Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program Review (2024)

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program is one of the best and most inexpensive options anywhere in the world for families.

The investment opportunities are lucrative and the country offers a quality of life that rivals most developed nations. There’s also no tax on worldwide income in Antigua and Barbuda.  

With beautiful surroundings, easy travel to 150 destinations, and quick application turnaround times, Antigua and Barbuda is an excellent option for anyone looking to get citizenship through investment.  

That said, this guide will break down what the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program is, its benefits, how much it costs, and how to get started with the application process.

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You can obtain an Antigua and Barbuda passport in just 3-4 months with an investment of only US$100,000, which is 250% less expensive than the similar program offered by St. Kitts and Nevis.

Why Getting Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship?

There are many benefits of having Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.

Here’s a list of the main benefits:

• You can fly to over 150 countries without having to get a visa including the United Kingdom, the European Schengen area, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
• You don’t need to pay personal income tax, on both your local and worldwide income
• You can own or build your own home on this beautiful island
• You can freely live here.

What Makes the Antigua and Barbuda Program Popular?

There are many reasons, in addition to having Antigua and Barbuda citizenship, that make the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship-by-investment program popular.

• It’s one of the most inexpensive options in the world, especially for families
• There is a quick turnaround time on applications for. Almost all applications are processed and completed in three to four months.
• English is the primary language of the island nation, so there’s no need to learn another language. 
• Antigua and Barbuda is politically stable. 
• The locals are friendly and welcoming. 
• Antigua and Barbuda’s climate is stable, so you can predict what type of temperatures you’ll encounter year round.  
• Flying to North America and Europe from Antigua and Barbuda is easy. 
• The islands have beautiful turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and tropical foliage — including palm trees. 

Who is the Program For? 

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program is for anyone who’d like an Antigua and Barbuda passport quickly and inexpensively and get all the perks that come along with having one.

Taxes 

In Antigua and Barbuda, you won’t have to worry about too many taxes. There is no capital gains tax, no income tax, and no wealth or inheritance tax.  

This makes it an ideal place to ensure your money stays in your bank account.

Second Home

This lush tropical paradise is a great place to visit and an even better place to own a second home. The airports allow for easy access to and from this island nation, especially if your destination is in North America or Europe.  

The picture-perfect views all over Antigua will allow for elegant entertaining in your vacation villa. You could explore every one of the 365 beaches that Antigua has to offer.  

There are many ways to enjoy Antigua and Barbuda; you really can choose your own adventure. 

Political Stability  

Antigua and Barbuda is quite stable, politically. It holds democratic elections and the people there have academic freedom, religious freedom, and freedom of expression.  

This island country is a member of the United Nations, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Organization of American States, the World Trade Organization, and the Eastern Caribbean’s Regional Security System.

With so many powerful alliances, it will likely remain stable in the foreseeable future.

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Application Process  

There are a few ways to get citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, such as being married to a citizen of the country for at last three years. But citizenship through investment is the fastest and most reliable way to get a passport in the country.

That said, let’s look at some of the investment requirements you have to meet.

Investment Requirements 

You’ll need to choose from one of the four investment options:

• a contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF)
• a contribution to the University of West Indies (UWI)
• a real estate investment
• a business investment  

The NDF and UWI options are the most cost-effective way for a family to obtain citizenship by investment anywhere in the world. 

Let’s look at each one more closely.

National Development Fund Contribution 

Antigua and Barbuda is the most inexpensive investment option for families. A donation of at least US$100,000 to the NDF covers a family of up to four people, including you, your spouse, and two children.  

If you have a family of five or more, you have to contribute US$125,000 instead.  

This is the cheapest option in the world for families, even among Caribbean countries.

University of the West Indies Contribution

If you have a large family of more than six members, you might want to consider contributing to the UWI instead. 

With it, a family of six can all obtain citizenship for a one-time donation of at least US$150,000 to the UWI. The required contribution for each additional family member thereafter is US$15,000.

Real Estate Investment 

In addition to the contribution options already mentioned, you can invest in real estate to obtain citizenship by investment.  

Requirements include: 

• a minimum investment of US$200,000 
• investment in property located in an approved development area 
• holding onto the purchased real estate for at least five years 

Business Investment 

Similar to the Portugal Golden Visa Program, you can invest at least US$1.5 million into an approved company. That company has to be either a proposed company or an existing company approved by the Citizens by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda.

Most of the qualifying companies are focused on real estate and tourism. 

There is another option to complete a joint purchase, where every person involved invests US$400,000 in a qualifying company. The total sum invested by all persons involved cannot be less than US$5 million.

Residency Requirement

Antigua and Barbuda have a residency requirement, too.

All members of your family who apply for citizenship are required to live together for at least five days for the first five years to maintain the conditions of their citizenship. 

Family members are defined as: 

• spouses 
• dependent children under the age of 31 
• parents and grandparents age 55 and over
• unmarried siblings of the main applicant 
• married siblings of the main applicant and their spouses
• any additional dependents can be added after citizenship has been granted to the main applicant 

Other Requirement

You must also have a clean background and an upstanding character a prove a positive net worth or a steady stream of income. 

Finally, you can’t have applied for its citizenship by investment program if you’ve been denied a visa from any of the countries that Antigua and Barbuda have a visa or visa-on-arrival relationship with.

Costs 

In addition to the costs of the initial requirement — whether it’s a donation, real estate, or business investment — there are also government processing fees, passport application fees, certificate issuance fees, and professional and legal fees that you have to pay.  

This includes the processing fee, due diligence fee, passport fee, and so on. The total fee per person on average is going to be around US$35,000 to US$40,000.

Required Documents 

Here’s a list of document you need when applying for the program.  

Although the list may look overwhelming, they are basic personal document that you can prepare rather quickly.

• a certified color copy of each applicant’s passport showing the name, photo, citizenship/nationality, date and place of issue, expiration date, passport number, and issuing country

• a certified color copy of the applicants’ current National Identity Cards

• eight passport-sized photos of each applicant that were taken within the past six months. One of the photos in each set of eight must be certified

• certified copy of everyone’s birth certificate

• a certificate from the police of your country of origin that is either a “certificate of no criminal record” or “police clearance certificate.” (If you’ve never lived in your home country [for example, born and raised abroad], you’ll need to provide satisfactory evidence that you’ve never lived there. You must also provide a similar certificate from any country where you have lived for more than three months over the past 10 years. Police certificates must be less than six months old at the time of your application.)

• a certified copy of military records, if applicable

• a certified copy of proof of name change, if applicable

• a medical certificate including original results of an HIV test. An HIV test is required for all persons twelve years and older applying for citizenship. The HIV test results must be not older than three months

They may also ask for these additional supporting documents from the main applicant: 

• at least one original bank reference letter issued by an internationally recognized bank, not older than three months

• at least one original professional reference like from an attorney, notary public, chartered accountant, etc. that’s not older than six months

• one original document of evidence of residential address like a certified copy of a recent utility bill or bank statement showing your full name and address

• one original excerpt of your marriage record or a certified copy of your marriage certificate, if applicable

• a certified copy of divorce documents, if applicable

• a statement of the source of funds to be invested in Antigua and Barbuda. The country wants to make sure the funds were obtained through legal means

• a sworn affidavit of support for each of your dependents over 18 years of age

• written confirmation from an accredited university or college of further education confirming the applicant’s enrollment (when a dependent aged 18 to 25 years is in full-time education and applying with the main applicant)

Other documents that are required specifically for the real estate option: 

• a copy of the executed real estate contract, including the purchase and the sale agreement 

• evidence of the title transfer 

Any other document required as evidence, explanation, or otherwise in support of any of the answers given or statements made during the application process may also be required.

Application and Time Frames 

The government authority that administers the program for citizenship by investment for Antigua and Barbuda is the Citizenship by Investment Unit, also known as the CIU.  

The CIU examines the application and may request an interview or contact you to provide additional information.  

Here is the process and what you can expect:  

1. Contact a program representative (you can’t apply for the program on your own)

2. Complete the initial due diligence checks 

3. Sign the client agreement and pay a retainer fee 

4. Submit your application to the CIU 

5. Complete the remaining due diligence checks 

6. Wait for approval 

7. Fulfill all financial requirements 

8. Receive citizenship 

This entire process takes about three to four months.

Dual Citizenship 

Antigua and Barbuda allow for dual citizenship, so you can keep your citizenship from your home country. 

More About Antigua and Barbuda 

There are so many advantages to getting citizenship by investment from Antigua and Barbuda. The climate, living standards, raising a family, and access to the Caribbean and the Americas is ideal from this small island nation.

Climate 

Antigua and Barbuda has a tropical climate. The highs are in the 80s and the lows are in the 70s year round. There is a dry season from January to mid-April and a rainy season from May to November. 

The temperature of the sea is also the same temperature as the air, allowing for comfortable swimming all year round. It’s also great for snorkeling.

Standards of Living 

It’s very comfortable to live in Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua is a small island that’s 13 miles across. You can get anywhere in less than 45 minutes.  

The beaches are lovely, with turquoise waters and fine sand. They will probably be some of the best beaches you ever set foot on. There are tons of water activities like snorkeling, sailing, and relaxing on yachts. The island also offers some great hiking opportunities.  

Driving is the preferred method of transportation as well. Local boats and ferries run often, if needed. There is one airport, V.C. Bird International Airport, that holds regular flights to the Southern U.S. and Europe. This is nice because you can get to the islands when you want, and it’s an easy flight to wherever you’re going next.  

The U.S. Dollar is accepted in most places, but not all prices are in dollars. You may also see XCD, which is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. Make sure sure check any prices to see whether they’re listed as USD or XCD.  

Tap water is safe to drink with 86 percent of households served by the public municipal water system. About the same number of households have regular toilets with septic systems. There is no municipal sewage system. A little more than three-quarters of residents have internet access, but only 8 percent have high-speed connections.  

If you’re in need of medical care, there are 25 public health clinics all located within two miles of every major community. If more intense care is needed, there is Mount St. John’s Medical Center in Antigua. Barbuda, being smaller, has one clinic and one hospital.   

In general, the cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda is 20 percent cheaper than in the U.S. It’s one of the highest in the Caribbean, but that’s to be expected since it’s known for its luxury tourism.  

Renting is considerably cheaper than in the U.S., too, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center going for US$1,000 per month. A similar apartment outside the city center costs around US$700 per month. Food can be more expensive if you insist on buying imported products. However, eating local foods such as rice, fruits, vegetables, and chicken is cheaper than in many other countries.  

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Raising a Family 

Antigua invests heavily in education. With a 95 percent literacy rate on the island, it’s clear that the education system is excellent.  

If your children love to be outdoors, they will love Antigua. With many beach activities to do and the friendliness of the locals, your children will feel at home in no time. 

Also, people speak English in Antigua and Barbuda, though the accent is different on each island. About 10,000 inhabitants there speak Spanish. 

Access to the Caribbeans and the Americas 

Antigua and Barbuda is part of an island chain in the Caribbean. The country is near Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica.  

The island nation is a short flight from Florida and other mainland locations. Antigua and Barbuda has a number of flights to both North America and much of Europe.

Can I Apply for the Citizenship Myself?

You cannot apply for the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program without going through an approved representative. 

Is the Program Worth It? 

If you can afford the price tag, and the other aspects of the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program sounds good to you, then it’s absolutely worth it. 

There are so many advantages to getting citizenship through investment, that there are few reasons not to do it.

Our Personal Thoughts on the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program

If you are looking to get a Caribbean passport, in our opinion, Antigua and Barbuda has the best offer so far. The investment requirement and waiting time are among the lowest.

The Antigua and Barbuda passport is also good. The application process is straightforward. In addition to that, the tax scheme is also attractive.

Now, on to You 

If the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program interests you, fill out the application below to get started. An approved representative will contact you soon.