Antiguan and Barbudan Citizenship by Investment

Who the programme is for

Antigua and Barbuda CBI is built for families. Because one contribution covers up to four people, and larger families are catered for by the UWI Fund, it is often the best-value Caribbean option for a spouse, several children and dependent parents seeking a second passport together.

• Families of four or more seeking best value
• Investors wanting minimal presence (5 days in 5 years)
• Applicants combining citizenship with property
• Larger families using the UWI Fund route

Investment options

Applicants choose one of four routes: the National Development Fund donation (from US$230,000), approved real estate (from US$300,000), the UWI Fund (from US$260,000, aimed at families of six or more), or a substantial business investment (from US$1.5 million). The NDF is the simplest and cheapest; real estate offers a tangible asset; the UWI Fund adds an education benefit.

• NDF contribution: from US$230,000 (family of four)
• Approved real estate: from US$300,000 (5-year hold)
• UWI Fund: from US$260,000 (family of six+)
• Business investment: from US$1.5 million

The real estate route in detail

Real estate applicants buy into a government-approved development — typically a resort or condominium project — at a minimum of US$300,000, holding it for at least five years before resale. It costs more than the NDF once government and processing fees are added, but the property can generate rental income and be sold on to another CBI applicant after the holding period.

• Minimum US$300,000 in an approved project
• 5-year minimum holding period
• Additional government and processing fees apply
• Potential rental income and resale

Application and due diligence

An authorised agent prepares and submits the application to the CIU, which conducts multi-tier background checks. Indicative processing is around 3–6 months. On approval, the investment is completed, the oath of allegiance is taken (in person or at an embassy), and the passport is issued. The five-day presence requirement is fulfilled at any time within the first five years of citizenship.

• File through an authorised agent
• Enhanced regional due diligence
• Approval typically in 3–6 months
• 5-day visit completed within 5 years

What citizenship gives you

Citizenship is for life and can be passed to future generations. The passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 150+ destinations, including the Schengen Area and the UK (via the ETA). Antigua and Barbuda permits dual citizenship and levies no tax on worldwide income, capital gains, inheritance or wealth for residents. Qualifying family members are included.

• Lifelong, hereditary citizenship
• Visa-free Schengen and UK (ETA) access
• Dual citizenship permitted
• No worldwide income, capital-gains or inheritance tax

Costs and government fees

In addition to the chosen investment, budget for government processing fees (US$30,000 for an NDF family of four, plus US$10,000 per further dependant), due-diligence fees per adult, passport fees, and authorised-agent and legal fees. Real-estate buyers also pay purchase and closing costs. Confirm the current schedule with your agent.

• NDF government processing: US$30,000 (family of four)
• +US$10,000 per additional dependant
• Due-diligence fees per adult applicant
• Agent, legal and (for property) closing costs

Recent changes and international scrutiny

Antigua raised its NDF minimum in line with the 2024 regional harmonisation and helped establish the shared ECCIRA regulator. International scrutiny has increased: the United States reduced the validity of some US visas for Antigua and Barbuda nationals to three months in early 2026 (honouring visas issued before 31 December 2025), and all five CBI states were included in a US immigrant-visa processing pause. Antigua retained UK visa-free (ETA) access as of 2026. EU and UK visa-free arrangements remain under periodic review.

In March 2024 the five Eastern Caribbean CBI states — St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and Saint Lucia — signed a Memorandum of Agreement harmonising a US$200,000 minimum investment floor (effective 1 July 2024) and strengthening due diligence; in 2025 they went further, legislating a shared regulator, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), headquartered in Grenada.

• NDF raised to the harmonised minimum
• ECCIRA regional regulator established
• US shortened some visa validity in early 2026
• UK ETA access retained in 2026