Antigua and Barbuda citizenship benefits
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island state with beautiful nature and developed infrastructure. The government offers wealthy foreigners citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda by investment.
Worldwide famous politicians, business people, fashion designers and other celebrities spend time or live on islands in some of the most beautiful residences in the Caribbean.
Why Antigua and Barbuda is more than a holiday destination and what its investment program offers
Key benefits of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment:
- visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 150 destinations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, and the Schengen Area;
- the application can consist of relatives, as well as after the investor has been granted citizenship;
- Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth, entitling citizens to certain privileges in the UK and other member states;
- the islands are an attractive place to live or to own a safe haven, with excellent air links to North America and Europe;
- there are no residing requirements when obtaining Antigua and Barbuda passport by investment;
- Antigua and Barbuda has no capital gain or real estate taxes, and income generated outside the country is not taxed.
Who can obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship
Only adult investors with no criminal record can participate in the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program. Also, there should be no severe illnesses.
Investment conditions can be fulfilled only with money, proved with documents. This can be business income, salary, dividends, inheritance, or money from the property sale.
Document requirements list:
- National passport.
- Birth certificate.
- Personal reference.
- Marriage certificate.
- Affidavit of support for each dependent.
- Divorce certificate.
- Basic application form.
- Medical certificate form.
- Investment confirmation form.
- Photograph and signature certificate form.
- Police certificate of no criminal record.
- Tax returns and income statements.
Additional documents depending on the investment option. For example, if an investor chooses a property purchase, he provides a real estate contract.
How to get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship for family members
The application can include members of the investor's family:
- a spouse;
- children under 30;
- parents and grandparents over 55;
- unmarried siblings.
Adult children, parents, and grandparents must be under the full financial support of the investor.
Antigua and Barbuda passports for family members can be obtained even after the investor has become a citizen. It is allowed to join the program: children under 18 years old, parents, grandchildren, future spouses of the investor, and adult children.
The Antigua and Barbuda investment program has a unique opportunity to get Antigua passports for large families of six and more people.
What to invest in to get an Antigua and Barbuda passport
Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program applicants choose from 4 options:
- $100,000+ as a contribution to the National Transformation Fund;
- $150,000+ as a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund;
- $200,000+ as a purchase of real estate;
- $400,000+ as an investment in a business.
Investment under the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program
| Option | Single investor | Family of 2—4 people | Family of 6 people |
| Contribution to the National fund | $130,000 | $130,000 | $185,000 |
| Contribution to the University of West Indies Fund | — | — | $150,000 |
| Real estate purchase | $230,000 | $230,000 | $260,000 |
| Investment in business | $430,000 | $430,000 | $610,000 |
The amount of investment for each option, except the purchase of the real estate, depends on the family's composition. In addition, applicants pay a state fee: contributing to the National Transformation Fund, purchasing real estate, and investing in a business is from $30,000.
The option with a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund is only available to families of 6 people. The government fee for 6 people is already included in the donation. If there are more family members, the investor pays an extra $15,000.
If an investor buys real estate, the invested money can be returned. Only objects approved for the program are available to investors — they sell shares, apartments and villas. Real estate can be sold in 5 years, and until then, owners receive 3—5% per year through rent.
Example of Antigua and Barbuda property for sale
The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program department notes that in 2020 investors have become interested in buying real estate more often than before. The specialists of the department predict further growth in demand for this option.
Costs and fees for getting Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by real estate purchase
| Expenses | Investor | Married couple | Family of four | Family of five or more |
| Real estate purchase | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Due Diligence | 7,500 | 15,000 | $7,500 each for the investor and spouse +$2,000 per child 12 to 17 years old +$4,000 per adult family member | $7,500 each for the investor and spouse +$2,000 per child 12 to 17 years old +$4,000 per adult family member |
| Government fee | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Other fees | $600 | $1,200 | $1,800 | $2,400 |
The process of obtaining an Antigua and Barbuda passport by investment
The procedure for obtaining Antigua and Barbuda citizenship consists of 5 steps
By law, investor documents must be prepared by a licensed program agent. It’s impossible to submit the documents yourself — the application will be refused.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program. We have our compliance department. A certified Anti Money Laundering Officer checks the investor’s documents. Verification takes 1 to 3 days.
Preliminary Due Diligence helps find the risk of rejection before the investor spends time and money preparing documents and applying. If we find a problem, we look for a solution — for example, we offer another program.
Thanks to the preliminary Due Diligence, the risk of citizenship denial is reduced to 1%.
Immigrant Invest signs an agreement with the applicant and starts collecting documents only after a preliminary check.
The list of documents for participation in the program depends on the specific situation. Lawyers of Immigrant Invest analyse the investor’s situation and say what documents will be needed.
The investor provides personal and financial documents, and lawyers certify copies, fill out forms and draw up affidavits.
The completed package of documents is sent for review to the citizenship program department.
Department staff conduct security checks. They study the documents of the investor and his family and analyse information about applicants in international databases.
The check lasts from 3 to 9 months. Based on its results, the department decides whether to approve the application or not
When the application is approved, the applicant fulfils the investment condition: making a grant, buying real estate, or investing in a business. This must be done within 30 days
A passport and a naturalisation certificate are made in 4 weeks and sent to the investor at a convenient address for him. After obtaining a passport, all adult applicants take an oath.
Participants in the investment program must spend 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda within the first 5 years after obtaining a passport. They can take the oath on the islands during the trip, at the country’s representative office abroad or online.
Other ways to get Antigua and Barbuda passport
By naturalisation. People residing in Antigua and Barbuda for more than 7 years could apply for naturalisation.
By marriage. A person who has been married to an Antigua and Barbuda citizen for at least 3 years and living together with the spouse can register to become a citizen.
Commonwealth citizens living in Antigua and Barbuda for at least 7 straight years could also register to become citizens.
By birth. Before October 31, 1981, children were born in Antigua and Barbuda and acquired Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. Those born in the territory of Antigua and Barbuda after October 31, 1981, also acquired citizenship, except for children born to diplomatic personnel.
Before October 31, 1981, people born outside Antigua acquired citizenship if a parent or grandparent was a citizen. Those born outside Antigua and Barbuda after October 31, 1981, acquired citizenship if at least one parent was a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.
By descent. Before October 31, 1981, people born outside Antigua and Barbuda also acquired citizenship if a parent or grandparent was a citizen. Those born outside Antigua and Barbuda after October 31, 1981, acquired citizenship if at least one parent was a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quite powerful. Now it’s ranking 30th and includes 150 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations.
The minimum donation is $100,000 and includes a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund.
Other investment options:
- $150,000+ as a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund;
- $200,000+ as a purchase of real estate;
- $400,000+ as an investment in a business.
It will take 3—6 months to get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. In case of providing all the necessary documents, investors and their family members are entitled to rely on meeting these terms.
Yes, it does. But the investor should also check law requirements related to origin pass and whether it allows second citizenship.
Yes. Antigua and Barbuda have no capital gain or estate taxes, and income generated outside the country is not taxed.
Yes. Participating in the investment program can any foreigners, except Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan citizens.
There are several ways to get an Antigua and Barbuda passport — my marriage, descent, birth and naturalisation. All of them need long terms and particular circumstances.
The fastest way to get an Antigua passport is to participate in a government investment program.
