Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship

Antigua & Barbuda

Citizenship By Donation or Investment

An Antigua passport is considered as one of the strongest in the Caribbean as it enables its holder visa-free access to leading business hubs across the world, including the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The country also has in place a favorable tax system with its citizens free from paying both capital gains and real estate taxes. As one of the most globally-recognized citizenship by investment agencies, we here at P&S Invest offers a quick and hassle-free route to an Antigua citizenship. For more information on our service or the CBI program itself, reach out to our consultants by dialing +961-70-777-141

Resting along the eastern coastline of the Caribbean Sea, the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is in every way, a tourist paradise with lush hillsides, thick rainforests, and a breathtaking coastline. Having gained independence from the UK in 1981, the country is currently a member of the United Nations, CARICOM, and the Commonwealth of Nations. Primarily driven by the tourism sector, which contributes nearly 60% of its GDP and 40% of the investments, the country’s economy is one of the strongest among all the Caribbean countries. Antigua is governed by a parliamentary, representative democratic monarchy and follows the Common English Law Model.

As mentioned, applicants can pursue three different investment routes to acquire citizenship from the country.

NDF = The National Development Fund was set up to help income-generating public sector projects, encourage innovation among entrepreneurs, and aid charitable organizations within the country. Dual citizenship hopefuls are required to donate a one-time contribution of USD 100,00 for a family of four or less. They are also liable to pay an additional USD 25,000 as processing and government fees. Prices are subject to change based on the number of dependents and their age.

Real Estate = The real estate investment is one of the most preferred routes to obtaining a secondary passport from the country. Not only will the applicant have his/her own property in the region, but he/she can also resell the same after five years. An amount of USD 400,000 or more has to be invested with a government-approved real estate development to qualify under this scheme. Co-applicants are also permitted provided each of them donates a sum of USD 200,000 each.

Business Investment = The CIU offers two different business investment options to gain an Antigua passport:

- A single applicant needs to invest at least USD 1,500,000 in a pre-approved business within the country.
- Or, at least two applicants can propose to make a joint investment in a government-approved business with a total investment of USD 500,000. Each additional investor will need to further contribute at USD 400,000 to the venture.

Compared with the other Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs, the cost of an Antigua and Barbuda passport is relatively low. Listed are some of the other key reasons as to why you should opt for Antigua Citizenship.

- A quick and hassle-free application process.
- Visa-free entry to a total of 150 countries.
- The country permits dual citizenship, and as such, you are not required to renounce your current nationality.
- Over the first five years, citizens are only required to reside in the country for just five days.
- The local currency, Eastern Caribbean Dollar, is pegged to the US Dollar, thereby giving you and your business financial benefits and security.
- The country does not levy any taxes on global income.
- The program’s restricted countries list guarantees a high level of integrity and international respect.

About the Antigua Secondary Passport Program

Ever since the program was first put forth in 2013, Antigua’s CBI program has been a popular choice among eagled-eyed business professionals and high-net-worth individuals. An applicant can obtain citizenship from the country by either investing in real estate, a government authorized business or by making a non-refundable contribution to help improve the country’s infrastructure. Unlike some of the other CBI programs on offer, applicants are not required to either learn about the country’s history or speak their official language. Lastly, applicants are not required to reside in the country during the time of the application process. Currently, a single applicant can gain an Antigua and Barbuda passport by contributing a sum of 147,800 USD.

Legal Basis

Due to its relatively affordable price and quick processing time, the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship program has helped the country become one of the most preferred destinations to obtain dual citizenship. The program was first initiated in 2013 as a means to cut down on public debts and stimulant economic growth. Details regarding the program are listed in section 6 of the Citizenship by Investment Regulations, 2014.

General Requirements to Qualify for the Antigua Citizenship Program

Apart from making a sizeable investment within the country, the primary applicant has to fulfill certain criterions to get this application approved.

- He/She must be at least 18 years of age.
- Should have no criminal records.
- Must confirm his/her investment source.
- Should be of good health.
- Should clear due diligence checks and gain approval.

Dependents who are eligible to receive citizenship and immigrate to the country along with the principal applicant include:

- Spouse.
- Children under the age of 29.
- Parents above the age of 58.

Timeline

The governing body of the Antigua’s citizenship program, Citizen by Investment Unit (CIU) clearly states that each application to the program should be submitted through a government-authorized agent. Listed below is a step-by-step timeline of the application process:

Month 01

- Prequalification checks of the applicant.
- Preparation of all the necessary documents.
- Payment of due diligence fees, 10% non-refundable government fees, advisory fees, and reservation of property investment fees, if applicable.

Month 02-03

- Submission of the citizenship application to the CIU.
- The government vets the application and conducts a due diligence background check on the candidate.
- Citizenship application is approved.

Month 04-05

- The real estate investment or government donation is made along with the remaining 90% of the government fees.
- Antigua citizenship certificate and passport are issued to the applicant.

Month 06

- Remaining payment, if any are to be made once the passport is delivered.

Antigua Citizenship Investment Criterion

Contribution to National Development Fund*

Single Applicant

$230,000

Family of 4 (Main applicant + Spouse + 2 Children under 12 yrs)

$260,000

Real Estate Investment*

Single Applicant

$350,000

Family of 4 (Main applicant + Spouse + 2 Children under 12 yrs)

Antigua & Barbuda

Citizenship By Donation or Investment

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