Citizenship Bay

Antigua & Barbuda

Program and Benefits of Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship By Investment

The Citizenship by Investment program in Antigua and Barbuda was launched after its approval by the Parliament in 2013. The amendments to the investment rules were approved in 2014, according to Article 6 of the law, allowing the government to grant citizenship to qualifying individuals based on specific criteria.

 

This program grants citizenship and a passport of Antigua and Barbuda through investment for eligible applicants within 4 to 5 months without the necessity of permanent residency in the country. Once citizenship is granted, the applicant becomes a lifelong citizen.

 

For passport renewal, Antigua and Barbuda require individuals who have acquired citizenship through investment to visit the country for 5 days at any time during the initial five years.

Antigua and Barbuda Program Requirements

To obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship and passport through investment, applicants must undergo strict due diligence checks, including mandatory interviews for primary applicants and all dependents aged 16 and above. The investment must be made in one of the following options:

 

– Non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF)

 

– Purchase of real estate in a government-approved project AND payment of applicable government fees

Benefits of Antigua and Barbuda Passport by Investment

Citizenship is granted for life and is irrevocable

No tax obligation for non-residents

Visa- free travel to 154 countries, including Schengen, UK and China

Dual citizenship is allowed in Antigua & Barbuda

No residency required

only a 5-days visit must be completed within the first 5 years of citizenship

4 to 5 months to acquire citizenship and passport

Steps & Schedule

Month One
Month Two – Three
Month Four – Five

Step 1: Prequalification of the primary applicant

Step 2: Citizenship Bay and the client enter into a service agreement

Step 3: Advice and assistance are provided to the client with the preparation of documents and government forms

Step 4: The applicant’s file will be complete at this stage and due diligence fees and government application fees will be due. If the applicant chooses the real estate option, a down payment to reserve the property will also be required

Step 5: Citizenship Bay will submit a complete application to the government of Antigua & Barbuda on behalf of the applicant

Step 6: After the government assesses the applicant’s file and due diligence is completed, an “Approval in Principle” will be issued

Step 7: The applicant is required to make the applicable investment for the selected option

Step 8: Government issues the naturalization certificate/s

Step 9: Passport applications are submitted, and passports will be issued within 1 week

Step 10: Passports and naturalization certificates are delivered to the client. Balance of fees will be due

FAQs

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program offers a unique opportunity for individuals and their families to obtain citizenship by making a qualifying investment in the country, either through real estate purchase or a government contribution.

To obtain Antigua citizenship, the country offers 3 main investment options through its Citizenship by Investment Program:
Donation to the National Development Fund (NDF), starting from USD 230,000

Real estate investment in government-approved properties, starting from USD 300,000
Donation to the University of the West Indies Fund, starting from USD 260,000

Antigua passport is considered one of the top passports globally, holding the 22nd position in rankings. It enables passport holders to travel without restrictions to 154 countries across the globe, including the Schengen zone, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

In 2016, Antigua and Barbuda passport ranked 22nd globally, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 154 countries.

Once your application is approved under the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program, you will be granted citizenship. You can then apply for your Antigua passport by investment as an official proof of your new citizenship status.

An Antigua and Barbuda passport, obtained through the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, requires a minimum contribution of USD 230,000 to the National Development Fund. Total costs include processing fees, due diligence, and passport fees.

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship requirements include being at least 18 years of age, holding a clean criminal record, and successfully passing the program's strict due diligence checks. Applicants are also required to make a qualifying investment, which starts from USD 230,000 as a contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF), or from USD 300,000 through an approved real estate investment. Additionally, successful applicants must visit Antigua and Barbuda for a minimum of five days within the first five years of obtaining their citizenship.

The benefits of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship include strong global mobility with visa-free access to 154 countries, lifetime citizenship that can be passed to future generations, no long residency requirements (only 5 days in the first 5 years), and the ability to hold dual citizenship — making it a flexible and secure option for individuals and families.

The best Antigua and Barbuda investment for families depends on the family size and goals, but the University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund stands out as the most cost-effective option for larger families. This option requires a contribution of USD 260,000 for a family of six or more, with the contribution being inclusive of processing fees.
As an added benefit, participation entitles one family member to a one-year, tuition-only scholarship at the University of the West Indies.

The minimum price for Antigua and Barbuda real estate investment under the CBI Program is USD 300,000, which must be used to purchase property from an approved development project.

The Antigua and Barbuda residency requirement under the CBI Program is minimal — successful applicants are only required to spend a minimum of 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda within the first five calendar years after obtaining citizenship.

The laws of Antigua and Barbuda recognize and allow dual citizenship, and you are not required to renounce your other citizenships.

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program begins with applying through a government-approved licensed agent, who handles all required documentation and submits it on your behalf to the Citizenship by Investment Unit. The CIU then conducts a comprehensive due diligence and background check on all applicants. Upon approval, the applicant proceeds with the chosen qualifying investment. Once it is verified and confirmed, citizenship is officially granted and passports are issued to the primary applicant and all approved family members.

The official website for the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program is cip.gov.ag, operated by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) — the government authority responsible for managing and overseeing the program.

The Antigua and Barbuda passport allows holders to travel freely to 154 countries worldwide, including the Schengen area and the UK. Check the full list here.

Learn more about Antigua & Barbuda

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