How to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment: Updated Guide 2026

What is Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment?

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program was launched in 2013 to provide an opportunity to obtain citizenship by investing in the economy of the country.

The minimum investment to apply for citizenship is $230,000 for a non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund. Other options, such as real estate purchase, a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund, and business investment, have a higher entry threshold.

The process takes between 3 and 6 months and can be done completely remotely, meaning the investor is not obliged to travel to Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment

6 Benefits of the Antigua and Barbuda passport

The Antigua and Barbuda passports give their holders the opportunity to live in an island country with a tropical climate and clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea — and that’s not all there is to it. Here are some other advantages.

1. Freedom of travel. Antigua and Barbuda citizens don’t need visas to travel to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, as well as other countries in the Caribbean region. The whole list includes over 150 countries.
2. Tax optimisation. Antigua and Barbuda do not tax personal income, inheritance, or personal gains. Tax residents also don’t pay taxes on dividends, interest, and royalties.
3. Easier access to European banks. Antigua and Barbuda citizens can quickly open accounts at European banks to help keep savings in hard currency and facilitate currency transactions.
4. Education abroad. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, its citizens can be educated in the UK on preferential terms.
5. No requirement to renounce first nationality. Antigua and Barbuda recognise dual citizenship. So, unless their first country explicitly prohibits it, the investors can hold two passports.
6. “Slow life“ in a tropical climate. With a passport of Antigua and Barbuda, an investor can spend however much time they choose in a tropical paradise of the islands: relaxed, sunny, and uncrowded.

Drawbacks of the Antigua and Barbuda passport

Despite all the perks, the Antigua and Barbuda passport has its disadvantages, too: 

1. Stay requirement. Unlike other Caribbean countries that offer citizenship by investment, Antigua and Barbuda requires applicants to spend at least 5 days in the country within 5 years of obtaining the passport.
2. Double taxation. Only Germany, the UK, and Caribbean Community countries have double tax treaties with Antigua and Barbuda. It means that citizens of other countries may need to pay taxes in both states after obtaining the passport.
3. Location. On one hand, Antigua and Barbuda is a tropical country, which means warm weather throughout the year. On the other hand, it is a remote island country in the Caribbean Sea, and it would take at least 5 hours to fly to New York and 8 hours to reach Europe by plane.

Individual cost calculation for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship

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Advantages of the Antigua citizenship by investment program

1. Fast process. The whole process of obtaining Antigua and Barbuda citizenship can take between 3 and 6 months. For comparison, it is possible to become a Malta citizen for exceptional services by direct investment after 1 or 3 years of holding a residence permit.

2. Relatively low costs. The minimum investment to apply for an Antigua and Barbuda passport is $230,000 as a contribution to the National Development Fund. It’s also possible to purchase shares of government-approved real estate projects worth $200,000.

3. Personal presence is not required. The whole procedure can be done remotely. Even after the passport is issued, it can be sent to the investor by mail, while the oath of allegiance can be taken via videoconference.

4. Passports for the whole family. The principal investor can include their spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings in the application. Apart from the spouse, all family members must be financially dependent on the principal investor.

5. Possibility of income from property investment. If investors choose the real estate purchase route, they can rent the property out with a rental yield of 2 to 5% per year.

6. Possibility of an investment return. This is also an option for real estate investors who can sell the property at a profit after five years of owning it.

7. Variety of options. Aside from contributing to the National Development Fund and investing in real estate, applicants can invest in a government-approved local business project or make a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund. The latter option is available to families of six or more members.

Options to obtain an Antigua and Barbuda passport by investment

1. Non-refundable contribution of $230,000+ to the National Development Fund. The fund money is spent on healthcare, education, and agriculture support.

This is the cheapest option among the three; however, there will be no return on that investment.

Expenses for obtaining an Antigua and Barbuda passport through National Development Fund contribution

2. Non-refundable contribution of $150,000+ to the University of the West Indies Fund. This is an option only available to families of six or more members.

Under the terms of the program, one of the children will be able to study at the University of the West Indies for a year free of charge within five years of obtaining the passport.

Expenses for obtaining an Antigua passport through contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund

3. Real estate purchase for $200,000+. Investors buy shares in government-approved projects. The list includes apartments, villas, five-star hotels, and resort complexes.

This is the only option where the investment can be returned after five years of owning the property.

Expenses for obtaining an Antigua passport through real estate purchase

4. Business investments of $1,500,000+. Investors can choose from a list of government-approved local business projects. Options include restaurants, cruise ports and marinas, bridges, roads, and pharmaceuticals.

Requirements for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship

The investor should:

• be over 18 years old;
• have no criminal record;
• have no visa refusals;
• be capable of confirming the legality of their income;
• have no serious illnesses.

The following family members can be included in the application:

• the spouse;
• the children under 30, or children of any age deemed disabled physically or psychologically;
• parents and grandparents of the spouses who are over 55 and financially dependent on the investor;
• siblings of the spouses who are unmarried and financially dependent on the investor.

Documents for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship

The list of documents that the applicant will need to submit includes:

• completed application forms;
• original passport-sized photos of each applicant;
• original birth certificates or certified copies;
• certified copies of current passports, showing name, citizenship, date and place of issue, expiration date and passport number;
• proof of name change, if applicable;
• original police certificates for each applicant over 18, required for each country where they lived for six consecutive months or longer since the age of 18;
• medical certificates, including results of an HIV test for each applicant over 12;
• a bank reference letter;
• marriage and/or divorce documents, where applicable.

How to obtain Antigua passport by investment: a step-by-step guide

Investors can obtain the Antigua and Barbuda passport within 3 to 6 months. The whole procedure can be done remotely through Immigrant Invest, which serves as a licenced agent for the Antigua and Barbuda CBI program.

Key things to remember about Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment

1. The Antigua and Barbuda CBI program offers investors and their families an easy, fast, and cost-effective path towards second citizenship.

2. Antigua and Barbuda citizenship can be acquired within 6 months for a minimum contribution of $230,000.

3. If the applicant invests at least $200,000 in a state-approved real estate project, they can return the investment by selling the property five years after obtaining Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.

4. A person can only apply for the program via a licensed agent. Immigrant Invest and its Compliance Department make the process easier and faster for the client.

Frequently asked questions