What Is Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment?
Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) was established under the Citizenship by Investment Act 2013 and is regulated by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). It allows a qualifying economic contribution - rather than birth, descent, marriage, or years of residence - to form the basis of full citizenship and an Antigua and Barbuda passport, after applicants pass government background and source-of-funds checks.
Antigua and Barbuda permits dual and multiple citizenship, so successful applicants are not required to renounce their existing nationality. There is no obligation to live in the country either before or immediately after approval, though a physical presence requirement now applies over the following five years - covered in the 2026 update below.
This is a separate legal pathway from residency by investment programs such as the UAE Golden Visa, which grant only the right to live in a country. For a full comparison of citizenship versus residency by investment, see our citizenship by investment overview.
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Routes and Costs
Four investment routes qualify, each suited to a different applicant profile:
| Route | Minimum Investment (USD) | Key Conditions |
|---|
| National Development Fund (NDF) | 230,000 | Non-refundable donation, covers a family of up to 4; +15,000 per additional dependent |
| Real estate | 300,000 | Approved resort shares or full villa ownership; 5-year minimum holding period |
| Business investment | 1,500,000 (single) / 5,000,000 (joint venture) | Investment in an approved Antigua and Barbuda business; joint venture requires 2+ applicants |
| University of West Indies (UWI) Fund | 260,000 | Minimum 6 applicants per application; +4,000 per dependent beyond 6; includes a 1-year tuition-only UWI scholarship |
The NDF route is the fastest and most commonly used for a standard family of four. The UWI Fund is the most cost-effective per person for larger families, provided the application includes at least six members.
Government Fees and Total Cost Breakdown
Beyond the qualifying investment itself, every application carries government processing, due-diligence, and interview fees:
| Fee | Amount (USD) |
|---|
| Processing fee - single applicant | 10,000 |
| Processing fee - family of up to 4 | 20,000 |
| Due diligence fee - main applicant | 8,500 |
| Due diligence fee - spouse | 5,000 |
| Due diligence fee - each additional adult dependent | 4,000 |
| Due diligence fee - each dependent aged 12-17 | 2,000 |
| Mandatory interview fee - per application | 1,500 |
| Bank charge - per invoice | 600 |
The UWI Fund route does not carry an additional processing fee on top of its US$260,000 contribution. As a working example, a family of four - two spouses and two dependents aged 13 and 20 - applying under the NDF route should budget at least US$273,000 in total once the contribution, processing fee, due diligence fees, and interview fee are combined. Legal and advisory fees are separate and confirmed before engagement.
What Changed for Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship in 2026
Two regulatory developments affect applicants in 2026, and both should be reviewed before choosing this program over another Caribbean option:
Physical Presence Requirement Increased to 30 Days
Under the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2026, the physical presence requirement for new citizens and their eligible dependents increased from 5 days to a cumulative 30 days during the first five years after citizenship is granted. This is not an annual requirement - the 30 days can be taken at any point across the five-year window, after which no further physical presence obligation applies. The change aligns Antigua and Barbuda with the other Eastern Caribbean CBI programs ahead of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), a regional regulator expected to become operational in September 2026.
US Entry Restrictions Under Presidential Proclamation 10998
Effective 1 January 2026, US Presidential Proclamation 10998 placed partial restrictions on new US visa issuance for Antigua and Barbuda nationals - covering immigrant visas and non-immigrant B-1/B-2 business and tourism, F/M student, and J exchange visas - citing citizenship by investment programs as a screening concern. The restriction applies only to applicants outside the United States who do not already hold a valid US visa as of the effective date; those holding a valid visa are unaffected. Applicants who prioritise US travel or business access should discuss this directly with an advisor, since it does not apply to the other three established Caribbean programs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Main applicant must be 18 years of age or older
- A clean criminal record, confirmed through police clearance certificates from every country of residence over the past 10 years
- Verifiable, legitimate source of funds for the qualifying investment
- Good health, generally confirmed through a medical certificate
- A mandatory virtual interview for the main applicant and any dependents aged 16 or older
- Dependent children eligible up to age 30 if unmarried and in full-time education; dependent parents and grandparents eligible over a set age, subject to additional fees
Benefits of Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 150 destinations, including the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Singapore
- Full citizenship and a passport, not a residence permit - with no obligation to relocate
- Dual and multiple citizenship permitted - no requirement to renounce your existing nationality
- 0% personal income tax for citizens who take up tax residence in Antigua and Barbuda, in place since 2016
- Citizenship extends to a spouse and dependent children on the same application, with parents and grandparents eligible on several routes
- Citizenship is permanent and heritable - it can be passed to future generations
Antigua and Barbuda vs the Other Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs
Antigua and Barbuda sits alongside Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia as one of the five established Caribbean programs. It is tied with St. Kitts and Nevis for the fastest typical processing time at 4 to 6 months, and is the only one of the five offering a dedicated university scholarship route through the UWI Fund - a meaningful advantage for families of six or more. Grenada remains the only program of the five with US E-2 investor treaty access, and St. Lucia is the only one offering a government-bond investment route. For a full side-by-side comparison of all five programs, see our citizenship by investment guide.
Why Choose Takween Advisory for Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment
Takween Advisory is a UAE-based business consultancy advising high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and families across the GCC on citizenship by investment and the wider structuring that surrounds a second passport. Antigua and Barbuda law requires every application to be filed through a government-authorised local agent - we work alongside your Authorised Representative to prepare a complete, accurate file, run internal due diligence before submission, and manage the process through to passport issuance.
Being based in Dubai means in-person consultations, familiarity with GCC banking and source-of-funds documentation standards, and a single advisor managing your file in the same timezone. If you are weighing Antigua and Barbuda against another Caribbean program, or against a residency by investment route instead of citizenship, we assess your objectives before recommending either.
For a confidential assessment of your eligibility and the most cost-effective route for your family, contact our team today.
