Argentina Lifts Restrictions on Foreign Land Ownership

Argentina’s Supreme Court upheld on Tuesday President Javier Milei’s decision to lift restrictions on foreign ownership of land, a move aimed at attracting investment but opposed by trade unions and environmental advocates.

Milei had abolished these restrictions, which capped foreign land ownership at no more than 15 percent of the country’s total territory, immediately upon taking office in 2023.

The move sparked protests from political parties and environmental organizations, which held demonstrations during the summer carrying signs reading “The Country Is Not for Sale.” Constitutional law expert Andrés Gil Domínguez wrote on the X platform that the court’s Tuesday ruling means “any foreign individual or legal entity, or any foreign state, can purchase any land it wishes, including in border areas, without any restrictions.”

The decision comes amid growing questions about foreign ownership of Argentine land, including rumors that investors and companies from various countries, including Israelis or individuals of Jewish descent, own land in the country.

According to a 2025 report prepared by the University of Buenos Aires and other researchers, approximately 5 percent of Argentina’s territory—roughly equivalent to the size of England—is owned by foreigners.

The report noted that foreign ownership already exceeds the 15 percent cap in some provinces, particularly in “areas rich in water and mineral resources or with logistical advantages,” such as ports.