How to get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment in 2024: a full guide

1. Increased global mobility. Antigua and Barbuda citizens can travel to over 150 countries without applying for a visa. They have visa-free access to the Schengen Area states for up to 90 days in any six-month period. Additionally, they can spend up to 180 days a year in the UK.

2. 10-year visitor visa to the USA. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders need a visa to enter the United States. However, they can obtain a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa under a simplified procedure that usually takes around two weeks. The visa allows spending up to 180 days a year in the US for such purposes as travel, business meetings, or medical treatment.

3. Tax optimisation. Antigua and Barbuda does not tax personal income, inheritance, or capital gains. Tax residents spending at least 183 days a year in the country don’t pay taxes on dividends, interest, or royalties.

4. Opportunity to return the investment. When choosing a real estate option, applicants can return the invested funds five years after purchasing the property.

5. Safe haven. Investors may move to Antigua and Barbuda or visit it at short notice without a visa and stay there as long as they need.

6. Passports for the whole family. A spouse, children, parents, and siblings can all be included in the citizenship application along with the investor.

7. Possibility of dual citizenship. Antigua and Barbuda does not require applicants to renounce their first citizenship. Consequently, investors can keep both passports provided the country of their first citizenship does not prohibit this.

8. Lenient stay requirement. Investors are not obliged to move to Antigua and Barbuda. To keep citizenship, they must come to the country for just 5 days within the first 5 years after acquiring the passport.

9. Fast processing time. The application is usually processed in between 3 to 6 months. The whole procedure is done remotely and does not require the investor to come to Antigua and Barbuda.

The investor who wishes to participate in the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program must meet the following requirements:

• be over 18 years old;

• have no criminal record;

• have sufficient funds and be able to prove their legitimacy;

• be in good health.

Program conditions allow the investor to add their family to the application. The list of eligible family members is relatively wide compared to other programs and includes the following relatives:

• a spouse;

• children under 30;

• both spouses’ parents aged 55 or older;

• unmarried siblings of the main applicant or the spouse.

Children, parents, and siblings must depend on the main applicant who provides financial support.

Non-refundable contribution. The applicant invests in the National Development Fund, which redirects the contribution to infrastructure projects such as new hospitals, schools, and universities.

The minimum investment is $100,000 for a single investor or a family of up to 4 people. A family of 5 or more will have to invest $125,000.

Real estate purchase. Investors select property from the list of government-approved projects.

If purchasing shares in villas, hotels, or spa resorts, the minimum investment amount is set to $200,000. If the investor wishes to buy property for their sole use, the minimum investment increases to $400,000.

Investors are not obliged to live in the property they’ve purchased. They can earn additional income by renting it out. Gross rental yields are around 4% of the value of the property, but they could be twice as high during the high tourist season.

After 5 years, the property can be sold and their investment returned. Sellers pay a stamp duty of 7,5%.

Contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund. This option is designed for families of 6 or more. Investors contribute $150,000 which increases by $15,000 for each extra family member, starting from the seventh.

The non-refundable contribution is directed to the University of the West Indies Fund. The option allows one family member under 29 to study at the university for free for one year.

Business investments. A sole investor must spend at least $1.5 million to develop a local company in Antigua and Barbuda. A group investment of at least $5 million is allowed, provided each individual contributes at least $400,000.

Applicants choose the business for investment from a list of 11 government-approved projects, mainly in the real estate sphere.

Along with the government forms that the investor must submit to apply for citizenship, the following documents must be provided:

• passports;

• birth certificates;

• marriage/divorce certificates, where applicable;

• proof of name change, if applicable;

• passport-sized photos;

• police certificates;

• HIV reports;

• proof of source of funds.

Tax rates in Antigua and Barbuda depend on whether an individual or a company is a tax resident in the country.

To become a tax resident, an individual must live in the country for at least 183 days a year and have a registered address. Companies are considered tax residents if they are registered and managed in Antigua and Barbuda.

Legal entities pay a corporate tax at a flat rate of 25%, regardless of the source of their income. The exception is made for insurance, oil, and telecommunication companies, which pay a 10% tax.

The standard sales tax rate is 15%. It is lower for hotels and restaurants and set to 14%, while other activities, such as food supply, electricity, fuel, and water for domestic use, are not taxed at all.

Individuals don’t pay taxes on personal income, dividends, interest, royalties, inheritance, wealth, and capital gains. Non-residents pay a withholding tax of 25% on dividends, interest, and royalties if the source is located in Antigua and Barbuda.

Individuals in Antigua and Barbuda are subject to social contributions and several types of property taxes.

Obligations. Obtaining Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment does not impose strict obligations beyond the requirement to comply with the country’s laws.

To uphold the status, the investor needs to live in the country for at least 5 days in the first 5 years after receiving the passport. Passport holders aren’t required to become tax residents or serve in the military.

New Antigua and Barbuda citizens take the oath or affirmation of allegiance to the King of Great Britain. Despite obtaining independence in 1981, Antigua and Barbuda still consider the British monarch the head of the state.

Rights. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which gives its citizens an opportunity to study at British universities. They can receive scholarships and grants for travel, tuition, books, equipment, and accommodation in the UK.

Citizens have the right to move freely within the country and can enter and leave the country at any time without visas. They are entitled to fair treatment under the law, get social security benefits, and seek diplomatic protection while travelling overseas.

Cost of living. Antigua and Barbuda is not the cheapest country to live in. It compares favourably to the United States, but a square metre in the city centre in Antigua and Barbuda costs three times more than in the US.

Compared to European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, or France, Antigua and Barbuda stands out for high grocery prices, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables.

Here are the average prices on some important and services in Antigua and Barbuda:

• an apartment in the city centre — $11,600 per square metre;

• basic utilities — $300 per month;

• a meal at an inexpensive restaurant — $9;

• apples — $5.55 per 1kg;

• oranges — $5.34 per 1kg;

• gasoline — $1.34 per 1 litre;

• gym membership — $65 per month;

• private preschool — $185 for a child per month.

Real estate. The real estate market in Antigua and Barbuda is diverse, ranging from villas to modest apartments. The state focuses on tourist infrastructure, encouraging foreigners to invest in hotels and spa resorts.

The demand for real estate has led to steady growth in property prices over the years. Since 2019, the property market has been growing by 5% per annum.

Healthcare. Antigua and Barbuda’s healthcare system provides public and private services. Public healthcare is available to both citizens and residents.

The Mount St John’s Medical Centre is the primary public hospital, offering various medical services, such as an outpatient clinic, emergency services, surgery, and physiotherapy. There are also private medical facilities catering to those seeking preferential treatment.

Education. The education system in Antigua and Barbuda is organised as per the British model, offering free and compulsory primary and secondary education. There are opportunities to study privately as well.

The University of the West Indies has a campus in Antigua and Barbuda named the University of the West Indies at Five Islands. It offers over 20 programmes across a variety of academic disciplines, including education, management, economics, and computer and data science.

The Antigua State College is another institution offering higher education. The college has 5 departments: business, industrial technology, liberal arts, teacher education, and pharmacy.

Other higher education institutions include the American University of Antigua, which focuses on medicine, the University of Health Science Antigua, and the Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology.

Foreigners can obtain citizenship by investment in other Caribbean countries, such as Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia.

The key differences between the five Caribbean CBI programs are expenses, timeframes, and investment options. For example, Antigua and Barbuda is the only country offering an option with preferential conditions for large families.

In all cases, investors can make a non-refundable contribution to a national development fund or purchase a property.

1. Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment can be acquired within 6 months or less for a minimum contribution of $100,000. By June 30th, 2024, the investment threshold is expected to increase to $200,000.

2. If the applicant invests at least $200,000 in a state-approved real estate project, they can return the money by selling the property five years after obtaining citizenship.

3. A person can only apply for the program via a licensed agent. Immigrant Invest conducts a preliminary Due Diligence to reduce the risk of rejection to 1%. After that, obtaining a passport can take up to 6 months. The investor is not required to travel to Antigua and Barbuda.

4. To uphold Antigua and Barbuda citizenship, the investor has to stay in the country for just 5 days in the first 5 years after receiving the passport.

5. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders can travel to over 150 countries without a visa, including the Schengen Area states and the UK. They can also move to the country and become tax residents to optimise taxes.