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Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour, Antigua

Citizenship by Investment

Antigua & Barbuda

Caribbean citizenship built with larger families in mind, with four qualifying investment options.

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Time to citizenship

≈ 8 months

Minimum investment

$230,000+

Travel access

142 destinations

Figures as of August 2026, per the official program source; the time shown is our recent case experience, not an official figure; travel access is our own count — confirmed on application.

Program Overview

About the Antigua & Barbuda program

In brief

The Antigua & Barbuda program is a citizenship-by-investment program that grants full legal citizenship. The minimum qualifying investment is $230,000+, and complete files have typically taken ≈ 8 months in our recent cases, not an official figure. Presence requirement: 5 days in Antigua & Barbuda within the first 5 years, and Antigua & Barbuda citizens can reach 142 destinations on our travel-access count — visa-free, on arrival, or with an eTA or e-visa granted on arrival terms. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment Program is particularly attractive to larger families, offering a dedicated University of the West Indies Fund route and pricing that remains competitive as family size grows.

Citizens enjoy extensive visa-free travel; the program's only ongoing obligation is a five-day visit within the first five years.

Presence requirement

5 days in Antigua & Barbuda within the first 5 years

Document validity

Passport valid for 5 years initially, then renewable for 10

Dual nationality

Dual citizenship permitted

Program Finder

Plan Antigua & Barbuda for your family

Estimate the total cost with every government fee, check who in your family can be included, get the document checklist for everyone applying, and see how Antigua & Barbuda ranks against the other 17 programs.

Open the Program FinderCompare with others

What Antigua & Barbuda citizenship unlocks

Registration under the 2013 Act, with the industry's broadest family definition. What it changes from day one:

  • Live & work across the OECSOECS Economic Union citizenship: settle and work without a permit in Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts, St Lucia, and St Vincent — indefinite stay on arrival.
  • CARICOM membershipFull member-state citizenship; approved skilled categories work across the single market under the CSME skills-certificate regime.
  • UK visits with an ETANo visa needed for UK visits of up to six months — since January 2025 with an Electronic Travel Authorisation.
  • The broadest family netSpouse, children to 30, parents and grandparents 55+, and unmarried siblings — and the CIU even prices adding a dependant's future spouse or children later.
  • A UWI scholarship built inThe University of the West Indies Fund route entitles one family member to a one-year tuition scholarship.
  • Dual citizenship, constitutionally protectedThe Constitution bars depriving a citizen of citizenship — or demanding renunciation — solely for holding another nationality.

Capabilities follow from the status itself — citizenship or residence as the program grants it; specifics are confirmed during your assessment.

Investment Pathways

Half Moon Bay beach, Antigua

National Development Fund

From $230,000

A non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund, supporting public projects.

Waterfront villas and marina at Jolly Harbour, Antigua, from the air

Approved Real Estate

From $300,000

Investment in a government-approved real estate development.

Minimum 5-year holding period

Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour, Antigua

University of the West Indies Fund

From $260,000

A contribution route designed for larger families of six or more, supporting the University of the West Indies. Processing fees are included within the qualifying contribution.

Villa overlooking the yacht anchorage at English Harbour, Antigua

Approved Business Investment

From $1,500,000

Participation in an approved Antiguan business — USD 1.5M as a sole investor, or a joint business investment from USD 5M total with a minimum of USD 400,000 per participant.

Program terms move: Caribbean minimum contributions rose industry-wide in 2024, and issuing governments adjust terms without notice. Files submitted under current terms are processed under them.

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$230,000

A non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund, supporting public projects.

Who comes with you

  • Spouse of the main applicant
  • Children up to 30, financially dependent on the main applicant
  • Adult children with a physical or mental disability
  • Parents and grandparents aged 55 and over, financially dependent on the main applicant
  • Unmarried siblings of the main applicant or spouse (minor siblings need parental or guardian consent)

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Typical processing time

Current Antigua & Barbuda files, based on recent case experience — the numbered stages below show where those months go. Here is the figure to plan around.

≈ 8 months

Typical processing time, complete files

Plan around the top of the range — 8 months end to end leaves room for queries without changing your plans.

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in ≈ 8 months.

Based on recent case experience, not an official figure. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

  1. 1

    Month 1

    Preparation

    Document collection, KYC checks, and selection of the investment route.

  2. 2

    Months 1–4

    Submission & due diligence

    Application submitted to the Citizenship by Investment Unit; background checks conducted.

  3. 3

    Months 4–7

    Approval & investment

    Approval in principle issued; the qualifying investment is completed.

  4. 4

    Months 7–8

    Citizenship & passport

    Certificate of citizenship issued, followed by passport processing.

Requirements

  • Main applicant must be 18 or older with a clean criminal record
  • Proof of the legal source of investment funds
  • Medical certificate for all applicants
  • Five days of physical presence within the first five years of citizenship

Family Eligibility

  • Spouse of the main applicant
  • Children up to 30, financially dependent on the main applicant
  • Adult children with a physical or mental disability
  • Parents and grandparents aged 55 and over, financially dependent on the main applicant
  • Unmarried siblings of the main applicant or spouse (minor siblings need parental or guardian consent)

Required documents

The standard checklist for a single applicant. Get the checklist for your whole family in the Program Finder.

  • Forms AB1–AB5 Every applicant
  • Passport & national ID Every applicant
  • Birth certificate Every applicant
  • Marriage or divorce papers If married
  • Police clearance Adult applicants
  • Medical & HIV test Every applicant
  • Address, funds & references Main applicant
  • Dependant support & enrolment Dependants

Exact formats — apostille or legalization, sworn translation, issue dates — vary by your country of origin and are confirmed document-by-document during your engagement.

What to Weigh

Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Antigua & Barbuda program, consider:

  • The five-day visit within five years is a genuine legal obligation — plan for at least one family trip.
  • The UWI Fund route only makes financial sense for families of six or more.
  • Contribution routes are non-refundable; real estate requires a five-year hold.

Travel access with Antigua & Barbuda citizenship

Where a Antigua & Barbuda citizen can travel, and what each destination requires. Entry is always at the discretion of the destination authority — confirm before booking.

142destinations, our travel-access count — 99 visa-free + 28 on arrival + 5 eTA + e-visas granted on arrival terms

127 of 198 destinations need no visa arranged before travel. Counted from the Passport Index dataset, as of 19 October 2026.

Compare Antigua & Barbuda with our other citizenship programs

Last updated 19 October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do larger families often choose Antigua?

Its contribution pricing is close to flat as family size grows, and the UWI Fund route is designed specifically for families of six or more — so the cost per person falls as the family grows.

What happens if we skip the 5-day visit?

The visit is a condition of the citizenship — failing to complete it within five years puts renewal of your passport at risk. We track the obligation for clients and help plan the trip.

Can parents be included?

Yes, dependent parents aged 55 or over can be included in the application.

What travel access do Antiguan citizens have?

Citizens currently travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to a broad list of destinations, including the Schengen Area under the 90/180-day rule, and the UK with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Travel arrangements between states are reviewed periodically, so we brief clients on the current position rather than treating any list as permanent.

Regulatory framework

Act No. 2 of 2013

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Act, 2013

Assented 28 March 2013 · gazetted 11 April 2013

Section 3 — registration of investors as citizens with Cabinet approval; Regulations as amended through 2024

Section 3 empowers the Minister, with Cabinet approval, to register a qualifying investor as a citizen under the Citizenship Act once satisfied the prescribed investment has been made. One statutory obligation stands out: registered citizens must spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda within five years of registration (a pending 2026 amendment would raise this to thirty), on pain of deprivation.

View the law (opens in a new tab)

Official Citizenship by Investment Unit — cip.gov.ag

Sources & verification

Program terms are set by the issuing government and may change without notice — figures last re-verified against the official source in August 2026. Investment figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant; fees, due diligence, and family additions are quoted individually. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

Official program authority

  1. 01Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment UnitRetrieved 2026-07-28

Alternatives

Related Programs

Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.

Is Antigua & Barbuda right for your family?

A private assessment covers eligibility, total cost, and timeline for your situation — and says so if another route fits better.

Book a consultationSpeak with an advisor

Antigua≈ 8 months

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