Antigua and Barbuda resident permit

The department groups resident permits into six classes with their own qualifying periods: class A for work permit holders after four years, class B for marriage to a citizen after one year, class C for students after one year at a tertiary institution, class D for entrepreneurs or investors after two years, class E for home owners and retired residents after two years, and class F for persons of independent means after two years. Class A applicants need at least four consecutive work permits, and a valid work permit when they apply. The programme took effect on 15 June 2016 under the Immigration and Passport Act 2014, replacing the earlier two-year temporary residence.

Applicants must have been legally and ordinarily resident for at least four years, or married to an Antiguan citizen for at least one year, must not have entered illegally, must intend to remain permanently and must have no convictions. The department also lists students after one year at a tertiary institution, persons of independent means after two years, government employees, and entrepreneurs or investors with two years of work permits. Breaks in residence must not reach six continuous months, and applicants should hold a valid work permit.

Evidence of payment of the prescribed fee, a police certificate of character from Antigua and Barbuda and from any place lived in for over six months, a health certificate from a medical practitioner as directed by the department, a letter from statutory boards showing contributions to the necessary taxes, the passport bio page, birth and marriage certificates and any other documents the Chief Immigration Officer requires.

The wallet-sized Resident Permit Card is the official proof of status and must be shown to re-enter by commercial air or sea carrier. Renewal is applied for at the Immigration Department three months before expiry, and the Chief Immigration Officer decides. Holders receive most social benefits available to citizens, including health care, may live, work or study anywhere in the country, and may apply for citizenship after seven years of legal residence; they cannot vote or stand for office. Dependants of work permit holders may not seek employment, and a non-worker permit does not allow work. If a work permit expires while a resident permit application is pending, its renewal must be kept in process.

The Chief Immigration Officer issues a Resident Certificate entitling the holder to accept employment and to have approved dependants live with them; the certificate can later be varied to add or remove dependants or change occupation. Permits are granted for up to three years at a time, and holders must live in the country for at least half the validity. On divorce or death of the holder, the spouse's right may be revoked, but they can apply in their own right within three months.

A permit can be revoked if the holder moves away permanently, gives false information, engages in subversive activity or racism, or is convicted of an offence. A resident permit holder refused a new permit has a qualified right of appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, and court appeals are also possible.