturalize, and on what grounds.

In order to qualify for citizenship in the natural interest, you’ll typically require the support of either the country’s prime minster, president, or a parliamentary committee dealing with discretionary naturalization related matters.

With a Citizenship By Investment Program, provided that your country of origin isn’t banned from applying, that you meet the clearly stipulated criteria, and don’t have a criminal record, you are virtually guaranteed to be granted citizenship.

Whereas with honorary citizenship programs, citizenship by exception programs, as well as protocols government the granting of citizenship in the national interest, a far greater amount of government discretion applies.

But for the right applicants, offering the right contributions in the national interest, obtaining discretionary alternative citizenship is very achievable.  

Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent Latin American countries capable of offering discretionary naturalization pathways below.