The United States has extended its list of travel restrictions to include Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. The partial entry bans have sparked renewed debate over the compliance of citizenship by investment in the Caribbean.
Announced on 16 December 2025, the White House proclamation, in effect from the beginning of 1 January 2026, will affect a number of visa categories for Antiguans and Barbudans and Dominicans. Visas with restrictions will include tourist and business visas (B-1/B-2), as well as student and exchange visas. The White House referenced concerns about citizenship by investment programs, arguing they could be used to circumvent US travel controls.
However, Antigua and Barbuda has strongly disputed the grounds behind its inclusion—pointing to a critical reform that directly addresses the concerns raised by Washington.
The 30-Day Residency Requirement: A Key Turning Point
At the heart of Antigua and Barbuda’s response is its recently agreed 30-day physical residency requirement, which the new Caribbean CBI regulator will enforce on all applicants, with a starting date still to be announced. Prime Minister Gaston Browne believes the underlying logic in the proclamation is based on outdated assumptions that don’t match current law.
Browne publicly noted that Parliament added the minimum residency rule to the CBI process as a way to tighten vetting and ensure genuine ties to the country, while meeting global standards and best practices. From a policy perspective, the shake-up neutralizes the argument that investors eye Antigua and Barbuda for an easy path to citizenship without needing to prove a meaningful presence in the country or undergo proper oversight.
Investors and policymakers see the residency requirement as a necessary shift away from “passport-only” narratives toward deeper integration, transparency, and compliance—an approach increasingly favored by international partners.
The Prospect of Reversal in Future Reviews
The US proclamation includes a built-in 180-day review cycle. US officials have reiterated that restrictions can be pulled back during this review phase, as long as affected governments address concerns outlined in the proclamation. The incoming residency requirement tied to Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment sets the country up for a fast reversal once reviews get underway.
Prime Minister Browne confirmed he reached out directly to US authorities, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, offering full collaboration to tackle unresolved matters. According to Browne, US officials stated they were caught off guard by the timing, indicating that talks may still be on the table.
According to Joe Rice, Head of Citizenship Programs at Global Citizen Solutions, the residency requirement is likely to be central in any future reassessment, as it directly addresses the risks cited in US policy memos earlier in the year.
Dominica Seeks Clarity, Signals Cooperation
Dominica took a more cautious approach, acknowledging the restrictions while at the same time urging US authorities to clarify what they mean. Officials are consulting with the US Embassy in Bridgetown to assess the implications for Dominican travelers, students, and families. In the meantime, the government reiterated its pledge to reform the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program, which includes the unified 30-day minimum residency requirement.
Both countries have emphasized that the restrictions do not affect existing visa holders and include exemptions for dual nationals, US Green Card holders, diplomats, and certain athletes and officials.
A Sweeping Policy Shift with Room for Adjustment
Antigua and Dominica’s inclusion diverges from its peers that also offer Caribbean citizenship by investment—St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Saint Lucia—which the proclamation left out. This suggests that the concern is less about CBI programs in general, but rather about specific compliance rules, particularly those related to residency and vetting.
As this policy review process gets underway, the fact that Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda will introduce a 30-day residency rule is already a step in the right direction. In a way, they have advanced the process by aligning their programs with what jurisdictions like the United States and the European Union expect. That could help restore their standing with countries imposing visa restrictions and also give them an edge in modern investment migration.
Why use Global Citizen Solutions?
Global Citizen Solutions is a multidisciplinary firm offering bespoke residence and citizenship solutions in Europe and the Caribbean. In a world where the economy and politics are unpredictable, having a second citizenship opens up opportunities and creates flexibility for you and your family.
So, why work with Global Citizen Solutions to obtain Caribbean citizenship?
- Global approach by local experts: We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean CBI programs.
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