Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island country located in the Eastern Caribbean. It is known for its beautiful beaches, warm weather, and rich cultural heritage. The country’s economy largely depends on tourism, financial services, and agriculture. The government has introduced a Citizenship by Investment program to attract foreign investment and boost economic growth in recent years. This program allows foreign investors to obtain citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda by investing in the country’s economy.
Antigua and Barbuda offers citizenship-by-investment through its Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI).
To become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda through this program, an applicant must make a significant investment.
There are three options:
- Donation to the National Development Fund
- Real estate investment
- Business investment
Additionally, applicants must meet other eligibility criteria, such as passing a background check and meeting specific health and character requirements. The application process is generally straightforward and once approved, successful applicants can obtain citizenship in as little as four to six months.
Steps and Timeline for Acquiring Antiguan Barbudan Citizenship Through Investment:
- Choose an authorized agent: The first step is to select an authorized agent who can guide you in obtaining citizenship through investment in Antigua and Barbuda during the entire process.
- Select an investment option: You need to choose one of the three investment options available.
- Donation to the National Development Fund: This option involves making a donation to the country’s National Development Fund. A donation of USD 100,000 covers a family of up to four people, including dependent children up to the age of 25 and parents aged 65 or older. For larger families, the donation increases to USD 125,000. In addition to the donation, investors must pay a processing fee of USD 25,000 and an additional fee of USD 15,000 per dependent beyond a family of four.
- Real estate investment: Investors can qualify for citizenship by investing USD 200,000 or more in qualifying real estate. The investment can be made in condos, hotels, or resort properties that have been approved for funding through the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. Along with the real estate investment, investors must pay a fee of USD 30,000 for a family of four or less, plus USD 15,000 per additional dependent. There is a restriction on reselling the property for at least five years after gaining citizenship.
- Business-related Investments: Another option is to obtain citizenship through business-related investments. Individual investors are required to invest at least USD 1.5 million to qualify. Alternatively, multiple investors can pool their investments together, with a total investment of at least USD 5 million, and each investor committing at least USD 400,000 to the project. Similar to real estate investors, business investors must pay a processing fee of USD 50,000 for a family of four, plus USD 15,000 for additional dependents. There is a requirement to maintain the investment for at least five years after gaining citizenship. It is important to note that the specific requirements, fees, and regulations may be subject to change. It is advisable to consult with the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority or an experienced immigration lawyer or consultant to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate information before proceeding with any investment for citizenship.
- Submit application: After selecting the investment option, the next step is to submit the citizenship application along with all the required documents, such as a passport, birth certificate, medical certificate, and police clearance certificate. The due diligence fee for the main applicant and their spouse is set at USD 7,500 each. For minor dependents between the ages of 12 and 17 years, the due diligence fee is USD 2,000. Each dependent aged 18 or older is required to pay a due diligence fee of USD 4,000. There are no due diligence fees for children under the age of 12 years. These due diligence fees are in addition to the investment amount and other associated fees mentioned above.
- Background check: The government of Antigua and Barbuda will conduct a background check to ensure that you have a clean criminal record and meet all the eligibility requirements.
- Approval: If the government approves your application, you will receive an approval letter to proceed with the investment.
- Investment: After receiving the approval letter, you must invest in the chosen option, either in the NDF or the approved real estate project.
- Citizenship certificate: Upon making the investment, you will receive the citizenship certificate, affirming your citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda.
The entire process takes approximately 3-4 months to complete, depending on the time needed for the background check and the investment process.
Performance Guarantee:
Antigua & Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Program provides a performance guarantee through a regulated escrow account. An independent financial institution manages the escrow account, and funds are released to the government only when the citizenship application is successfully processed. Within this approach, the government protects investors’ funds and delivers on its commitment to process applications efficiently and promptly. If an application is not approved, the investor will be refunded. The applicant should remember that contribution to National Development Fund is non-refundable. Additionally, the government of Antigua & Barbuda has a strong track record of efficiently processing applications and providing a high level of service to investors.