The Antigua and Barbuda National Development Fund (NDF) is a non-profit fund established by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to funnel charitable investments towards the country’s development.
The NDF is the most affordable government-approved investment option for Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship program, allowing foreign investors to make a $230,000 non-refundable contribution to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship for themselves and up to three family members. Successful applicants receive an Antigua and Barbuda passport, facilitating visa free travel to 151 countries.
This article will examine Antigua and Barbuda’s National Development Fund option, including the following:
What is the Antigua and Barbuda National Development Fund?
The Antigua and Barbuda National Development Fund (NDF) was introduced under Section 42(2) of the Finance Administration Act 2006 as a cornerstone element of the country’s national development strategy. As a non-profit fund, the NDF was incorporated with Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment program in 2013 to receive non-refundable investor contributions.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship By Investment Unit (CIU) was the government authority established to manage the fund and its allocations. The fund receives parliamentary review from a six-monthly report.
Purpose of the National Development Fund
The Antigua and Barbuda National Development Fund (NDF) was formed to support national development projects across all sectors in Antigua and Barbuda. The primary purpose of the NDF is to raise capital for public sector projects, public-private partnerships, and other charitable investments that the government deems will contribute to the country’s social and economic development. These projects have included:
- Improvements to healthcare and medical infrastructure
- Education and training programs
- Tourism and infrastructure development
- Green energy and environmental sustainability
- Disaster recovery and resilience projects
National Development Fund (NDF) Contribution Requirement
A non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund in Antigua and Barbuda is the most affordable route to obtain Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment. The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Unit has two different thresholds for the required minimum contribution to the National Development Fund for a single applicant, a family of four or less, and a family of five or more. To make your entire family eligible for Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment beyond a four family member, you must make an additional donation.
The table below outlines the costs associated with donating to the National Development Fund (NDF) in Antigua and Barbuda.
| National Development Fund (NDF) Contribution | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Applicants | Single Investor | Family of up to Four | Family of Five or More |
| Required Contribution Amount | $230,000 | $245,000 | |
| Processing Fee | $20,000 | +$10,000 for each additional applicant | |
| Due Diligence Fee | $8,500 main applicant | Spouse: $5,000 Family members over 18: $4,000 each Family members aged 12-17: $2,000 each | |
| Interview Fee | $1,500 per applicant | ||
| Passport Fee | $300 per applicant | ||
NDF Application Process and Timeline
Applicants are required to submit their applications through a local authorized agent licensed to market and promote the program by CIU. Applicants can see licensed agents with an Antigua CIP license on cip.gov.ag, the government website for the CIU.
01/ Discuss the investment requirement: Obtain a proposal detailing all fees associated with a National Development Fund application.
02/ Start onboarding: Prepare and collect your application form and necessary supporting documents for your application. Notarize and certify documents as necessary.
03/ Application review: The Antigua and Barbuda licensed agent will perform a complete review of your citizenship application to ensure everything is in order.
04/ Application submission: Your agent will submit your completed application to Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). You will also need to pay the submission fees, including the due diligence fee.
05/ Due diligence check: A detailed background check will be conducted, which includes a virtual Caribbean citizenship interview.
06/ Application approval: It generally takes about six months from the date of the interview stage for your citizenship application to be Approved in Principle.
07/ Make the investment: After your application has been approved, make the required contribution to the National Development Fund and pay any remaining government fees. This will include your investment payment, as well as the remainder of the government fees.
08/ Receive your passport: Your Certificate of Registration and Antigua and Barbuda passport will be issued. You must take the oath or affirmation of allegiance upon your first visit to the country.
Six Benefits of Donating to the National Development Fund for Citizenship
01/ Most affordable option for families
The $230,000 minimum Antigua National Development Fund contribution for citizenship for families of four makes Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment the cheapest Caribbean citizenship program. If your family is made up of six or more members, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund will be the more affordable option for you.
02/ No language requirements
The Antigua and Barbuda NDF donation option has no language requirements, allowing investors to obtained citizenship through a streamlined process.
03/ Fund contributions benefit the country
Investors are directly responsible for funding government-sponsored projects to improve social and economic development in the country. Tourism amounts to 60 percent of GDP, and the majority of NDF contributions go towards national development in this sector. Proceeds from the NDF have been used to improve airport facilities and sustainable energy, including a $20 million 10 MW solar, wind, and energy storage system.
04/ Quick processing time
The National Development Fund Antigua application process application process is the fastest among Caribbean countries, with the Antigua and Barbuda official unit processing applications within an average of six months.
05/ Tax optimization
An advantage of Antigua vs St Lucia citizenship is that tax residency in Antigua and Barbuda is more favorable. The Antigua National Development Fund tax benefits include zero personal income tax, capital gains, inheritance, or wealth taxes.
06/ Visa free travel
A main catalyst behind Antigua and Barbuda’s number one ranking on the Global Residency and Citizenship by Investment Index is its powerful Caribbean passport, and the Antigua and Barbuda NDF donation option grants successful applicants an Antigua and Barbuda passport. Ranking 49th in the 2025 Global Passport Index, it allows travel to 164 countries visa free.
Contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF): Popular Amongst Investors
The National Development Fund option is popular among investors. Although the CIU did not publish detailed data from 2020-2022, the department has confirmed that the number of investors choosing to contribute to the National Development Fund remained above 70 percent between 2018 and 2022.
| National Development Fund (NDF) Contribution | NDF Contribution | Real Estate Investment | Business Investment | UWI Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 93.5 percent | 3 percent | 3.45 percent | – |
| 2019 | 96 percent | 2.55 percent | 1.7 percent | – |
| 2020 | 95 percent | 6.5 percent | 2.2 percent | 1.65 percent |
| 2021 | 82 percent | 11 percent | 12 percent | 5.45 percent |
| 2022 | 74 percent | 12 percent | 11 percent | 3.1 percent |
Take a look at how Antigua and Barbuda’s passport performs against other nations in the 2025 Global Passport Index
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 Antigua and Barbuda citizenship?
- Authorized International Marketing Agent. Global Citizen Solutions have official certification by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to promote and market their Citizenship by Investment program. You can find a copy of our certificate by clicking the image on the right
- Global approach by local experts. We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean CBI programs.
- 100 percent approval rate. We have never had a case rejected and will offer you an initial, free-of-charge, due diligence assessment before signing any contract.
- Independent service and full transparency. We will present to you all the investment options available, and all expenses will be discussed in advance, with no hidden fees.
- An all-encompassing solution. A multidisciplinary team of immigration lawyers, investment specialists, and tax experts will take into consideration all your and your family's mobility, tax, and lifestyle needs.
- Confidential service and secure data management. All private data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
