About Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is an independent Commonwealth country that consists of two major islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands (including Great Bird, Green, Guiana, Long, Maiden and York Islands and further south, the island of Redonda).
The permanent population numbers about 81 800 and the capital and largest port and city is St. John’s, on Antigua.
Positioned where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet, country is known for reef-lined beaches, rainforests and resorts. Its English Harbour is a yachting hub and the site of historic Nelson’s Dockyard.
Country’s name was given by Christopher Columbus in 1493. after discovering the island, in honor of the Virgin of La Antigua in the Seville Cathedral.
The country is nicknamed “Land of 365 Beaches” due to the many beaches surrounding the islands.
Its governance, language, and culture have all been strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part, gaining sovereignty on November 1, 1981. It remains a member of the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state.
Tourism dominates the economy, accounting for more than half of the gross domestic product (GDP). Investment banking and financial services also make up an important part of the economy. Major world banks with offices in Antigua include the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Scotiabank. Financial-services corporations with offices in Antigua include Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Investment options
If you want to qualify for citizenship by investment in Antigua and Barbuda there are a couple options.
By Donation to the Government (National Development Fund)
The first option is donating money to National Development Fund (NDF).
The minimum donation is $100 000 USD. The primary applicant may include spouse, dependent children and dependent parents over 65 years of age within the application with no additional NDF contribution required, although government and due diligence fees will be payable per each individual which are outlined within the fees section. This option is incredibly popular among families because it’s the most cost-effective solution for a whole family in the Caribbean.
For a single applicant or family of four or less the processing fees will be $25 000. For families of 5 and more it will cost $15 000 for each additional dependent. Besides that you will have to pay due diligence fees, $7500 for the main applicant, $7500 for your spouse, $2000 for children between 12-17, and $4000 for children over 18 years of age.
By Investing in Approved Real Estate Projects
The second option is investing in real estate. In this case you will need to buy approved real estate projects of at least $400 000. On top of this you will need to pay processing fees. When investing in real estate these fees will be higher than in previous case and will be $50 000 for a single applicant or family of four and $15 000 for each additional dependent in case of family of five or more. Due diligence fees will be the same as in the previous case.
Generally, real estate purchased under this option must be held for a minimum of five years. However, during those five years, the investor may instead either purchase another real estate property of equal or higher value or make an investment under the business investment option. If these rules are not adhered to, the investors may lose their passports.
From May 1 to October 31, 2018 only, applicants can choose to make a joint investment with another main applicant for citizenship by investment in real estate worth at least USD 400,000. Each main applicant must make a minimum investment of USD 200,000 in order to qualify.
By Investing into a Business
The third option available to applicants for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda is an investment in a business that has been pre-approved by the government. A single applicant would need to invest at least $1.5 million.
However, if applied with 3 other applicants the amount can be a minimum $400 000. In this case you need to invest at least $5 million collectively. For a single applicant or family of for or less processing fees will be $50 000. For families of 5 and more it will cost $15 000 for each additional dependent. On top of this you will need to pay due diligence fees that are the same as in previous two cases.
Advantages of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program
This country offers amazing deals for families, it lets family of four apply for the price of one applicant. Application processing time is fast, it usually takes 3-4 months to process.
Once you get the citizenship you will have it for life. Residency requirements are very low, you need to spend only 5 days in the country for the course of five years. There is no interview for citizenship, no minimum level of English language requirement.
This country allows dual citizenship, so you will be able to keep your original one. It also has very low tax rates. There is no capital gain or estate taxes, income generated outside the country is not taxed.
As of February 2018, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda had visa-free travel or visa on arrival access to 140 countries and territories including the UK, Schengen area, Hong Kong and Singapore, ranking the Antigua and Barbuda passport 27th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
| Dual citizenship allowed | YES |
| Minimum Investment required | $100 000 USD minimum |
| Processing Time | 3-4 months |
| Family members allowed | Yes, free of charge |
| Visa free access | 140 countries and territories |
| Who doesn’t qualify | N/A |
