How to Get an Antigua and Barbuda Passport?

Antigua and Barbuda is an independent state consisting of two islands with these names and several smaller islands. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, it provides its citizens with the privilege of visa-free travel to over 150 countries, including all Schengen Zone countries and the United Kingdom.

The passport of Antigua and Barbuda offers the advantage of no income tax and the opportunity to live in a stunning country with tropical forests, renowned resorts and amazing beaches. Moreover, foreigners do not have to renounce their original nationality, as dual citizenship is allowed in Antigua and Barbuda. It should come as no surprise that in 2022  over 1,000 people sought this passport through investments, notwithstanding the minimum entry threshold for investors of USD 100,000. We will explore the other passport options and the specifics of the application process.

• All the Ways to Obtain the Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda
• Citizenship by Birth
• Citizenship by Registration
• Citizenship by Investment
• Contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF)
• Contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund
• Real Estate Investment
• Business Investments
• Additional Expenses for Citizenship by Investment
• List of Primary and Additional Documents

All the Ways to Obtain the Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda

The Antiguan and Barbudan nationality law offers the following ways to acquire local citizenship:

• by birth,
• by registration, and
• by investment.

Each method has its own intricacies. We will delve into them.

Citizenship by Birth

Citizenship by birth is granted through two principles: 

• Jus Soli: all individuals born in Antigua and Barbuda become citizens of the country, regardless of the citizenship of their parents. One exception concerns the children of diplomatic personnel who are not eligible for citizenship.
• Jus Sanguinis: children born outside the country become citizens if at least one of their parents holds an Antigua and Barbuda passport.

Citizenship by Registration

Registration as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda is possible through various means.

• Through marriage: the spouses of citizens of the country can apply for citizenship after being married for three years. In this case, the husband and wife must have lived together during this time and have not been separated for extended periods, unless there are valid reasons for such separation.
• Through naturalisation: foreigners can obtain an Antigua and Barbuda passport by living in the country for an extended period of time. Different rules apply based on the origin of the applicant. In the case of citizens of Commonwealth countries, as a rule you can obtain a passport after having a residence permit for seven years, with at least five of those years spent on the islands. Other foreigners must meet the following criteria:
  – live continuously in Antigua and Barbuda for 12 months before applying, and
  – have a residence permit for the seven years preceding the 12-month period and have spent at least five years in total on the islands.

In all cases, the applicant’s reputation makes a difference. For example, individuals with a criminal record, bankrupts, or anyone unable to prove sufficient financial means for their livelihood may be denied citizenship. The decision to grant a passport rests with the authorised official, and it is up to their discretion rather than an obligation. They consider all the characteristics of the applicant before issuing a decision. 

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) is a special programme in effect in Antigua and Barbuda since 2014, which allows individuals to obtain the country’s passport in as little as three to four months. Importantly, you do not even need to be physically present on the islands to apply. It is sufficient to contact an accredited company that provides such services and delegate all the work to them. You can find a list of such organisations on the website of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).

An accredited intermediary will help you gather documents and submit them to the Citizenship by Investment Unit, which may invite the applicant for an interview if any questions arise. The sequence of steps looks as follows:

• An application form established for the specific investment programme is submitted to the Citizenship by Investment Unit. At this stage you have to pay for a legal due diligence and 10% of the mandatory processing fee. As the amount is non-refundable, you cannot reimburse it in case of rejection. 
• If the CIU approves the investment citizenship request, they will issue a letter of acceptance. Subsequently, you must comply with the criteria of the specific investment programme.
• The next step involves the receipt of the Certificate of Registration as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. Then the applicant needs to travel to the country, take an oath of allegiance and acquire a passport.

The passport is valid for five years. In addition, if the investor has lived constantly in Antigua and Barbuda, they can renew the documents for an additional ten years. Citizenship itself is acquired for life. However, the investor may have their citizenship revoked if they do not live in the country. 

It goes without saying that this can be achieved provided that you adhere to specific requirements. The applicant must be an adult citizen with no criminal history and no immigration issues not only in Antigua and Barbuda, but also in countries with which they have a visa-free agreement. In other words, individuals denied entry into the United Kingdom, for example, cannot participate in the investment programme. However, the primary consideration is the financial contribution to the country’s economy. There are several ways to allocate your funds.

Contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF)

This programme requires minimal investments compared to other options. While a number of other options involve refundable investments, here the emphasis is on donations. To obtain a passport based on such a donation, you must contribute a minimum of USD 100,000 to the National Development Fund (NDF). This will grant citizenship to four family members, including the primary applicant. If there are five or more individuals, the amount increases to USD 125,000.

Contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund

This is a relatively new form of temporary citizenship under an investment programme, adopted in 2020 and still active as of 2023. It is beneficial for families of six or more individuals interested in obtaining not only citizenship, but also a scholarship for one of the individuals at the University of the West Indies. 

Mandatory programme requirements:

• The family  must consist of at least six individuals applying together.
• Investment in the university fund of USD 150,000, including processing fees.
• An additional fee of USD 15,000 per dependent family member.

Real Estate Investment

You can also become a citizen of the country through a real estate investment, provided that:

• The property is worth at least USD 200,000. Joint ownership is allowed. In this case, however, combined expenditure must exceed USD 400,000, with each co-owner contributing USD 200,000. In such instances, there will be two main applicants, and each can apply for citizenship, including their family members.
• The purchased properties must be part of a government-approved construction project. You can find the list of such projects on the CIU website.
• You must not sell the property within five years without purchasing an alternative property.

You must submit the application for citizenship through this programme after signing the purchase agreement with the developer of an approved project. 

Business Investments

Under this programme, the minimum investment required is USD 400,000, but only if the applicant participates in a joint project with other investors, with a combined value of USD 5,000,000. In the case of individual investors, the minimum amount of the investment in government-approved programmes is USD 1,500,000.

Additional Expenses for Citizenship by Investment

In addition to the primary costs of obtaining citizenship through investment, investors will need to contribute to the country's funds:

• The application processing fee: in the case of a family of up to four people, this fee is USD 30,000. An additional USD 15,000 is required for each subsequent dependent;
• Legal due diligence fee: this is USD 7,500 for the main applicant and their partner, USD 2,000 for children aged 12 to 17, and USD 4,000 for dependents aged 18 and above.

An exception is made for investments in the University of the West Indies Fund, where the donation includes the processing fee (however, this does not include the legal due diligence fee). 

List of Primary and Additional Documents 

The process of obtaining citizenship by investment differs from the receipt of a passport by birth or registration. In the case of naturalisation, you must apply to the Immigration Department, while the CIU is responsible for investment-based passports, and applicants interact with them through licensed intermediaries. The list of required documents also varies. However, in all cases, the following documents will be required:

• the passports of the applicant and all family members;
• the birth certificates of children, where applicable;
• marriage certificate, where applicable;
• police clearance certificates from all countries where the applicant lived  for more than six months after the age of 18;
• medical certificate confirming the absence of infectious diseases;
• proof of financial capability, which could be a bank statement, income certificate, tax return, etc.;
• photographs. 

In a Nutshell

Foreigners can obtain citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda through marriage, naturalisation, or investment. While the investment option is the most expensive, starting from USD 100,000, it is the quickest. While spouses need to reside in the country for a minimum of three years and naturalised citizens – for seven years, investors can obtain their passport in three to four months without even visiting the islands. However, to maintain their citizenship, they will need to live in the country for at least five years.

Сover photo: Rick Jamison (Unsplash)