Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment

With hundreds of beaches, year-round sunshine, and some of the most welcoming people you could wish to meet, Antigua and Barbuda is heaven on earth. You can make this popular holiday location the home of your dreams by applying to the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme.

Established in 2013, the scheme grants you citizenship in exchange for an economic donation to this celestial Caribbean country.

The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment programme offers a many of benefits, including:

Citizenship for life

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship gives you the right to live and work in the country for life, plus civic entitlements like voting, free healthcare and the right to hold an Antigua and Barbuda passport.

Entitlement to dual citizenship

Unlike other countries, Antigua and Barbuda has no restrictions on dual citizenship. Consequently, you don’t need to relinquish your original nationality in order to become an Antigua and Barbuda citizen.

Ability to pass on citizenship

As an Antigua and Barbuda citizen, you’ll also be able to pass on your citizenship rights to your descendants. This allows them to enjoy all the same benefits and in turn safeguards your family’s future.

Citizenship by investment in Antigua and Barbuda is available through one of four options:

A contribution to the Government’s National Development Fund (NDF):

A purchase of pre-approved real estate that must be held for at least 5 years.

A contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund (UWIF). This option is only available to families composed of 6 or more persons and covers the costs of 1 year of tuition at the University of the West Indies for 1 family member only.

Moreover, the following Government Processing Fees apply to additional family members: US$15,000 each

An independent or joint investment in a business.

The following Government Processing fees apply to the NDF option, pre-approved real estate option, and business option.
 
Please note that 10% of the Government Processing Fees are non-refundable and due upon submission of an application.

The following basic fees apply to all the options:
 
• Due Diligence Fees

 
• Bank Charges
 
• Bank Administrative Fees
 
• Passport Fees
 
• CS Global Partners Professional Fees
 

What are the benefits of an Antigua and Barbuda passport?

Antigua and Barbuda passports are CARICOM passports that are issued to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda for international travel. They are biometric documents, ensuring a greater level of safety and facilitating cross-border procedures. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders enjoy global mobility and access to almost 150 countries and territories worldwide.

How long are Antigua and Barbuda passports valid for?

First-time passports of Antigua and Barbuda issued to economic citizens are only valid for five years. This is to ensure that proper checks are performed on whether the economic citizen has fulfilled the five-day residence requirement and travel requirement to complete the Oath of Allegiance in Antigua and Barbuda.

The validity of second-time passports depends on whether the passport is issued to someone aged 16 or over. If the person is 16 or over, then Antigua and Barbuda passports are valid for 10 years. If the person is a child aged less than 16, then the passport is only valid for five years.

What is the Antigua and Barbuda passport application process?

The passport application process is separate from the citizenship by investment process, and requires the applicant to present a number of documents. These documents vary according to whether the application is a first-time application, a first-time renewal, or a later renewal.

In all cases, a certified copy of the applicant’s Certificate of Registration – the document that is issued to an economic citizen at the end of the citizenship by investment process – must be provided.

Every time Antigua and Barbuda passport holders re-apply for a passport (for example, because their old passport has expired), they must present their old Antigua and Barbuda passport. This will be cancelled upon issuance of the new passport.

To renew a first-time passport that has expired, an economic citizen must first send a request to the Citizenship by Investment Unit through his or her Licensed Agent.

All other renewals after that can be made directly at the Passport Office (a department within the Prime Minister’s Ministry) located on Queen Elizabeth Highway in St John’s (Antigua and Barbuda’s capital city). Alternatively, applications can be made at an Antigua and Barbuda High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate.

Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship by investment application process consists of seven steps:

• Step 1: Application and pre-approval by CS Global Partners
  We will look through your application to check everything is in order and confirm it meets the requisite conditions, giving it the best possible chance of being accepted.
• Step 2: Submission of citizenship application
  After approving the application, we’ll then send it to Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) on your behalf.
• Step 3: Government processing and due diligence checks
  The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will process your application and perform due diligence checks, which includes checking for criminal records and assessing your ability to provide funds.
• Step 4: Approval in principle
  Once your application is approved in principle, you’ll receive a letter confirming that the CIU has officially granted your request for citizenship.
• Step 5: Make the investment of your choiceNow is the point you submit all the required documentation, pay government and make your qualifying investments.
• Step 6: Citizenship certificate issued
  After you’ve completed the above steps, you’ll receive a citizenship certificate, officially making you an Antigua and Barbuda citizen.
• Step 7: Passport applicationYou’re now able to apply for an Antigua and Barbuda passport and reap all the travel benefits involved.

How long does it take to process an application?

From submission of the application to receiving the approval in principle, applicants can generally expect to wait around three months. You are not required to attend an interview, pass tests, or even travel to or reside in Antigua and Barbuda, which helps speed up the process.

Book a free first consultation with one of our citizenship experts and discuss your individual requirements.
  
Book Free Consultation
  
*Citizenship by investment programme requires a financial investment into the country.

• Government of Antigua and Barbuda
• Citizenship by Investment Unit
• Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority

Have a look at other CBI programmes:

• St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment
• St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
• Grenada Citizenship by Investment
• Dominica Citizenship by Investment