How much does an Antigua and Barbuda passport cost?
The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program offers applicants four options: buying government-approved real estate, investing in a business, or contributing to the University of the West Indies Fund or the National Development Fund (NDF).
The smallest investment is a contribution to the NDF: $100,000 for one applicant or a family of up to 4 people. However, the investor also pays fees, including the ones for taking the oath of allegiance and professional assistance.
Author •Lyle Julien
How much does an Antigua and Barbuda passport cost?
Who can invest in Antigua and Barbuda to get citizenship
Antigua and Barbuda accepts investments from foreigners over 18 years old with legal income sources, no criminal records and serious illnesses like HIV.
The minimum cost for an investor, excluding professional assistance and taking the citizenship oath, is $138,100. The family composition affects the investment amount and additional costs: the more people participate in the citizenship program, the more money they need to spend.
$138,100
If an investor wants to get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship with their close relatives, they can include in the citizenship application:
a spouse;
children under 30;
parents over 55;
unmarried siblings.
Adult family members must financially depend on the investor to qualify for the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program.
Contribution to the National Development Fund
Contributing to the state fund is the least expensive option for individual investors and families of up to four people. The investment amount in both cases is $100,000.
The contribution is non-refundable and does not earn income.
The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship cost increases for families with more than four members included in the application. For the participation of a family of five or more people, an additional $25,000 must be paid.
Together with the contribution, the investor pays a state fee of $30,000 for families of up to four people. If more family members are included in the application, an additional $15,000 must be paid for each member, starting with the fifth one.
Fund contribution with government fees
Contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund
In 2020, Antigua and Barbuda offered investors a new investment option: a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund. It can only be chosen by large families of at least six people.
The contribution is non-refundable, as in the case with the National Development Fund.
A family of six contributes $150,000. An additional $15,000 must be paid for each additional member included in the Antigua and Barbuda passport application. The contribution amount includes the application processing fee.
The option also offers a free year of study at the university for one of the family members included in the application. The benefit can be used within five years from the date of obtaining citizenship.
Contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund
Buying real estate in Antigua and Barbuda
Investors can buy shares in government-approved real estate projects. These usually are five-star hotel complexes along the coastline. The minimum purchase price is $200,000.
A property must be owned for at least five years, according to the citizenship program terms. After five years, the investor can sell the property and return the invested money.
Moreover, during this five-year period of ownership, the investor receives rental income. It ranges from 3% to 8% per annum.
Examples of properties in Antigua and Barbuda
The investment amount doesn’t depend on the number of family members in the citizenship application.
However, a real estate purchase goes with a government fee of $30,000 for families of up to four people. If there are more participating members, an additional $15,000 is paid for each additional member included in the application, starting with the fifth one.
Real estate purchase, including a government fee
Investment in a business in Antigua and Barbuda
To obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment in a business, the applicant needs to invest at least $1.5 million in a local company that the government has included in the citizenship by investment program.
Investors can team up and contribute $5 million together. In this case, each applicant’s share must be at least $400,000.
The Antigua and Barbuda passport cost increases by $150,000 if the application includes more than four family members.
In addition to investing in the business, applicants pay a government fee of $30,000 for a family of up to four. For each additional applicant, an additional $15,000 must be paid, starting with the fifth one.
Business investments, including a government fee
Additional expenses on obtaining Antigua and Barbuda citizenship
Besides the investment itself, applicants pay for the services of lawyers, bank and passport fees, and the charges for taking the citizenship oath.
The cost of professional assistance depends on various factors, including the composition of the family and the number of documents required. The government and bank fees are fixed.
Fees and commissions. Each applicant has to pay a passport fee of $300 and a bank fee of $300 per person.
Due Diligence fee. The largest additional fee is for Due Diligence. This is a mandatory stage of the program: the Government checks the reputation and solvency of the applicants.
Due Diligence cost
Oath of allegiance. Each applicant must take the citizenship oath in order to obtain an Antigua and Barbuda passport. Investors have three options:
fly to Antigua and Barbuda and take the oath there;
choose one of 15 representative offices in different countries of the world;
take the oath online via Skype or Zoom in the presence of a notary.
The oath cost varies in different countries. It costs $725 for the investor to take the oath online and $225 for each additional adult member included in the citizenship by investment application.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.
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