Antigua vs St Kitts passport: choose the strongest Caribbean passport

Antigua and Barbuda passport holders travel to 144 countries visa-free, and citizens of St Kitts and Nevis — to 149 states. However, these numbers can change over time; thus, it is advisable to check the up-to-day information before potential travels.

Although the number of visa-free countries is different, popular destinations are equally available to citizens of both states: the Schengen Area, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. For a visit to the US, Caribbean citizens get 10-year B-1/B-2 visitor visas[1].

To enter the UK, starting January 8th, 2025, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation, ETA[2]. It is not a visa — it is a quick digital pre-clearance that can be obtained online in a few minutes and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires.

For travelling to the Schengen Area, a system similar to the UK ETA, the Entry/Exit System[3], will apply. It requires electronic pre-registration for non-EU travellers, including citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis, who must provide fingerprints, a facial image, and passport details on their first entry.

Although Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis offer very similar citizenship benefits, their investment conditions differ. 

In Antigua and Barbuda, the minimum investment starts at $230,000, while in St Kitts and Nevis the minimum investment is $250,000. 

Real estate thresholds also vary, starting at $300,000 in Antigua and $325,000 in St Kitts and Nevis.

For families, the programs diverge even more. Antigua and Barbuda generally accepts a wider list of dependants, making it more flexible for large households.

Investment options 

The Antigua and Barbuda program offers four investment options, and St Kitts and Nevis’s — three.

Fund contributions are non-refundable, and investment in real estate can be returned in 5 years in Antigua and Barbuda and in 7 years in St Kitts and Nevis. The government approves real estate projects: five-star hotels, resort complexes, and infrastructure such as marinas.

Antigua and Barbuda also offers large families of six or more to contribute to a higher education institution and get a year of studying at the university for free. Besides, there is an option to invest in local businesses.

The Public Benefit Option in St Kitts and Nevis[4] grants citizenship by investment in approved infrastructure projects supporting sustainability, education, and healthcare.

Conditions for the investor’s family

Investor’s relatives can participate in a citizenship program with the main applicant. Each CBI unit sets unique age limits and conditions for family members.

The program terms of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis are very similar. There is a distinction only for siblings and grandparents. All adult family members, except the spouse, must be financially dependent on the investor or the spouse.

The more relatives an investor includes in the program, the higher the costs, as adding family members, especially adult ones, requires additional state, Due Diligence, and legal fees.

The investment amounts themselves usually remain unchanged. For example, the required property value does not depend on family composition in either Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis. Contributions to the state fund in St Kitts and Nevis increase only for families of more than 4 people, while in Antigua and Barbuda, they remain the same.

The St Kitts and Nevis passport is granted for 10 years. Antigua and Barbuda’s first passport is valid for 5 years[5], and subsequent passports may be granted for 10 years under general passport policy.

To renew a passport, the investor submits documents 2 months before the expiration:

• expiring passport;
• naturalisation certificate;
• birth certificate;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• photos for a new passport.

Adult holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports must prove that they took the Oath of Allegiance and spent at least 5 days within the first 5 years in Antigua. They can’t renew the passport for the first time without proof of visit to the country.

Also, the holder pays a renewal fee of approximately $370 for a document in St Kitts and Nevis and $1,000 in Antigua and Barbuda. A new passport is issued within 4 weeks.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis grants investors a secure legal status. At the same time, new citizens must comply with the ongoing obligations set by each government to preserve their status and maintain the reputation of the CBI programs.

Obligations

Compliance. All applicants must provide complete and truthful information during the application process and thereafter. Submitting false data or concealing material information can lead to revocation of citizenship under both countries’ legislation.

Investment retention period. Investors who choose the real estate option must maintain ownership of the qualifying property for 5 or 7 years, depending on the project and programme terms. The property cannot be resold or transferred during that period unless replaced by another approved investment.

Residence and Oath requirements. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda must fulfil a unique residence obligation: they must spend at least five days in the country within the first 5 years after receiving citizenship and take the Oath of Allegiance[6] either locally or at a designated consulate. Failure to meet the residence requirement may affect passport renewal.

Ongoing legal and tax duties. Citizens of St Kitts and Nevis are not required to reside in the country or visit it after naturalisation, but they must remain in good legal standing, pay any applicable local taxes or property fees, and renew their passports every 10 years. 

They are also obliged to comply with the country’s Anti Money Laundering and Due Diligence regulations, including providing updated personal or financial information upon request by the authorities.

Rights

Visa-free travelling. All passport holders can freely travel to the countries which signed visa waiver agreements with their citizenship state.

Inclusion of relatives. An investor with a passport of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis has the right to add the relatives to the citizenship program after getting their passport. The list of qualifying family members is the following:

• spouse;
• children;
• grandchildren;
• parents;
• siblings.

Their age must meet the limits of the program. Relatives can be of the investor's spouse.

Relocation. They can move to the country of second citizenship anytime and live, do business, work, or study without a residence permit or special permission. If the investor lives in the state for 183 days or more, they must get a tax ID and pay taxes.

Both Antiguan and St Kitts tax systems can be convenient for investors. Sometimes, wealthy people from developed countries move to the islands to cut their tax payments.

For example, there are no income taxes and taxes on dividends, interest, royalties in the countries.

1. St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda passports can both be obtained by investment.
2. For St Kitts and Nevis citizenship, applicants must contribute at least $250,000; for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship — at least $230,000.
3. Both countries allow visa-free travel to over 140 destinations.
4. The process of obtaining citizenship takes 4+ months in St Kitts and Nevis and 6+ months in Antigua and Barbuda. 
5. The process of obtaining second citizenship includes preliminary Due Diligence, document collection, Due Diligence by the country’s authorities, fulfilment of the investment, and issuance of a naturalisation certificate and a passport.

1. Source: Requirements for the US B-1/B-2 visa
2. Source: Overview of the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation
3. Source: Overview of the Entry/Exit System on the website of the European Union
4. Source: Overview of a Public Benefit Option under the St Kitts and Nevis CBI program
5. Source: Antigua and Barbuda passport validity according to the Citizenship by Investment Unit
6. Source: Amendments to the CBI program regulations concerning the Oath of Allegiance