Citizenship
12 October, 2024
Reading Time: 5 min

Comparison of Antigua and Barbuda & St Kitts and Nevis passports

Wealthy people often get second passports for visa-free travelling. Caribbean citizenship is famous for its wide range of visa-free destinations, and Caribbean CBI programs for investors — for their low cost and fast-track procedures.

Two of the five Caribbean investment programs operate in St Kitts and Nevis and in Antigua and Barbuda.

Learn about conditions for obtaining citizenship by investment, how to compare passports of Antigua and Barbuda with St Kitts and Nevis’s, and choose the most convenient citizenship by investment program.

Lyle Julien

Author •Lyle Julien

Compared the two Caribbean CBI programs

Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts passports allow visa-free access to at least 150 states

Comparison of Antigua and Barbuda & St Kitts and Nevis passports

Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis: which citizenship is better considering visa-free destinations

Antigua and Barbuda passport holders travel to 150 countries visa-free, and citizens of St Kitts and Nevis 一 to 156 states.

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.

To quickly compare visa-free countries for the passport holders of St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, we check the differences with icons ❌ and ⚠️:

  • ❌ means that citizens of Antigua and Barbuda need a visa, and St Kitts and Nevis’s don’t, or the other way round;

  • ⚠️ means that the entry conditions are slightly different. For example, Antigua and Barbuda citizens have visa-free entry, while St Kitts and Nevis’s get visas on arrival.

  • Europe

    No.

    Country

    For Antigua and Barbuda citizens

    1

    Albania

    Visa-free

    2

    Andorra

    Visa-free

    3

    Austria

    Visa-free

    4

    Belarus

    Visa-free

    5

    Belgium

    Visa-free

    6

    Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Visa-free

    7

    Bulgaria

    Visa-free

    8

    Croatia

    Visa-free

    9

    Cyprus

    Visa-free

    10

    Czech Republic

    Visa-free

    11

    Denmark

    Visa-free

    12

    Estonia

    Visa-free

    13

    Faroe Islands

    Visa-free

    14

    Finland

    Visa-free

    15

    France

    Visa-free

    16

    Georgia

    Visa-free

    17

    Germany

    Visa-free

    18

    Gibraltar

    Visa-free

    19

    Greece

    Visa-free

    20

    Hungary

    Visa-free

    21

    Iceland

    Visa-free

    22

    Ireland

    Visa-free

    23

    Italy

    Visa-free

    24

    Kosovo

    Visa-free

    25

    Latvia

    Visa-free

    26

    Liechtenstein

    Visa-free

    27

    Lithuania

    Visa-free

    28

    Luxembourg

    Visa-free

    29

    Malta

    Visa-free

    30

    Moldova

    Visa-free

    31

    Monaco

    Visa-free

    32

    Montenegro

    Visa-free

    33

    Netherlands

    Visa-free

    34

    North Macedonia

    Visa-free

    35

    Norway

    Visa-free

    36

    Poland

    Visa-free

    37

    Portugal

    Visa-free

    38

    Romania

    Visa-free

    39

    Russia

    Visa-free

    40

    San Marino

    Visa-free

    41

    Serbia

    Visa-free

    42

    Slovakia

    Visa-free

    43

    Slovenia

    Visa-free

    44

    Spain

    Visa-free

    45

    Sweden

    Visa-free

    46

    Switzerland

    Visa-free

    47

    Ukraine

    Visa-free

    48

    United Kingdom

    Visa-free

    49

    Vatican City

    Visa-free

  • Asia

    No.

    Country

    For Antigua and Barbuda citizens

    1

    Armenia

    Visa on arrival

    2

    ⚠️ Bangladesh

    Visa on arrival

    3

    Cambodia

    Visa on arrival

    4

    Georgia

    Visa-free

    5

    Hong Kong

    Visa-free

    6

    ❌Indonesia

    Visa required

    7

    ❌ Israel

    Visa required

    8

    Iran

    Visa on arrival

    9

    Jordan

    Visa on arrival

    10

    Laos

    Visa on arrival

    11

    Lebanon

    Visa on arrival

    12

    Macao

    Visa on arrival

    13

    Malaysia

    Visa-free

    14

    Maldives

    Visa on arrival

    15

    Nepal

    Visa on arrival

    16

    Pakistan

    Electronic entry permit

    17

    Palestinian Territory

    Visa-free

    18

    Philippines

    Visa-free

    19

    ❌ Qatar

    Visa-free

    20

    Singapore

    Visa-free

    21

    South Korea

    Visa-free

    22

    Sri Lanka

    Electronic entry permit

    23

    ❌ Taiwan

    Visa required

    24

    Timor-Leste

    Visa on arrival

    25

    ❌ Turkey

    Visa required

    26

    Uzbekistan

    Visa-free

  • Africa

    No.

    Country

    For Antigua and Barbuda citizens

    1

    Botswana

    Visa-free

    2

    Burundi

    Visa on arrival

    3

    Cape Verde Islands

    Visa on arrival

    4

    Comoro Islands

    Visa on arrival

    5

    Egypt

    Visa on arrival

    6

    Eswatini

    Visa-free

    7

    Gambia

    Visa-free

    8

    Guinea-Bissau

    Visa on arrival

    9

    ❌ Kenya

    Visa required

    10

    Lesotho

    Visa-free

    11

    Madagascar

    Visa on arrival

    12

    Malawi

    Visa-free

    13

    Mauritania

    Visa on arrival

    14

    Mauritius

    Visa-free

    15

    Mayotte

    Visa-free

    16

    Mozambique

    Visa on arrival

    17

    Reunion

    Visa-free

    18

    ⚠️ Rwanda

    Visa on arrival

    19

    Saint Helena

    Visa on arrival

    20

    ⚠️ Senegal

    Visa on arrival

    21

    Seychelles

    Visa on arrival

    22

    Sierra Leone

    Visa on arrival

    23

    Somalia

    Visa on arrival

    24

    ❌ South Africa

    Visa-free

    25

    Tanzania

    Visa-free

    26

    Togo

    Visa on arrival

    27

    Tunisia

    Visa-free

    28

    Uganda

    Visa on arrival

    29

    Zambia

    Visa-free

    30

    Zimbabwe

    Visa-free

  • Oceania

    No.

    Country

    For Antigua and Barbuda citizens

    1

    Cook Islands

    Visa-free

    2

    Fiji

    Visa-free

    3

    French Polynesia

    Visa-free

    4

    Kiribati

    Visa-free

    5

    Micronesia

    Visa-free

    6

    New Caledonia

    Visa-free

    7

    Niue

    Visa-free

    8

    Palau

    Visa on arrival

    9

    Samoa

    Visa on arrival

    10

    Solomon Islands

    Visa on arrival

    11

    ❌ Tonga

    Visa required

    12

    Tuvalu

    Visa on arrival

    13

    Vanuatu

    Visa-free

  • North America

    No.

    Country

    For Antigua and Barbuda citizens

    1

    Anguilla

    Visa-free

    2

    Antigua and Barbuda

    Visa-free

    3

    Bahamas

    Visa-free

    4

    Barbados

    Visa-free

    5

    Belize

    Visa-free

    6

    Bermuda

    Visa-free

    7

    British Virgin Islands

    Visa-free

    8

    Cayman Islands

    Visa-free

    9

    Costa Rica

    Visa-free

    10

    Cuba

    Visa-free

    11

    Dominica

    Visa-free

    12

    Dominican Republic

    Visa-free

    13

    El Salvador

    Visa-free

    14

    French West Indies

    Visa-free

    15

    Greenland

    Visa-free

    16

    Grenada

    Visa-free

    17

    Guatemala

    Visa-free

    18

    Haiti

    Visa-free

    19

    Honduras

    Visa-free

    20

    Jamaica

    Visa-free

    21

    Montserrat

    Visa-free

    22

    Nicaragua

    Visa-free

    23

    Panama

    Visa-free

    24

    Sint Maarten

    Visa-free

    25

    St Kitts and Nevis

    Visa-free

    26

    St Lucia

    Visa-free

    27

    St Vincent and the Grenadines

    Visa-free

    28

    Trinidad and Tobago

    Visa-free

    29

    Turks and Caicos Islands

    Visa-free

  • South America

    No.

    Country

    For Antigua and Barbuda citizens

    1

    ❌ Argentina

    Visa required

    2

    Aruba

    Visa-free

    3

    Bolivia

    Visa on arrival

    4

    Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba

    Visa-free

    5

    Brazil

    Visa-free

    6

    Chile

    Visa-free

    7

    Colombia

    Visa-free

    8

    Curacao

    Visa-free

    9

    Ecuador

    Visa-free

    10

    French Guiana

    Visa-free

    11

    Guyana

    Visa-free

    12

    Peru

    Visa-free

    13

    Suriname

    Visa-free

    14

    ❌ Uruguay

    Visa required

    15

    Venezuela

    Visa-free

Comparison of conditions for investors and their families

Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts citizenship benefits are pretty much the same. But the conditions of getting their passports by investment are very different, and investors compare citizenship programs by costs and time frames.

Caribbean passport comparison: visa-free destinations, minimum investments, and time frames

The St Kitts CBI unit, a citizenship program department, introduced a special offer for investors valid until June 30th, 2023: the minimal investment is $125,000 instead $150,000

Investment options The Antigua and Barbuda program offers four investment options, and St Kitts and Nevis’s 一 three.

Fund contributions are non-refundable, and investment in real estate can be returned in 5 or 7 years. 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 the University of the West Indies Fund and get a year of studying at the university for free. Besides, there is an option to invest in local businesses.

Comparison of investment options 

Options

Contributing to a government fund

$100,000+

$125,000+
Until June 30th, 2023

$250,000+
From July 1st, 2023

Purchasing a property

$200,000+
Return in 5 years

$400,000+
Return in 7 years

$175,000+
Investing in the construction of social facilities or private enterprises

Contributing to the University of the West Indies Fund, for families of 6 or more

$150,000+

Investing in a business

$400,000+

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. All adult family members, except the spouse, must be financially dependent on the investor or the spouse.

Family member

Spouse

Unlimited

Unlimited

Children

Under 30

Under 25

Parents and grandparents

Over 55

Over 65

The more investor’s relatives participate in the program, the higher the costs. For example, for spouses and two minor children, participation in the program will cost about $147,000, including fees if the investor contributes to the Antigua and Barbuda government fund.

Validity of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis passports

Program participants get naturalisation certificates and passports of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis. The passports have to be renewed every 10 years, and there is no need to renew the certificates.

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

  • an expiring passport;

  • a naturalisation certificate;

  • a birth certificate;

  • a certificate of no criminal record;

  • photos for a new passport.

Adult holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports must prove that they took the oath 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.

Obligations and rights of the passport holders

The duties of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis citizens are similar. They must provide truthful information, including investors. Providing false information can be deprived of citizenship.

Investors who chose the real estate option keep property investment for 5 or 7 years subject to the terms of the programs.

Participants of the Antigua and Barbuda program must visit the country at least 5 days within the first 5 years after getting citizenship. Also, they take the oath.

Right 一 visa-free travelling. All passport holders can freely travel to the countries which signed visa waiver agreements with their citizenship state.

Right 一 adding relatives to the citizenship program. An investor with a passport of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis have the right to add the relatives to the citizenship program after getting their passport. The list of qualifying family members is the following:

  • a spouse;

  • children;

  • grandchildren;

  • parents;

  • siblings.

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

Right 一 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.

Tax systems of the two countries: St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda

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.

Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis taxes for individual residents

Taxes and fees

Social fees

5,5%

5%

Real estate purchase tax

2,5%

Not applicable

Tax for property owners

0.1一0.5%

0.4一0.96%

The real estate tax for the sale

7,5%

6一10%

How to get citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis or Antigua and Barbuda

Stages and timing of the CBI programs are similar. Differences appear only at the steps of taking the oath and visiting the country for investors in Antigua and Barbuda. The St Kitts CBI unit doesn’t require it.

1

1 day

Preliminary Due Diligence

The investor contacts the licensed agent of the program, Immigrant Invest. An Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the company conducts a preliminary Due Diligence. The stage allows to identify the rejection risks.

2

2 to 4 weeks

Preparation of documents

The lawyers prepare investor’s documents: collect, translate and notarise them. Also, lawyers fill out government forms and file affidavits. The application and documents are submitted to the CBI unit.

3

2 to 6 months

Due Diligence

The CBI unit checks investors and their family members aged over 12 years in Antigua and Barbuda and over 16 years in St Kitts and Nevis.

If the CBI unit has any questions about the investor or the family members, it requests additional documents and explanations. A detailed affidavit helps avoid additional questions.

4

Up to 30 days

Investment terms fulfilment

After the agent gets approval of the investor’s application from the CBI unit, the applicant has 30 days to fulfil investment conditions of the Antigua and Barbuda program and 90 days to fulfil conditions of the St Kitts and Nevis program.

5

Up to 4 weeks

Getting passport

The naturalisation certificates and passports are issued within 4 weeks after fulfilling financial conditions. The investor obtains documents at the agent’s office or by delivery service.

6

1 day

Oath of allegiance

The investor and all the adult family members must take the oath of allegiance. The procedure can take place by videoconference, at the nearest national consulate or in Antigua and Barbuda.

Moving to Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis

One must get a temporary or permanent residence permit for moving to St Kitts and Nevis or Antigua and Barbuda. Wealthy people with second citizenship by investment can relocate to the country and become their tax residents anytime they want.

Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis’ living conditions are similar. The countries are on islands with a tropical climate, warm sea all year round, good medicine, schools and universities.

There are countries near St Kitts and Nevis. There is an hour from St Kitts to Antigua and Barbuda by flight

Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis passports offer matching opportunities. Therefore, we recommend calculating the costs for both programs for your family composition. If there is no possibility or desire to come to Antigua and Barbuda to fulfil all program conditions, we advise choosing the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship program.

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.

Frequently asked questions

  • What do I need to do to get a passport by investment?

    To obtain citizenship by investment, you must participate in a government program for investors. Five Caribbean citizenship programs are famous for their low cost, fast-track procedures, and wide range of visa-free destinations. Here is the comparison of St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda programs.

  • Which Caribbean passport is the best?

    The best passport gives the most opportunities for visa-free travelling. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis travel to 150+ countries visa-free, including the Schengen Area, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. For a visit to the US, they get 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visas.

  • Which investment program is better 一 of Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis?

    Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis passports offer similar opportunities, so the investor has to choose the terms of the citizenship program. The Antigua and Barbuda program is faster. Costs depend on the composition and age of the investor’s family who plan to participate in the program with the main applicant. We recommend calculating the costs for both programs.

  • Is St Kitts and Nevis passport powerful?

    St Kitts and Nevis passport holders can travel to 156 countries visa-free, including the Schengen Area, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. They can also get 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visas to the US.

    You must participate in the government citizenship program to get a passport by investment.

  • Is the Antigua and Barbuda passport strong?

    Investors with an Antigua and Barbuda passport can enter 150 countries visa-free, including the Schengen states, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore. They can obtain 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visas to the US. The Antigua and Barbuda passport may be obtained by investment if you participate in the government citizenship program.