WHY CHOOSE ANTIGUA & BARBUDA?

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The combined size of 442 square kilometers and a population of over 80,000 make Antigua & Barbuda the ninth-largest country by size in the Caribbean. The country’s economic citizenship program facilitates the comfort of visa-free travel to more than 100 countries.

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Antigua & Barbuda recognizes dual citizenship, which can prove advantageous for business expansion and tax relief. Other benefits include the following:

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• Application processing within three to four months.

• Inclusion of financially-dependent children under 30.

• Inclusion of financially-dependent parents or grandparents over 55.

• Inclusion of physically or mentally handicapped children living with, and fully supported by the main applicant.

• Inclusion of unmarried sibling of the main applicant or the spouse.

• Inclusion of a future spouse, future spouse of a qualified dependent child, or a future child of a qualified dependent.

• No requirement to travel to Antigua & Barbuda during the application process.

• No interview, education or managerial experience required.

• Visa-free travel to 144 countries, including the Schengen zone, the U.K., Hong Kong, Singapore and more.

• No tax on worldwide income

 

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Qualifications

 

Antigua & Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Program was established in 2012. To qualify for citizenship applicants must fulfill one of the investment options below in addition to meeting the following criteria:

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• Be of outstanding character.

• Hold no criminal record.

• Have excellent health.

• Have a high personal net worth.

• Reside with the family members who are included in the application in the country for a minimum of 5 days within a period of five years.

 

Individuals born in countries on Antigua & Barbuda’s restricted countries’ list (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan) but who have migrated before the age of majority and/or have maintained permanent residence in Canada, The United Kingdom, The United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and The United Arab Emirates for a period of not less than 10 years and maintain no economic ties to any restricted country may qualify for application.

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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVESTMENT OPTIONS

 

The government adopted the citizenship by investment program as one of the mechanisms to promote economic growth, attract developments, increase foreign direct investment to the country, support the development of infrastructure and provide for a sustainable future. As a result, investors can choose from several options to qualify for the program.

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1. National Development Fund Contribution or Charitable Donation

High net worth individuals may choose to make a monetary contribution of US$230,000 (up to four people), or US$255,000 (five people and more) to the National Development Fund or an approved charity. The main applicant may include a spouse and all qualified dependents, however government and due diligence are applicable for each individual included.

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2. Real Estate Investment

Applicants may purchase property with a value of US$300,000 in a pre-approved real estate development area. The investment must be maintained for a minimum of five years. Property registration, processing fees, and taxes may be paid in addition to the property purchase.

Financing options may be available upon request.

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3. Business Establishment

Applicants may invest US$1.5 million to establish a business. Two or more applicants may make a joint business investment with an individual threshold of at least US$400,000 and a total investment of at least US$5 million.

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4. University of West Indies Fund

For an investment of US$260,000, a family of six (6) is eligible to apply for citizenship. The investment amount includes processing and government fees, however customary due diligence fees do apply for each qualified dependent. In addition, one member of the family is entitled to a 1-year scholarship at the University of West Indies. Additional government processing fees are applicable for larger families.

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APPLICATION FEES

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Visa Line's Advisory fees are based on the number of dependents, country of origin, residence and other retained services, as well as service and legal fees related to the submission of citizenship and passport application for the main applicant.

 

The advisory fees are non- refundable and are payable in two equal installments. All application fees charged by the government of Antigua & Barbuda and by Visa Line are subject to change. These fees depend on the number of applicants and the complexity of the process. Please contact us if you have any questions or need more information.

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ADDITIONAL FEES

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Applicants and their families must also pay the following fees depending on the size of the family for either of the investment options:

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PROCESSING FEES (ON APPLICATION)

US$10,000: Single applicant;

US$20,000: Family of up to four;

US$10,000: Each additional dependent.

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PROCESSING FEES (FUTURE ADD-ONS)

US$50,000: Spouse/additional dependent 18+;

US$10,000: Additional dependent below the age of 5;

US$25,000: Additional dependent 6-17.

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DUE DILIGENCE FEES

US$8,500: Main applicant;

US$5,000: Spouse;

US$2,000: Dependent between 12 and 17;

US$4,000: Dependent over 18.

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INTERVIEW FEES

US$1,500: Per application

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Biometric passport fees are US$300 per person. Additional bank fees (1%) are applicable.

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APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

 

MONTH 1

1.   Client qualification, KYC pre-screening and onboarding. File preparation. Visa Line issues pre-approval letter. Advisory and due diligence fees are due at this step.

 

MONTH 2

2.   Citizenship file submission.

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MONTH 3

3.   Government’s Citizenship-by-Investment Unit issues Approved in Principle letter.

4.   Investment made in selected option. Payment of government fees, if applicable.

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MONTH 4

5.   Naturalization Certificate is issued.

6.   Submission of passport application. Passport issued.

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​FAQ 1. ​WHAT IS THE MOST INCLUSIVE OPTION FOR LARGE FAMILIES IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA?

The University of West Indies Fund is one of the most competitive investment options at US$260,000 for a family of six (6) including government and processing fees. The program has also expanded the definition of qualifying dependents, making it the most inclusive option for large families.

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FAQ 2. DOES ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PASSPORT ALLOW VISA-FREE TRAVEL TO EUROPE?

The Antigua and Barbuda passport grants visa-free access to more than 130 countries, including the Schengen zone, the U.K., Hong Kong, Singapore, and more.

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FAQ 3. DO I NEED TO PAY TAXES ON WORLDWIDE INCOME?

No, income generated outside of Antigua and Barbuda is not taxed, and there are no capital gains, personal income, or inheritance taxes.

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FAQ 4. CAN I DIRECTLY APPLY TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA’S CIP WITHOUT AN AGENT?

No, Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Unit does not accept applications directly. All applications must go through authorized agents such as Visa Line.

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FAQ 5. DO I NEED TO GIVE UP MY CURRENT CITIZENSHIP?

No, Antigua and Barbuda does not have any restrictions on dual citizenships. However, you may need to verify if your current home country allows dual citizenship.