Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean sea, Antigua and Barbuda is a beautiful island country in the West Indies. Famous for its charming white sand beaches, tropical climate, welcoming population, and a thriving economy, Antigua and Barbuda is one of the most appealing destinations for tourists as well as foreign business investors. So if you are eyeing a citizenship in this stunning country, then the Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa investment program is just the perfect solution for you. Read this article to know everything about the Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa – Application process, investment options, documents required, and more.
Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa Program – Eligibility
The Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa Program, also known as the Citizenship by Investment Program, makes it possible for high-net-worth individuals to receive citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country. The applicant must fulfill the following criteria:
- The applicant should be over 18 years old at the time of the visa application process.
- The applicant investing should do so in a government-approved program.
- The applicant should have no criminal record.
- The applicant should also be able to pass stringent background and security tests as directed by the government.
Antigua and Barbuda Golden visa Program – Investment Routes
To obtain a golden visa in Antigua and Barbuda, an applicant must direct his/her foreign investment through any of these routes:
| National Development Fund (NDF) | To obtain a golden visa, applicants need to contribute a minimum of $100,000 to the government-led NDF (National Development Fund). This investment option allows you to have citizenship of the country through a one-time payment. but for each additional applicant, you have to submit processing and government fees. |
| Business Investment | You are eligible for the business scheme if you can invest at least $1.5 million. Two or more applicants may make a joint investment with an individual minimum of at least $400,000 and a total investment of at least $5 million. |
| Real Estate Investment | For the real estate option, you must purchase a property with a minimum amount of $400,000– the purchase has to be in a development pre-approved by the Antigua and Barbuda government. Alternatively, the applicant can purchase shares or units in an approved property, worth at least $200,000. You have to maintain your investment for at least five years before you can sell it. |
| University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund | If you choose this option, you have to make a non-refundable contribution of $150,000 to the UWI fund for a family of six members (Inclusive of processing fees). For families with seven members or more, you need to pay processing fees US$15,000 for each additional dependent. |
Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa – Joint Investment
To acquire the Antigua and Barbuda Investor visa through business investment or real estate investment, you can also avail the option of joint investment in them. Just make sure to follow these guidelines.
Joint Business Investment
You can make a joint investment with a business partner or more in a business that is approved by the government. Applicants must note that each business partner must invest a minimum of USD 400,000 and the total investment should amount to USD 5 million.
Joint Real Estate Investment
In this case, the applicant needs to invest with a party in an approved real estate project, where each party needs to invest a minimum amount of USD 200,000.
Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa – Application Process
- As the first step, you need to get in touch with an authorized representative licensed agent.
- Secondly, you need to fill up your application form and submit.
- As the next step, you need to clear all due fees.
- Next, you need to make your investment in Antigua and Barbuda.
- Lastly, you need to take your allegiance oath.
Authorized Representative and Licensed Agent
As the very first step for obtaining citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, you must contact an established authorized representative and licensed agent. It is through them that you can file your application for the Antigua and Barbuda Golden visa. For this, you can contact Global Citizen Solutions. Our team at GCS work continuously with our clients to ensure a smooth application process and deliver tailor-made solutions as per our clients’ needs. For further information, you can contact us here.
Applicants must note that their authorized representative and licensed agent will be the one to collect all documentation, apply for the visa and then share all documents with them once approved.
Complete your application forms
Your authorized representative along with your licensed agent will hand you all the necessary documentation that you need to complete as part of your Golden visa application process. Do keep in mind that you need to fill the application form personally and make sure that all the information provided is latest and correct.
Once you are done filling up the application forms, your local agent will forward your application over to the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) on your behalf. Remember, your local agent will act as a bridge between the Citizenship by Investment Unit and yourself.
Payment of Fees
Once you are done with your application, you need to pay your fees as per the Antigua and Barbuda Golden visa guidelines. Initially, you need to pay the entire diligence fees and 10% of the government processing fee. After your application gets approved, you need to make the payment of the pending government processing fees.
Make your Investment
As soon as you receive your approval letter from Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), complete your investment by following the guidelines mentioned by CIU. You will get around thirty days to complete your business investments/donations.
If you have opted for the real estate route, then it might take longer to get your investment processed. So there’s no specific timeline when it comes to real estate investment. But make sure to make the investment as soon as possible so that you have the real estate property purchased in your name.
Take the Allegiance Oath
After your investments have been completed, you along with your dependent family members will get a certificate of registration. For your passport to get processed, you need to submit this certificate of registration.
Your immigration advisers will let you know the date availability for taking the allegiance oath. For taking this oath, you can avail any two of these options:
You can come to Antigua and Barbuda to get your passport and take the allegiance oath
You can also go to your nearest Antigua and Barbuda embassy/consulate in your country to take the allegiance oath and get your passport there itself.
Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa Fees
After you are done with your investment, you also need to pay additional fees to obtain an Antigua and Barbuda Investor visa. This includes:
- Processing Fee: $30,000 for a family up to 4 members
- Due Diligence Fee: $7,500 for a single person
$7,500 + $7,500 for spouse
$2,000 per dependent (12-17 years old)
$4,000 per dependent (18 years old and more)
Applicants must also note that the processing fee and diligence fees will be based on the route of the investment chosen.
Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa Requirements
You will need the following documents if you are applying for the Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa:
Application Forms
- Application form
- Photograph and signature certificate
- Medical certificate
- Investment confirmation form
- Agent form
- Passport application form
Personal documents
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- National identity card
- Passport-size photographs
- Police certificate
Documentation Rules
All documents must be certified by a suitable person and according to the laws of the country that the individual is residing in. It should cover the following details:
- Full name of the individual(in capital letters)
- The role that the individual is acting in
- The individual’s home or business address
- Phone number and email id
Please note that your documents can also be certified by a notary public and should be authenticated by appropriate legal authorities.
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship benefits
There are many benefits that Antigua and Barbuda provides to its citizens. They include:
- Amazing beach lifestyle
- Tropical climate
- Thriving economy and real estate market
- No travel requirements to obtain citizenship
- Visa free access to over 140 countries across the world
- Entire family is eligible for the Citizenship by Investment program
- Offers citizenship in return of a minimum investment of $100,000
- The country allows dual citizenship
- Good location and have established air connections to popular cities worldwide
- Antigua and Barbuda tax benefits include no tax on worldwide income
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by investment program – Eligibility
- Applicants must be 18 years or more
- Applicants should have a very good personal net worth
- Applicants should be of outstanding character
- Applicants must be in good health
- Applicants should have no criminal record
- The applicant should be able to take the allegiance oath either in Antigua and Barbuda or in an embassy/consulate of Antigua and Barbuda in his/her country,
Antigua and Barbuda Visa Requirements
This is a list of all the countries to which Antigua and Barbuda passport holders have visa-free access or visa-on-arrival access. Countries that require a visa are also included.
| Country | Visa Requirements |
| Afghanistan | visa required |
| Albania | visa-free/90 days |
| Algeria | visa required |
| Andorra | visa-free/90 days |
| Angola | pre-visa on arrival |
| Argentina | visa required |
| Armenia | eVisa/120 days |
| Australia | eVisa |
| Austria | visa-free/90 days |
| Azerbaijan | COVID-19 ban |
| Bahamas | visa-free/240 days |
| Bahrain | eVisa |
| Bangladesh | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Barbados | visa-free |
| Belarus | visa-free/30 days |
| Belgium | visa-free/90 days |
| Belize | visa-free |
| Benin | eVisa |
| Bhutan | visa required |
| Bolivia | visa on arrival / eVisa/90 days |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | visa-free/90 days |
| Botswana | visa-free/90 days |
| Brazil | visa-free/90 days |
| Brunei | visa required |
| Bulgaria | visa-free/90 days |
| Burkina Faso | visa required |
| Burundi | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Cambodia | eVisa/30 days |
| Cameroon | visa required |
| Canada | visa required |
| Cape Verde | visa on arrival (EASE) |
| Central African Republic | visa required |
| Chad | visa required |
| Chile | visa-free/90 days |
| China | visa required |
| Colombia | visa-free/90 days |
| Comoros | visa on arrival/45 days |
| Congo | visa required |
| Congo (Dem. Rep.) | eVisa/90 days |
| Costa Rica | visa-free/90 days |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | pre-enrollment/90 days |
| Croatia | visa-free/90 days |
| Cuba | visa-free/30 days |
| Cyprus | visa-free/90 days |
| Czech Republic | visa-free/90 days |
| Denmark | visa-free/90 days |
| Djibouti | eVisa |
| Dominica | visa-free |
| Dominican Republic | visa-free |
| Ecuador | visa-free/90 days |
| Egypt | visa on arrival / eVisa/30 days |
| El Salvador | visa-free/90 days |
| Equatorial Guinea | visa required |
| Eritrea | visa required |
| Estonia | visa-free/90 days |
| Eswatini | visa-free/30 days |
| Ethiopia | eVisa |
| Fiji | visa-free/120 days |
| Finland | visa-free/90 days |
| France | visa-free/90 days |
| Gabon | eVisa |
| Gambia | visa-free/90 days |
| Georgia | visa-free/360 days |
| Germany | visa-free/90 days |
| Ghana | visa required |
| Greece | visa-free/90 days |
| Grenada | visa-free |
| Guatemala | visa-free/90 days |
| Guinea | eVisa/90 days |
| Guinea-Bissau | visa on arrival / eVisa/90 days |
| Guyana | visa-free/180 days |
| Haiti | visa-free/90 days |
| Honduras | visa-free/90 days |
| Hong Kong | visa-free/90 days |
| Hungary | visa-free/90 days |
| Iceland | visa-free/90 days |
| India | eVisa/30 days |
| Indonesia | visa required |
| Iran | eVisa/30 days |
| Iraq | visa required |
| Ireland | visa-free/90 days |
| Israel | visa required |
| Italy | visa-free/90 days |
| Jamaica | visa-free |
| Japan | visa required |
| Jordan | visa on arrival |
| Kazakhstan | eVisa |
| Kenya | eVisa/90 days |
| Kiribati | visa-free/120 days |
| Kosovo | visa-free/90 days |
| Kuwait | visa required |
| Kyrgyzstan | eVisa |
| Laos | visa on arrival / eVisa/30 days |
| Latvia | visa-free/90 days |
| Lebanon | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Lesotho | visa-free/90 days |
| Liberia | visa required |
| Libya | visa required |
| Liechtenstein | visa-free/90 days |
| Lithuania | visa-free/90 days |
| Luxembourg | visa-free/90 days |
| Macao | COVID-19 ban |
| Madagascar | visa on arrival / eVisa/90 days |
| Malawi | visa-free/90 days |
| Malaysia | visa-free/30 days |
| Maldives | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Mali | visa required |
| Malta | visa-free/90 days |
| Marshall Islands | COVID-19 ban |
| Mauritania | visa on arrival |
| Mauritius | visa-free/90 days |
| Mexico | visa required |
| Micronesia | visa-free/30 days |
| Moldova | visa-free/90 days |
| Monaco | visa-free/90 days |
| Mongolia | visa required |
| Montenegro | visa-free/90 days |
| Morocco | visa required |
| Mozambique | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Myanmar [Burma] | visa required |
| Namibia | visa required |
| Nauru | visa required |
| Nepal | visa on arrival/90 days |
| Netherlands | visa-free/90 days |
| New Zealand | visa required |
| Nicaragua | visa-free/90 days |
| Niger | visa required |
| Nigeria | pre-visa on arrival |
| North Korea | visa required |
| North Macedonia | visa-free/90 days |
| Norway | visa-free/90 days |
| Oman | eVisa |
| Pakistan | eVisa |
| Palau | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Palestinian Territories | visa-free |
| Panama | visa-free/90 days |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa/30 days |
| Paraguay | visa required |
| Peru | visa-free/180 days |
| Philippines | visa-free/30 days |
| Poland | visa-free/90 days |
| Portugal | visa-free/90 days |
| Qatar | visa-free/90 days |
| Romania | visa-free/90 days |
| Russian Federation | visa-free/90 days |
| Rwanda | visa on arrival / eVisa/30 days |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | visa-free |
| Saint Lucia | visa-free |
| Samoa | visa on arrival/60 days |
| San Marino | visa-free/90 days |
| Sao Tome and Principe | eVisa |
| Saudi Arabia | visa required |
| Senegal | visa required |
| Serbia | visa-free/90 days |
| Seychelles | tourist registration/90 days |
| Sierra Leone | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Singapore | visa-free/30 days |
| Slovakia | visa-free/90 days |
| Slovenia | visa-free/90 days |
| Solomon Islands | visa on arrival/90 days |
| Somalia | visa on arrival/30 days |
| South Africa | visa-free/30 days |
| South Korea | eTA/90 days |
| South Sudan | eVisa |
| Spain | visa-free/90 days |
| Sri Lanka | eTA/30 days |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | visa-free |
| Sudan | visa required |
| Suriname | visa-free/180 days |
| Sweden | visa-free/90 days |
| Switzerland | visa-free/90 days |
| Syria | visa required |
| Taiwan | COVID-19 ban |
| Tajikistan | eVisa |
| Tanzania | visa-free/90 days |
| Thailand | visa required |
| Timor-Leste | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Togo | visa on arrival/7 days |
| Tonga | visa required |
| Trinidad and Tobago | visa-free |
| Tunisia | visa-free/90 days |
| Turkey | eVisa/90 days |
| Turkmenistan | visa required |
| Tuvalu | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Uganda | visa-free/90 days |
| Ukraine | visa-free/90 days |
| United Arab Emirates | eVisa |
| United Kingdom | visa-free/180 days |
| United States of America | visa required |
| Uruguay | visa required |
| Uzbekistan | visa-free/30 days |
| Vanuatu | visa-free/30 days |
| Vatican City | visa-free/90 days |
| Venezuela | visa-free/90 days |
| Vietnam | visa required |
| Yemen | visa required |
| Zambia | visa-free/90 days |
| Zimbabwe | visa-free/90 days |
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship – Restricted countries
If you are a citizen of any of the following countries, then you cannot apply for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Yemen
- Sudan
If you are from one of the above-mentioned countries but have migrated to another country and lived there for a minimum of 10 years and have no economic ties with these countries, then you are qualified to apply for the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.
Antigua and Barbuda citizenship cost
Antigua and Barbuda – Due Diligence and Passport Fees
| Individual | USD | ECD |
| Primary applicant | $7,500 | $20,250 |
| Spouse | $7,500 | $20,250 |
| Dependent Child (0-11 years old) | $0 | $0 |
| Dependent child (12-17 years old) | $2,000 | $5,400 |
| Dependent (18-30 years old) | $4,000 | $10,800 |
| Dependent parent (55 years or more) | $4,000 | $10,800 |
| Passport fee for each person | $300 | $810 |
Antigua and Barbuda – Addition of Dependents
| Individual | USD | ECD |
| Spouse | $75,000 | $202,500 |
| Dependent children (0-17 years old) | $25,000 | $67,500 |
| Dependent parent (55 years old and above) | $75,000 | $202,500 |
Reasons to invest in Antigua and Barbuda
- You can invest and obtain Antigua and Barbuda passport that offers several benefits like global mobility
- Owing to world-class education and infrastructure, the country has got a skilled workforce in place
- Antigua and Barbuda is one of the most tax-friendly countries in the world. No tax is levied on personal income
- Owing to its stunning natural landscapes, white sand beaches, rich cultural history and more, the country attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world and thus has a thriving tourism sector
- Since the country has relatively low crime rates, it is quite peaceful, safe and secure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Antigua and Barbuda passport rank?
As per the Global Passport Index, the Antigua and Barbuda passport ranks at 63rd position in terms of global mobility and other benefits. It allows visa free travel to more than 140 countries, including the Schengen area, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Can I get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by marriage?
Individuals married to an Antigua and Barbuda passport holder for a minimum of three years and have been living together can apply for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship through naturalization.
Can I get Antigua citizenship by parents?
Yes, you can obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by birth, descent or naturalization.
By how much time can I obtain citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda?
It can take around three – four months for your Antigua and Barbuda citizenship application to be processed.
What are the investment options in Antigua and Barbuda?
Through Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment program, you can invest in the country through the following routes –
- You can donate to the National Development Fund
- You can invest in pre-approved real estate projects
- You can invest in a business that is based out of Antigua and Barbuda. You can invest alone or in a joint investment.
- You can donate to the University of the West Indies Fund
For further information on Antigua and Barbuda, you can check out our following articles:
- Citizenship by investment in Antigua and Barbuda
- Antigua residency guide
- The cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda
- Invest in Antigua and Barbuda
- Antigua and Barbuda Visa-Free Countries – All You Need to Know!
