Dual citizenship with Antigua and Barbuda

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda is obtained by birthright, through adoption, marriage, pedigree, special services to the state and naturalization. Wealthy people can obtain second citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda by investment.

Dual and second citizenship: what’s the difference between the notions

The rules for obtaining citizenship are enshrined in the Citizenship Law.

Grounds for obtaining citizenship:

• birth from citizens of the country or in its territory;

• naturalization;

• marriage to a citizen of the country;

• investment;

• repatriation;

• adoption;

• work for the government of the country;

• for special services to the state.

Citizenship by investment. The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program by investment is one of the newest in the Caribbean and was launched in 2013.

A second passport by investment costs from $100,000. There are four options offered: contribution to the state fund or a university fund, purchase real estate, or invest in a business.

Family members can obtain dual citizenship at the same time as the investor. The program allows the main applicant’s spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters to participate.

Top 10 Citizenship by Investment Programs.

Citizenship by birth. A child acquires citizenship by birth if at least one of the parents is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. In this case, the place of birth does not matter.

Any child born in the country after October 31, 1981, even if his parents are foreigners, acquires the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by right of soil. Except for children whose parents are diplomatic workers.

If a child is found on the country’s territory, he is considered a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda until it turns out who his parents are.

Citizenship by adoption is acquired by all minor children adopted or adopted by citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

Citizenship through marriage can be obtained by the spouse of a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, subject to cohabitation for at least three years.

Citizenship by registration is obtained by Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the country for more than seven years.

Citizenship by ancestry is granted to children and grandchildren of citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

Conditions for obtaining second citizenship by naturalization:

• residence in the country for five years;

• stable income in the country;

• no criminal record;

• intention to live in the country;

• an Oath of Allegiance to the people and the state.

The spouse of the principal applicant and their minor children can apply for citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda.

Low cost of citizenship. A family of up to 4 people can receive Antigua and Barbuda passports in return for investments in the National Development Fund starting from $100,000.

Passports are processed quickly: 3 to 6 months. The Antigua and Barbuda government department approves applications within 10 weeks and plans to shorten this period to a maximum of 45 days.

Schengen countries, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong, are included in 151 visa-free countries for Antigua and Barbuda passport holders.

Antigua and Barbuda passport benefits

An Antigua and Barbuda 2nd passport gives the holder the right to stay in the following countries for the indicated periods:

• 90 days in any half-year period in the European Union;

• 180 days a year in the UK;

• 30 days a year in Singapore;

• 90 days a year in Hong Kong.

Passport makes it easy to get multiple entries 10-year B‑1/B‑2 US tourist visa. The visa allows the holder to stay in the US for 180 days a year. Citizens of countries outside the European Union are issued such a visa for up to 3 years.

Investment in real estate can be returned after five years by selling your real estate at a profit to other participants in the citizenship program. The potential income from renting out real estate varies from 3 to 8% per annum.

Concessional prices for studying in the UK. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, headed by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Therefore, children of an investor with an Antigua and Barbuda passport have access to concessional prices when studying at universities in the UK.

Tax optimization. The local tax structure makes it profitable to conduct international business and register property in Antigua and Barbuda. Tax residents do not pay taxes on income earned outside the country. In addition, there is no tax on wealth, inheritance or capital gains.

Why Antigua and Barbuda is more than a holiday destination and what its investment program offers

The number of countries where you can enter without a visa with an Antigua and Barbuda 2nd passport is growing every year. Negotiations are underway with New Zealand and Australia on visa-free travel. As for March 2022, Antigua and Barbuda passport holders could travel visa-free to 150 countries and obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport in another 31 countries.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda can be obtained by an investor 18 years of age or older, with documented legal income, without a criminal record and a serious illness.

In addition to the investor, Antigua and Barbuda’s second citizenship can be obtained by the investor’s spouse, children up to 30 years old, parents aged 55 years and older and siblings. Children with physical or mental disabilities can be included in the application regardless of their age.

The cost of citizenship for a family is calculated based on the age and number of participants. We cover the details in the following sections.

Who can obtain Antigua and Barbuda dual citizenship

• Investor — over 18 years old, no criminal record, legal income, not under sanctions, has not been refused a visa or citizenship, has passed due diligence

• Spouse — officially married to the investor or future spouse

• Children — over 18 years old, under 30 years old, financially dependent on investor, live with the investor, including children from previous marriages

• Parents and grandparents — over 55 years old, financially dependent on the investor, live with the investor

• Siblings — not married, financially dependent on investor

The investor’s family members can be added to the citizenship program after the investor receives their passport. The government of Antigua and Barbuda has reduced the fee for adding a spouse or parent to a citizenship application from $75,000 to $50,000.

The cost of adding a child under five years old is $10,000 while adding a child from 6 to 17 years old is $20,000. Children over 18 years old cannot be added to the application at a later date. They need to be included in the original application together with the investor.

Roshan and Samadhi,

Tea company shareholders from Sri Lanka

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda for plans in the UK: studies, work, travel

Our son has always wanted to study abroad at a prestigious university. And we are happy we can afford it. So now Lakmal is a student at the University of London. He is planning to get a job in the UK, too.

But we all depend on visas. We cannot visit Lakmal as we wish, and we hardly made it to come on time for his birthday. Our son’s future is also at stake: he may be short of time and asked to leave the country before finding a good job after graduation.

Learn a case

To attract foreign capital to develop the economy, Antigua and Barbuda revised the terms of their citizenship program in 2020. The amount of investment in real estate was reduced to $200,000. For a family of at least six members, it also added the option to invest in the University of the West Indies Fund.

Dual citizenship can be obtained remotely and confidentially through a licensed program agent. The investor will need to visit the country for the oath of allegiance and spend at least five days there during the first five years of the citizenship program.

Four investment options

• $100,000:

  a non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF). The money in the state fund is used to re-equip hospitals, develop alternative energy, and open new schools and universities.

• $150,000:

  a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund for a family of at least six people. This option also offers a year of free education at the university for one of the children included in the application within five years after the investor receives their passport.

• $200,000:

  investment in an elite hotel approved by the government. The share can be sold after five years.

• $1,500,000:

  investment in one of the 11 government-approved business projects, primarily in construction companies. Investments can also be made in the organization of a call centre or agriculture.

In addition to the investment, the applicant needs to pay state fees, pay for due diligence, and pay administration fees. Using the example of investment in the state fund, we examine the costs of participating in the citizenship program for the investor and their family.

An investor can only invest in properties that the government has approved for the program. The minimum investment is $200,000, which is twice as high as the minimum contribution required in the National Development Fund.

However, most of the money can be recouped without affecting the status of the investor and their family’s citizenship, which remains valid for their lifetime.

After five years, the investment property can be sold at a profit to other participants in the program. In this case, the cost of second citizenship for the investor and their family is effectively reduced to just the registration fees.

Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Marys

$200,000 — $1,500,000

Share and full ownership of villas in a residential complex

92 m² — 156 m²

2

2

Antigua & Barbuda, Saint Marys

$220,000 — $715,000

Share and full ownership of apartments in a hotel complex with a private beach

120 m²

1

1

4% return: the investor can earn a potential return of 4% on the sale of the investment property. The deal can take place remotely without the investor being physically present.

Properties that are rented out earn an income of 3 to 8% per annum. The management company takes care of all the administration, maintains the real estate, finds tenants when required and pays the bills.

Tourists rent property in Antigua and Barbuda all year round. The demand for real estate declined due to the COVID‑19 epidemic but has gradually started to recover after the partial opening of borders.

Using the example of a real estate investment, we show the costs of participating in the citizen program for an investor and their family.

We break down the costs of different options for participating in the citizenship program for a family of 4.

Antigua and Barbuda joined the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), an information standard for the automatic exchange of tax information, in 2018. Under the double taxation avoidance agreement, the investors can choose the country they prefer to pay taxes: the investor’s country of origin or Antigua and Barbuda.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda is interested in raising capital, and it has developed a tax system for business development. Tax residents do not pay taxes on income and capital earned outside Antigua and Barbuda. In addition, there are no taxes on capital gains, wealth or inheritance.

Business and taxes in Caribbean countries

Taxes are levied on businesses operating in the country, as well as on the purchase of real estate and land. However, investments in real estate under the citizenship program offer tax benefits: no land licence fee is charged.

An international business company (IBC) can be registered in Antigua and Barbuda to conduct international business and attract partners abroad. IBCs are exempt from taxes for 50 years as long as they operate in the Caribbean region.

In Antigua and Barbuda, there is no requirement to file annual accounting and auditing reports. Companies only need to store company documents on the territory of the country.

Tax rates in Antigua and Barbuda:

• on real estate, up to 0,5%;

• on the transfer of real estate: ranging from 2.5 to 7,5%;

• on income of companies registered locally: 25%.

Antigua and Barbuda tax residents can open an account in any international bank. This helps settle foreign exchange transactions with foreign partners faster.

To become a tax resident in Antigua and Barbuda, you need to reside in the country for at least 183 days in the year, apply and pay the fee.