Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment

Special features of obtaining Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program was launched in 2013. This program made it possible to obtain economic citizenship. It is one of the newest citizenship by investment programmes in the region and significantly differs from similar programmes offered by other Caribbean jurisdictions in some aspects.

In recent years, the tropical islands of Antigua and Barbuda have been attracting more and more tourists and fans of outdoor activities from all over the world. There are all the necessary elements for this popularity: wonderful rainforests, rugged volcanic landscapes, long sunny beaches and coral reefs that are perfect for fishing and diving.

The funds of foreign investors are spent on the development of tourism industry, construction of infrastructural facilities and charity donations. Antigua and Barbuda also attracts entrepreneurs because the islands offer a good environment for the registration and operation of international companies.

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program allows the whole family to obtain a Caribbean passport at the lowest price, gives visa-free travel to 151 countries, including Europe, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, and helps save on taxes.

Benefits of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program

1. An Antigua and Barbuda passport is issued within a short period. The whole process takes 3 to 6 months from the date of application.
2. An investor does not need to learn a language or understand the history and culture of their second homeland in order to become a citizen.
3. All contacts with immigration authorities are made only through a law firm. It means that you can obtain a Caribbean passport without leaving your country.
4. New foreign nationals are not required to live as permanent residents in their second home country. If you don’t want to lose your citizenship, you need to spend only 5 days on the islands during the first 5 years after obtaining a passport.
5. The main applicant can include the whole family in the application for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program:

• Spouse.
• Minor children, adult children up to 30 years of age provided that they are financially dependent on their parents. Children can also be from previous marriages.
• Parents/grandparents over 55 years old provided they are fully financially dependent on the main applicant.

Under the passport program, you can obtain passports for spouses, minor children and parents over 55 for an additional fee even after you have obtained Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment.

6. There are no laws banning multiple nationality. Information about your second citizenship is not shared anywhere, because the islands’ authorities guarantee foreign investors complete confidentiality.
7. Low cost of citizenship compared to the cost of obtaining EU citizenship and European passport.

Requirements for a foreign investor

The government of Antigua and Barbuda is interested in a foreign capital inflow, so minimum requirements are set for participants in the citizenship by investment program:

• Main applicant must be 18 or older;
• They must prepare evidence to demonstrate a legal source of money for making investments in order to obtain citizenship, pay all relevant fees, and support the whole family;
• An investor and applicants over 12 must pass Due Diligence checks;
• The main applicant and dependants must be in good health;
• Clean criminal record.

4 investment options of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship

The main advantage of the citizenship by investment program is four investment options to obtain a Caribbean passport.

1. Donation to National Development Fund

Minimum investment – from $100,000

This option requires a donation to the National Development Fund, a non-profit organisation overseen by the Parliament. Funds are spent on state-controlled projects and donations.

Antigua and Barbuda has an advantage over other Caribbean countries. If you make the minimum donation of $100,000, you can include 3 more people in your application, such as your spouse and minor children. The state processing fee of $30,000 will remain unchanged. However, you will have to pay a little extra for Due Diligence checks.

If you apply for a second passport for a large family of 5 or more members, non-refundable donation to the fund will increase to $125,000, and the state processing fee will increase by $15,000 for each additional dependant.

The fee for Due Diligence checks is:

• $7,500 for the main applicant;
• $7,500 for a spouse;
• $4,000 for each additional dependant;
• $2,000 for minor children over 12.

Donation to the fund	$100,000	$100,000	$100,000	$125,000
Processing fees	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$45,000
Due Diligence checks	$7,500	$15,000	$17,000	$21,000
Total amount:	$137,500	$145,000	$147,000	$191,000

* For a family of 4 members, where there are 2 adults and their children aged 5 and 14.
** For a family of 5 members, where there is an investor, a spouse, one of their parents, 2 children aged 5 and 14.

A non-refundable donation to the National Development Fund of Antigua and Barbuda is one of the most advantageous citizenship by investment options for spouses with two minor children.

2. Investment in real estate of Antigua and Barbuda

Minimum investment – from $400,000 

This option of obtaining an Antigua and Barbuda passport requires a purchase of an island property which costs at least $400,000. This property must be part of projects which are approved by the government from reliable developers. The amount which is necessary to invest in real estate does not depend on the number of applicants in an investor’s application. Additional fees are paid for application processing, Due Diligence checks and taxes.

Purchase of a property	$400,000	$400,000	$400,000	$400,000
Processing fees	$30,000	$30,000	$30,000	$45,000
Due Diligence checks	$7,500	$15,000	$17,000	$21,000
Total:	$437,500	$445,000	$447,000	$466,000

* For a family of 4 members, where there are 2 adults and their children aged 5 and 14.
** For a family of 5 members, where there is an investor, a spouse, one of their parents, 2 children aged 5 and 14.

Government-approved projects usually include holiday resorts, high-end residential properties in prestigious locations and tourism infrastructure. $400,000 is enough to buy a share in a high-class hotel or spa under construction, so that later you can get a small but stable rental income through a management company. The property must be maintained for 5 years before it can be sold to recover investment.

3. Investment in business

Minimum investment – from $400,000

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program is an option for wealthy foreigners who are willing to invest in the islands’ economy, but also to earn money. Under this option, investments are made in a new or existing business approved by the authorities.

There are two options for investment in business:

1. One investor must invest $1,500,000 in an approved business project.
2. Two or more applicants must invest $400,000 or more, provided that the total capital investment of all participants is at least $5,000,000.

4. Contribution to the UWI Education Fund

Minimum investment – from $150,000

This investment option is only suitable for investors who are going to apply for citizenship for all members of their family consisted of 6 or more people.

If you want to obtain an economic citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda, you will need to make a one-time donation of at least $150,000 to one of the Caribbean’s oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education, the University of West Indies. It makes one family member entitled to receive a one-year scholarship to the university.

Antigua and Barbuda offers an investor the maximum number of options for investment compared with other Caribbean citizenship by investment programs. Your new passports will be delivered to your home.

What opportunities does an investor get with an Antigua and Barbuda passport?

Visa-free travel

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda can visit 151 countries around the world, including the UK, Singapore and EU countries, without a visa or with an entry permit upon arrival. This passport gives you an access to a 10-year business visa to the USA and a long-stay visa to Canada.

The head of Antigua and Barbuda is the Queen of the UK, and the Governor-General, appointed by the monarch, performs representative functions. Therefore, citizens of these islands can stay freely in the UK for up to 180 days per year and even have benefits for admission to the UK educational institutions. In EU member states of the Schengen Agreement, Antigua and Barbuda passport holders can stay for up to 90 days every six months.

Favourable taxation system

Tax residents of Antigua and Barbuda pay no tax on income earned both inside and outside the country. Zero rates are also set for taxes on wealth, inheritance and capital gains.

Opportunities for running a successful international business

The country has all the conditions for a successful business environment. There is a highly skilled workforce and a well-developed infrastructure on the islands. There is no taxation on company profits earned outside the islands. The procedure for registering an international business is simplified as much as possible. The Caribbean passport provides great opportunities to work with major banks of the UK, Europe and the USA.

High standard of living and economic stability

Antigua and Barbuda is one of the former British colonies in the Caribbean region. There was an economic growth and promising branches of the economy appeared after gaining sovereignty.  As a result, the backward agrarian country has become a flourishing tourist region with tuition-free education, a well-developed healthcare system, three institutes of higher education, a relatively high standard of living for ordinary people and a low rate of street crime.

Nature of Antigua and Barbuda

During your 5-day residency on the islands, you will see an amazing place where you will live if you become a citizen. You may decide to stay longer. The unique island nature suits both fans of beach holidays and those who do not like to stay in one place for a long time, preferring hunting, fishing, diving and sailing.

Obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment with Imperial & Legal

In order to protect foreign investors from fraud, government officials consider applications for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment only through a third party, licensed agents. Imperial & Legal will help you to obtain a Caribbean passport safely and quickly in 5 steps.

Our immigration advisers say that standard application process usually takes from 3 to 4 months, but sometimes this process can take 6 months in case of unforeseen circumstances.