Antigua and Barbuda - Citizenship by Investment

The Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) of Antigua and Established was officially opened in Oct, 2013 following legally established following parliamentary assent to the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2014.

The Regulations regarding Citizenship by Investment in Antigua and Barbuda are contained in Section 6 of the Citizenship by Investment Act, 2014. These provisions allow the government to operate a programme under which citizenship is granted to persons who qualify under criteria set by parliamentary decision.

Benefits

Visa free travel to over 140+ countries including the United Kingdom and the EU’s Schengen Area
Citizenship is issued within a period of 3-4 months
Antigua & Barbuda allows dual nationality
Citizenship is granted for life
No physical presence required during citizenship application
Investment is only payable after approval

Requirements

The Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) requires a person to make a significant economic contribution to the Country. In exchange, and subject to stringent application procedures, including thorough background checks, the applicants and their families are granted citizenship.

Investment Routes

To qualify for citizenship, the primary applicant must be over 18 years of age, meet the application requirements and select one of the following three investment options;

A contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF) of a minimum non-refundable amount of US$230,000.
An investment of at least US$300,000 into one of the approved real estate projects and to be held for a minimum period of 5 years.
An investment of a minimum of US$1,500,000 directly into an eligible business as a sole investor or a joint investment involving at least 2 persons in an eligible business totaling at least US$5,000,000 and each of those persons individually invests at least US$400,000.
An investment of a minimum of US$260,000 for the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Fund, inclusive of the processing fees.

All four investment options are subject to government processing and due diligence fees. Before receiving governmental approval, eventual citizenship and passports, all candidates must meet the requirements of the program and pass the due diligence.

Legislation

Eligibility

Ineligible applicants are as follows;

Where an applicant has provided false information on his or her application
Where a medical practitioner states that any of the family members is suffering from a contagious disease and/or serious health problems
Not having received a free pardon, has at any time previously been convicted in any country of an offence for which the maximum custodial penalty is in excess of six months imprisonment
Is the subject of a criminal investigation
Is a potential national security risk to Antigua and Barbuda or to any other country
Is involved in any activity likely to cause disrepute to Antigua and Barbuda
Has been denied a visa to a country with which Antigua and Barbuda has visa-free travel and who has not subsequently obtained a visa to the country that issued the denial

Individuals over the age of 18 must provide a confirmation from a national law enforcement authority (usually the police or a department at the Ministry of Justice or a similar government body) that they have no criminal record.

Deprivation

Deprivation of citizenship may occur if the citizen does not spend at least 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda during the period of five calendar years after having obtained citizenship and they will not be entitled to repayment of any investment, contribution or purchase price made by them in their original application for citizenship.

Deprivation of citizenship will occur where such registration as a citizen was obtained by false representation or fraud or willful concealment of material facts or the person has been convicted in Antigua and Barbuda of an act of treason or sedition.

Residence Conditions

Must personally visit/spend 5 days in Antigua during first five years.

Antigua Passport

The passport granted under citizenship by investment will be initially valid for a period of 5 years and will be considered for renewal subject to the recipient having spent a total of 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda, since gaining citizenship, within the 5 year period. The passport does not afford automatic voting rights and persons would need to qualify as outlined in the Representation of the People Act.