Antigua and St Kitts are two of the five Caribbean countries that offer citizenship through investment. Both citizenship by investment programs – also called CBI or passport by investment programs – provide investors with a legitimate and straightforward way to obtain a valuable Caribbean passport and second citizenship.
The basic requirements to apply for economic citizenship are as follows: Be over 18 years old, have no criminal record, be in excellent health, and be able to make the required qualifying investment. In return, you will not have to take any language test or fulfill an unreasonable residency requirement.
Benefits of Antigua and St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Programs
Antigua vs St Kitts CBI Comparison
Program Characteristics | Antigua Citizenship by Investment | St Kitts Citizenship by Investment |
Application Time | Two to three months | Four months |
Passport Global Ranking | 59th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others | 53rd. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others |
Qualifying Investment |
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Taxes | No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax | No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax |
Residence Rule | Minimal visitation requirements | No stay requirements |
Family Eligibility | Inclusion of spouse or future spouse, dependent children under 30, unmarried siblings, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over | Inclusion of spouse, children under 25, and parents aged 65 or over |
Application Requirements | No language or residency requirements | No, language or residency requirements |
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship
Antigua and Barbuda is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The nation is made up of Antigua, Barbuda, and the uninhabited island of Redonda. Tourism represents most of Antigua and Barbuda’s GDP, which is unsurprising for such a stunning place with 365 beaches – one for each day of the year. These beaches are known for their distinctive pink hue, which many enjoy photographing.
- Donation of at least $100,000 to the Antigua and Barbuda National Development Fund
- Purchase of pre-approved real estate or shares of real estate worth a minimum of $200,000, to be held for five years
- Business investment of $400,000 in an enterprise worth $5 million in total, or $1.5 million as a single investor
- Donation of $150,000 or more to the University of the West Indies Fund – this option is available for families of 6 members or more and entitles one person to a one-year scholarship
Once you have obtained citizenship, you must spend a minimum of five days in the country within the first five years of being a citizen. This flexibility is an advantage if you tend to travel a lot for work. In addition to this, the tax conditions Antigua and Barbuda offers its residents and citizens are relatively relaxed. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, income tax, or wealth tax on worldwide income or assets. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders can also travel visa-free (including visa-on-arrival access) to over 140 countries, including the European Union, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia.
As part of the due diligence process, the CIU has announced that applicants who submit their application on or after 15 December 2023 will undergo an interview. Additionally, all family members aged 16 and above will take part in the interview, which will be conducted virtually. The cost will be $1,500 per application.
St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship
St Kitts and Nevis is a twin-island nation in the East Caribbean. The two islands are separated by a stretch of sea known as ‘the narrows’, which is a five-minute trip by water taxi. The nation has the longest-running Citizenship by Investment program in the world, launched in 1984. For an investment starting at $250,000, foreign investors and their families can obtain a passport in just two months. Fast, reliable, and relatively affordable, this immigration scheme has been a success, significantly boosting the country’s economy.
As an investor, you can choose one of three investment routes:
- Make a non-refundable donation to the country’s Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC), starting at $250,000 for a single applicant.
- Make a minimum investment of $400,000 in pre-approved real estate developments, purchase a condominium unit for at least $400,000, or invest a minimum of $800,000 in a single-family private dwelling.
- Contribute with at least $250,000 to one of the Public Benefit Projects approved by the government.
The citizenship process takes around four months or 120 days to complete. As part of the due diligence process, the main applicant is required to partake in a mandatory interview. Additionally, the country’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) may ask dependents aged 16 and over to participate in mandatory interviews. These interviews will be conducted virtually by default. Once you have been granted citizenship and your Certificate of Registration has been issued, you must collect it in person from St Kitts and Nevis or from an approved Embassy or Consulate identified by the CIU.
Which program to pick?
As we can see in this article, both Caribbean countries offer solid, popular citizenship programs with similar positive points, such as tax-friendly policies for Caribbean citizens, flexible requirements, and traveling visa-free worldwide. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 150 countries and citizens of St Kitts and Nevis to 156. While the number of visa-free countries differs, the actual locations are similar, including popular places such as the Schengen Area, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Furthermore, Antigua’s minimum contribution is more affordable, but St Kitts has no visitation requirement.
Age limits for family members
Eligibility requirements for family members are similar, although Antigua and Barbuda allow siblings and grandparents to be included while St Kitts does not. The application processing times of the citizenship by investment programs are also quite similar, with Antigua and Barbuda taking an average of three months and St Kitts and Nevis taking four months.
Family member | Antigua and Barbuda | St Kitts and Nevis |
Spouse | No age limit | No age limit |
Siblings | Unmarried | Not eligible |
Children | Under 30 | Under 25 |
Parents | 55 and over | 65 and over |
Grandparents | 55 and over | Not eligible |
Individual residents taxes and fees
Taxes and fees | Antigua and Barbuda | St Kitts and Nevis |
School fees | 5.5 percent | 5 percent |
Real estate purchase tax | 2.5 percent | N/A |
Property owners' tax | 0.1 to 0.5 percent | 0.4 to 0.96 percent |
Real estate sale tax | 7.5 percent | 6 to 10 percent |
Passport validity
Both the St Kitts and Nevis passport and the Antigua and Barbuda passport are valid for ten years. The renewal cost for the St Kitts and Nevis passport is $370, while Antigua and Barbuda’s renewal process costs $1,000. To renew your passport, you would need the following:
- Expiring passport
- Certificate of naturalization or citizenship
- Birth certificate
- Clean criminal record certificate
- Passport photos
- Proof of oath swearing and fulfillment of stay requirement (for Antigua and Barbuda)
So, which investment program should you choose in order to obtain a Caribbean nationality? The best economic citizenship for you and your family will depend on your specific circumstances and priorities.
Strong points of the St Kitts and Nevis program:
- Average processing time of four months
- Longest-running CBI program
- Multiple investment routes
Strong points of the Antigua and Barbuda program:
- Most affordable for families: $100,000 National Development Fund donation for a family of four and $150,000 University of the West Indies Fund donation for families of six or more
- Most affordable for single applicants: $100,000
- More family members eligible for inclusion
- Multiple investment routes
To find out more, watch our video about the two citizenship by investment programs:
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.
- 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.
To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Caribbean citizenship application, click here.
Don’t forget to check our other Caribbean comparison articles:
- Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison Guide
- St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship
- St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica Passport
- Grenada vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Grenada vs St Lucia Citizenship
- St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Grenada vs Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Antigua vs Grenada Citizenship
- Antigua vs Dominica Citizenship
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I acquire Antigua citizenship?
If you are interested in obtaining citizenship from Antigua and Barbuda, the country’s citizenship program is the best way to receive a Caribbean passport in exchange for an investment in the country. There are four investment options: Making a real estate investment in shares of an approved real estate project, making a minimum contribution of $100,000 to a National Fund, investing in a University Fund, or making a business investment. All applications are processed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
Can I acquire St Kitts citizenship?
In order to obtain citizenship in this Caribbean country, you must make an investment, which can be a donation to a government fund, a property investment, or a contribution to a Public benefit Project pre-approved by the government. After a few months, you and your family will receive St Kitts and Nevis passport and lifetime citizenship. All applications are processed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis citizenship?
Both investment programs offer excellent benefits. Having a Caribbean passport means access to over 140 countries visa-free, a favorable tax regime, and many more advantages. The Antigua and Barbuda passport program has a lower threshold for minimum investment, starting at $100,000. Saint Kitts and Nevis offers the longest-running CBI program in the world. As you can see, the best Caribbean citizenship is the one that best fits your needs.
Which countries offer Caribbean citizenship by investment?
Five countries offer investors the opportunity to acquire Caribbean citizenship by investment: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. St Kitts and Nevis has the world’s longest-running citizenship by investment program, in operation since 1984.
To apply to one of these investment programs, you must be over 18 years, have no criminal records, and make an investment in the Caribbean country of your interest, usually a non-refundable contribution to a national fund or an investment in a pre-approved real estate development. Other attractive investment opportunities are government bonds or university donations. You and your family can receive Caribbean citizenship in a few months, with tax benefits and the chance to travel to over 140 visa-free countries worldwide.
Is Antigua or St Kitts better?
This question has no definitive answer, as it depends solely on your unique circumstances and requirements. Each island has its own unique charm and attractions that appeal to different people for different reasons. Additionally, depending on what they need, each country’s citizenship program will be better for different investors.
For example, the Antigua and Barbuda CBI program’s investment options are more affordable than St Kitts’, and it allows more family members to be included. During the first five years of citizenship, you must spend at least five days in the country. By contrast, St Kitts and Nevis has no stay requirements, but its minimum investment amount is higher, and it does not allow siblings or grandparents to be included as dependents.
Is St Kitts cheaper than Antigua?
In terms of obtaining citizenship by investment, St Kitts has a higher minimum contribution amount than Antigua and Barbuda. When it comes to the cost of living, both St Kitts and Antigua have been described as more expensive than other Caribbean nations. Even so, the cost of living in these two nations is still more affordable than in the US or the UK.
