Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme

The main applicant must be over 18 and choose one option: a non-refundable National Development Fund contribution of at least US$230,000; a contribution of at least US$260,000, processing fees included, to the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus fund; an approved real estate project worth at least US$300,000, which cannot be resold for five years except to buy another approved property; or a business investment of at least US$1,500,000 alone, or a joint investment of at least US$5,000,000 by two or more people each putting in at least US$400,000.

For the National Development Fund, real estate and business options the government processing fee is US$10,000 for a single applicant, US$20,000 for a family of up to four and US$10,000 for each further dependant; 10% is payable and non-refundable on submission and the balance after the approval letter reaches the agent. Due diligence, charged for each family member over 11 and non-refundable, is US$8,500 for the main applicant, US$5,000 for a spouse, US$2,000 for a dependant aged 12 to 17 and US$4,000 for a dependant aged 18 to 30 or a parent over 55; children under 12 pay none. The passport fee is US$300 per person. Adding a dependant later costs US$10,000 (child under 6), US$25,000 (6 to 17) or US$50,000 (18 and over). The unit states that fees are subject to change.

The unit recommends approaching an authorised representative first. The representative prepares the file and engages a licensed agent based in Antigua and Barbuda, who reviews the application and submits it in person to the Citizenship by Investment Unit with the required payments. The agent remains the unit's point of contact and is told the outcome, and the unit may ask for more information or an interview. The file uses forms AB1 (application), AB2 (photograph and signature certificate), AB3 (medical certificate), AB4 (investment confirmation) and AB5 (agent form), plus passport application forms.

A family application can include a spouse; children aged up to 30 who depend financially on the main applicant; children over 18 with a physical or mental disability who live with and are fully supported by the applicant; parents or grandparents of the applicant or spouse aged 55 or over who depend on the applicant; and unmarried siblings of the applicant or spouse. A future spouse of the main applicant can be added for US$50,000, and a future spouse of a dependent child aged up to 35 can also be added.

New citizens must spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda during the five calendar years after obtaining citizenship; failing to do so can lead to deprivation of citizenship without repayment of the investment. Applicants are ineligible if they gave false information, have a serious contagious disease, have been convicted of an offence carrying a custodial penalty of more than six months, are under criminal investigation or are considered a security risk.