For high net worth families looking to get entry to the European and Caribbean markets and to major Asian financial hubs without requiring a visa, the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program is a great option.
Benefits of Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment
- An Antigua and Barbuda passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 150 destinations including Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, and Europe’s Schengen Area.
- Applicants can include a spouse, dependent children under 31 (as well as their spouse and children), parents and grandparents aged 55 and over, and unmarried siblings of the main applicant and their spouse of any age, as well as to add dependents after they have been granted citizenship.
- Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth, entitling citizens to certain privileges in the UK and other member states.
- The nation is an attractive place to live or to own a second home, with excellent air links to North America and Europe.
Requirements of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment
To qualify for citizenship, the main applicant must be over 18 years of age, meet the application requirements, and select one of the following four options available:
- A contribution to the National Development Fund of a minimum non-refundable amount of USD 100,000.
- A contribution to the University of the West Indies of a minimum non-refundable amount of USD 150,000.
- The purchase of real estate with a minimum value of USD 200,000 from an approved real estate project. Two applicants can make a joint investment with each applicant investing a minimum of USD 200,000 in order to qualify. The real estate cannot be disposed of within the five-year period.
- The direct purchase of an eligible business for a minimum amount of USD 1.5 million as an individual. Alternatively, a joint purchase where each person contributes at least USD 400,000, totaling a minimum of USD 5 million.
Procedures and time frame
The government authority responsible for administering the program, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), is responsible for the processing and thorough examining of all applications.
The CIU undertakes strict due diligence checks and will decline an application if the applicant makes a false statement or omits any relevant information in the application.
The documentary requirements of the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program are reasonable, and the procedures are straightforward.
Once the application has been approved, main applicants and dependents aged 16 and older are required to attend mandatory virtual interviews. Passports can then be collected in Antigua and Barbuda.
It is estimated that the process will take between three and four months from the submission of the application to issuance of the passport, assuming there are no areas of concern with the application.
Successful applicants are required to reside in Antigua and Barbuda for a minimum of five days during the first five years of obtaining citizenship.
Under the real estate option, the time frame may vary depending on the project. Therefore, it is important to select a real estate project that can provide the necessary paperwork required from the developer for the citizenship application.
