Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program

The program of Antigua and Barbuda offers several investment options for passport applicants. You can invest in business, real estate or one of the sovereign fund. In the first and second cases, you get the payback after 5 years. Donations to the University of the West Indies (UWI) or The National Development Fund (NDF) are not returned.

It is due to the low entry threshold that the passport of Antigua and Barbuda is popular among foreigners and stands out among the competitors of the region.

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Program's details

from $100 000 minimum contribution to the NDF for participation in the program
Passports for the whole family including the spouse, children abd parents
Return on real estate investment in 5 years
There is no requirement to move only 5 days during 5 years
The second passport in 3 months without giving up the first one
Visa-free travel to 150+ countries including the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Schengen area
The second citizenship for life without permanent residence in the Caribbean
Tax optimization for businessmen and individuals

About the Program

Antigua and Barbuda is not far behind its competitors in terms of the Caribbean «golden passport» programs. Since the program was launched in 2013, more than 4,000 investors have been granted economic citizenship. Regular discounts and promotions from the local government encourage capital inflows even more.

In recent years only 3% of applicants have invested into business or real estate. Non-refundable donations to the NDF are much more popular due to the simplicity and low entry threshold.

The citizenship program in Antigua and Barbuda attracts those who would like to move to the United States on non-immigrant B1or B2 visas. In 2019, more than 3,500 citizens of Antigua and Barbuda crossed state borders with a B-visa. In addition, the islands are under the patronage of the Queen of England (the country is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations), which gives local citizens an advantage to enter schools and universities in the UK. Finally, there are no taxes on world income, inheritance or capital gains.

It takes an average of 3 months from the moment you contact the agent to get your passport. The total investment size depends on how big the investor's family is, but you can take your time with passports for relatives. After becoming an Antiguan, you are entitled to pay the appropriate fees for issuing passports for your spouse, children and parents.

The offer suits to those foreigners, who are looking for the most budget-friendly ways to get a Caribbean passport. Investment to the NDF starts from $100,000. The only requirement is to spend at least 5 days on the islands within 5 years after receiving your passport. Documents are sent through an accredited agent, therefore your personal presence is not required for an application.

You do not need to give up your first passport. The new status of the investor and their family is granted for life, although subsequent generations do not have the right to a Caribbean passport.

Please note!

Citizens of Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan cannot apply for an Antiguan passport. There is one remark: everyone but the Iranians are eligible to apply for the program, if they have lived abroad for more than 10 years and do not have economic ties to their homeland.

Investment Options

$ 100 000+

Non-refundable fee

1. The National Development Fund (NDF): the donation of $150,000 goes to the development of the economy of the islands. In addition to this amount, a family of 1-4 people pays a state fee for processing the application in the size of $30 000, you need to add $15 000 for each subsequent relative included in the application.

2. The University of the West Indies (UWI): the donation of $100,000 goes to the development of the education of the islands. This option includes a state fee for processing the application for a family of 6 people, you pay extra $15 000 for each subsequent relative included in the application.

$ 200 000+

Real estate

You must purchase a share / property in accordance with the approved lists of zones or projects. Shares and properties can only be resold once. After resale, the asset is not eligible for participation in the program.

1. Shared investment: from 2 people, each buys a unit in approved projects for $200 000+. Return on investment – in 5 years / after completion of construction.

2. Individual investment: purchase of a separate property / share for $400 000+. Return on investment – in 5 years.

In addition to this amount, a family of 1-4 people pays a fee for processing the application of $30 000, and  – по $15 000 for each subsequent relative in the application.

$ 400 000+

Business

Investment only into approved companies in agriculture, services and precious metals.

1. Individual investment: investments in business from $1,5 mln.

2. Shared investment: from 2 to 12 people. The total capital from $5+ mln with the share of each investor from – от $400 000.

In addition to this amount, a family of 1-4 people pays a fee for processing the application of – $30 000, and $15 000 for each subsequent relative in the application.

Family Participation

Citizenship for the whole family, including a spouse, parents and childen of an applicant.

A spouse

In an officially documented marriage.

Children

Financially dependent. Under 28 years of age.

Parents

Financially dependent. Over 58 years of age.

Admission Requirements

There are no language, history or cultural requirements for participation. The most important thing is to be a law-abiding and trustworthy citizen with legal savings.

Requirements for Applicants

  • older than 18 years of age
  • no criminal record
  • passing of a security check
  • a legal source of income
  • good health (do not suffer from HIV and other dangerous diseases for society)

A passport can be refused to those, who have not been approved for a visa of the United States or the United Kingdom at least once. Your passport can also get cancelled, if you do not show up for the first five years for five days (applies to everyone who is 18 years old and older).

Documents

All documents are submitted with an English translation and apostille stamp. The list of documents may be updated depending on a specific situation.

Personal documents

  • Application in all necessary forms
  • 2 copies of each passport, a birth certificate, a national ID card, marriage/divorce certificates, military ID cards
  • 8 photos per an applicant
  • Medical certificates (HIV negative and health status, no older than 3 months)
  • A letter of recommendation from a bank
  • CV
  • Proofs of residence
  • A certificate of non-criminal record
  • A confirmation of the revenue source

Investment confirmations

  • A contract of sale (in case of real estate investment)
  • A confirmation of a financial transfer to a fund or business

Expenses

Verification of trustworthiness

$7500 – from the main applicant and their spouse
$2000 – children aged 12-17 years
$4000 – applicants over 18 years of age

Other payments

$300 –  passport fee
$300 – bank commission

Lawyer's fee

The fee of an accredited agent for supporting the procedure of obtaining citizenship is $15,000 to $50,000, depending on the family composition and the prices of a particular company.

Rights and Obligations

Foreigners with citizenship via investment have the same rights as any other resident, except the right to vote on elections (you can get the right to influence political decisions after spending 7 years of residence in the country). You do not have to pass an exam for knowledge of the language and history of the country.

Rights of the citizenship holders: 

  • To live, work and do business in Antigua and Barbuda without time limits.
  • To travel without a visa to 150+ countries around the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and the Schengen area.
  • To open a local bank account and registering a company.
  • To get a local driver's license without an exam.
  • A possibility to apply for a visa to the USA B1 or B2 (business visit, tourism, medical care) for 10 years.
  • To keep your first citizenship and get another one in another country. 
  • Benefits for obtaining education in schools and universities in the UK for holders of a passport of a country that is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Obligations of the citizenship holders:

  • To spend at least 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda for 5 years.
  • To pay taxes regularly, if you spend more than 183 days a year on the islands. There are no requirements for mandatory change of tax residence.
  • To keep your real estate investment for 5 years.

The procedure for obtaining

1
An interview with an accredited agent
1-3 days
An accredited agent offers investment options and makes a calculation for a specific applicant.
2
Submission of documents
1-3 weeks
Preparation of documents, translation, apostille, medical examination.
3
Request confirmation
1,5-3 months
Due diligence of documents (verification of reliability), you pay 10% of state fees and the cost of verification. As soon as you receive an email confirming approval, the stage is completed.
4
Making a payment
1-30 days
The remaining fees and the main contribution are transferred to the authorized body or investment fund.
5
Getting a passport
1 week
First comes the certificate of naturalization. The passport comes after 2-3 days to the agent's office. The first passport is valid for 5 years, and you can spend the required 5 days on the islands at the end of its validity period. The second and subsequent passports are valid for 10 years.

Companies working with this program

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