Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP)
Antigua and Barbuda offers a Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programme run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit under the Citizenship by Investment Act 2013. The most accessible route is a non-refundable US$230,000 contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF), an entry price that is structurally most attractive for larger families because the NDF headline is fixed for a family of up to four and adds only incremental government and due-diligence fees beyond that. A US$260,000 University of the West Indies Fund route is purpose-built for families of six or more and includes a one-year UWI tuition scholarship for one member. Real estate (minimum US$300,000, 5-year hold) and two business routes (US$1.5m sole, or US$5m joint with a US$400,000 per-person minimum) complete the options. The passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 154 destinations including the Schengen Area and the UK, with a post-grant presence requirement moving from 5 to 30 days across the first five years (2026 Amendment Bill, already applied administratively); Canada requires a visa and the USA suspended B-1/B-2 entry for Antiguan nationals from 1 January 2026.
How you qualify.
Donation
National Development Fund (NDF): non-refundable US$230,000 one-time contribution per application; covers a single applicant or a family of up to four for the same amount. Government processing fees are US$10,000 (single) / US$20,000 (family of up to four); for families of five or more, an incremental US$10,000 processing fee applies from the 5th dependant onward, with the NDF contribution remaining at US$230,000. Per-person due-diligence fees and a US$300 per-person passport fee apply in addition. The NDF is a non-profit government fund established under section 42(2) of the Finance Administration Act 2006, subject to six-monthly parliamentary reporting and independent audit. This is the most cost-efficient route, especially for larger families.
Fund
University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund: US$260,000 for a family of six (6) or more. The route is restricted to large families and is not available to single applicants or small families. It entitles one family member to a one-year, tuition-only scholarship at the University of the West Indies.
Real Estate
Purchase of government-approved real estate valued at a minimum of US$300,000. The property cannot be re-sold until 5 years after purchase, unless replaced by another officially approved property in Antigua and Barbuda. Per-person due-diligence fees and a US$300 per-person passport fee apply in addition to government processing fees per the current Schedule of Fees.
Business
Approved business investment. Sole investor: minimum US$1,500,000 in an approved business. Joint investment: a minimum of 2 persons making a joint investment totalling at least US$5,000,000, with each person contributing at least US$400,000. Government processing and due-diligence fees apply per the standard Schedule of Fees.
Global mobility.
short stays. Antigua and Barbuda is an EU Annex II (visa-exempt) nationality, permitting up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area; ETIAS pre-travel authorisation will apply once live. The position hardened in mid-2026: under Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 (in force 30 December 2025), operating an investor-citizenship scheme is now in itself a ground for suspending a country's visa exemption, and the European Commission is reported to have written to the five Caribbean CBI states on 25 June 2026 seeking a phase-out by 1 June 2028 — reportedly with reinforced vetting required by September 2026. We have not seen the letters themselves. No suspension has been enacted to date, and the five governments are seeking a negotiated transition (joint response, Roseau, 10 July 2026) — but a client acquiring this citizenship primarily for Schengen access must treat that benefit as at material risk across the 2026–2028 window.
for up to six months; an electronic travel authorisation (UK ETA) is required before travel.
Entry suspended, not merely visa-controlled. Presidential Proclamation 10998 of 16 December 2025 placed Antigua and Barbuda under partial suspension with effect from 1 January 2026, suspending entry for immigrants and for nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas — which covers the ordinary short business or tourist visit — with reduced validity directed for other nonimmigrant visa classes. Any family whose plans include the United States must weigh this first.
A visitor visa is needed; an eTA is available only to those who have held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa and arrive by air.
The passport provides access to 154 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations. Key strengths are full Schengen and UK short-stay access; the principal gaps are the USA — where Proclamation 10998 suspended entry for immigrants and for B-1/B-2, F, M and J nonimmigrants from 1 January 2026 — and Canada, which requires a visa.
Still want a European base? Pair it.
A Antigua and Barbuda passport answers what most families come for first: stronger mobility and a considered fallback, secured for life and hereditary. Many families want a European base alongside it — somewhere to hold assets, spend time and give their children options. Those are two different jobs, and we build them as one plan rather than asking you to choose.
We pair the citizenship with an EU residence in a single structure — citizenship, passport and residence, built as one: the passport for mobility and standing, the residence for a euro-denominated base and, held over time, a lawful route to a European future.
Choose your structure
Structure selected: Antigua and Barbuda citizenship only. Add a European base at any time — pick one above to see it quoted as a single structure.
Engage us on Antigua and Barbuda
Leave your details and we come back to you personally — the confirmed current terms, the full costing for your family, and an introduction to vetted, admitted counsel for this programme.
Kestrel Private is a discreet private-client advisory led personally by Andrew J. Taylor, formerly Vice Chairman of Henley & Partners. He has served private clients from more than 30 countries, and at Kestrel you have one senior relationship from initial strategy through implementation.
What's involved in Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.
- Family inclusion
- Spouse of the main applicant; a child of the main applicant or of the main applicant and his/her spouse aged 0-30 who is financially dependent on the principal applicant; a child aged 18+ who is physically or mentally challenged, fully supported and living with the applicant; a parent or grandparent of the applicant or spouse aged 55 or older and financially dependent on the principal applicant; and an unmarried sibling of the applicant or spouse. Future spouses (US$50,000) and future children of dependent children (US$10,000 under 6; US$25,000 ages 6-17 — the CIU's Dependants page shows US$20,000, and we carry the higher Schedule figure until the CIU confirms; US$50,000 for a dependant aged 18 or over) may be added later. The NDF route's single US$230,000 figure for a family of up to four, together with the dedicated UWI Fund for families of six or more, makes this one of the most large-family-friendly Caribbean programmes.
- Due diligence
- Mandatory background and due-diligence checks are conducted by the CIU on every applicant. Non-refundable due-diligence fees (USD) are: principal applicant US$8,500; spouse US$5,000; dependent child 0-11 US$0; dependent child 12-17 US$2,000; dependent 18-30 US$4,000; dependent parent/grandparent 55+ US$4,000. A passport fee of US$300 per person is payable in addition. Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence is required (for example, an employment letter or contract and the last 3 months' payslips). All documents must be in English or accompanied by an officially accredited certified translation. Applications must be filed through a CIU-licensed authorised agent; direct applications are not accepted. Ineligibility grounds include false information, a custodial conviction exceeding 6 months, an ongoing criminal investigation, a security risk, or a visa denial by a visa-free travel partner.
- Timeline
- Approximately 3-6 months from a complete file to approval. Payment is phased: full due-diligence fees plus 10% of the government processing fee (non-refundable) on submission; the balance of processing fees, passport fees and the investment or contribution after the approval-in-principle letter.
- Physical presence
- There is no residence requirement before or during the application. The requirement in force is 5 days of physical presence in the first five calendar years after grant. The Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2026, presented to Parliament on 14 July 2026, would raise that minimum to 30 days for successful applicants and their dependants; it is a BILL and not enacted law, its final passage was still unconfirmed as at 24 August 2026, and the Prime Minister has said the 30-day standard is already applied administratively in line with the OECS regional agreement. Clients should therefore plan for 30 days while the statutory figure remains 5. Failure to meet the presence requirement results in deprivation of citizenship with no refund. No language test is required, and the 2024 OECS Memorandum of Agreement introduced mandatory applicant interviews, conducted by independent firms, as part of due diligence. The Bill also mandates annual independent financial audits and biennial operational audits of the CIU, with six-monthly reporting to the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), expected operational from September 2026.
- Tax
- Antigua and Barbuda levies no personal income tax on individuals, and no capital gains, inheritance, estate or wealth tax. Citizenship by investment does not by itself create Antigua tax residence; tax residence depends on physical presence and domicile. Worldwide income of non-resident citizens is not taxed by Antigua. Clients should obtain advice on home-country tax and any CRS/reporting implications; citizenship is not a tax-residence substitute.
- Governing law: Citizenship by Investment Act 2013 (No. 2 of 2013) as amended, plus the Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2014 and amendments (including 2024).
- Administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU); applications only via CIU-licensed authorised agents.
- Four investment routes: NDF donation (US$230,000), UWI Fund (US$260,000, family of 6+), real estate (US$300,000, 5-year hold), business (US$1.5m sole / US$5m joint, US$400k per person).
- NDF US$230,000 is fixed for a family of up to four, offering the strongest value for larger families; only incremental fees apply beyond four.
- Physical presence: the statutory minimum in force is 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda within the first 5 years post-grant. The Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2026 would raise it to 30 days but is not enacted law; the 30-day standard is already applied administratively, so plan on 30.
- Wide dependant definition: spouse, children to age 30, dependent parents/grandparents 55+, and unmarried siblings.
- No personal income, capital gains, inheritance or wealth tax in Antigua and Barbuda.
- Caribbean-wide 2024 MoU set common minimums (US$200,000 donation floor / US$200,000 real-estate floor across the five OECS CBI states); Antigua sits at or above these levels (NDF US$230,000, real estate US$300,000).
- Form AB1 — Citizenship by Investment Application Form (one per applicant including each child)
- Form AB2 — Photograph and Signature Certificate
- Form AB3 — Medical Certificate (including HIV and other required tests)
- Form AB4 — Investment Confirmation Form
- Form AB5 — Agent Form (CIU-licensed authorised agent)
- Real estate route: Form AB8 — Real Estate Developer Application; business route: Form AB9 — Business Investment Application
- Valid passport copies (certified/notarised) for all applicants
- Birth certificates and, where applicable, marriage certificate
- Police clearance / certificate of no criminal record (issued within prescribed validity) for all applicants 16+
- Proof of source of funds and source of wealth (e.g. employment letter/contract, last 3 months' payslips, bank statements, business/financial records)
- Proof of residential address and professional/bank reference letters
- Certified English translations (by an officially accredited translator) for any non-English document
- Signed binding purchase/sale agreement with an approved developer (real estate route) before submission
The governing law — in our library.
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Act, 2013 (No. 2 of 2013), as amended by the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act, 2014 (No. 8 of 2014) and the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act, 2016 (No. 2 of 2016), read with the Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2014 and subsequent amendment regulations, most recently the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations 2024. The National Development Fund is established under section 42(2) of the Finance Administration Act 2006. The current operative instruments are the 2013 Act (as amended through 2016) and the Regulations as amended in 2024. · Administered by Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
Documents marked “held by Kestrel” are mirrored on our own servers from the official source, so the reference is always available.
Antigua and Barbuda, answered.
- How much does Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment cost?
- The lowest qualifying investment is USD 230,000 via the Donation route. Government, due-diligence and professional fees are additional. Every figure is confirmed in writing before you commit to anything.
- How long does the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship process take?
- Approximately 3-6 months from a complete file to approval. Payment is phased: full due-diligence fees plus 10% of the government processing fee (non-refundable) on submission; the balance of processing fees, passport fees and the investment or contribution after the approval-in-principle letter.
- Does the Antigua and Barbuda passport allow visa-free travel to the Schengen Area?
- Visa-free short stays. Antigua and Barbuda is an EU Annex II (visa-exempt) nationality, permitting up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area; ETIAS pre-travel authorisation will apply once live. The position hardened in mid-2026: under Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 (in force 30 December 2025), operating an investor-citizenship scheme is now in itself a ground for suspending a country's visa exemption, and the European Commission is reported to have written to the five Caribbean CBI states on 25 June 2026 seeking a phase-out by 1 June 2028 — reportedly with reinforced vetting required by September 2026. We have not seen the letters themselves. No suspension has been enacted to date, and the five governments are seeking a negotiated transition (joint response, Roseau, 10 July 2026) — but a client acquiring this citizenship primarily for Schengen access must treat that benefit as at material risk across the 2026–2028 window.
- Can I include my family in the Antigua and Barbuda application?
- Spouse of the main applicant; a child of the main applicant or of the main applicant and his/her spouse aged 0-30 who is financially dependent on the principal applicant; a child aged 18+ who is physically or mentally challenged, fully supported and living with the applicant; a parent or grandparent of the applicant or spouse aged 55 or older and financially dependent on the principal applicant; and an unmarried sibling of the applicant or spouse. Future spouses (US$50,000) and future children of dependent children (US$10,000 under 6; US$25,000 ages 6-17 — the CIU's Dependants page shows US$20,000, and we carry the higher Schedule figure until the CIU confirms; US$50,000 for a dependant aged 18 or over) may be added later. The NDF route's single US$230,000 figure for a family of up to four, together with the dedicated UWI Fund for families of six or more, makes this one of the most large-family-friendly Caribbean programmes.
- What due diligence does Antigua and Barbuda require?
- Mandatory background and due-diligence checks are conducted by the CIU on every applicant. Non-refundable due-diligence fees (USD) are: principal applicant US$8,500; spouse US$5,000; dependent child 0-11 US$0; dependent child 12-17 US$2,000; dependent 18-30 US$4,000; dependent parent/grandparent 55+ US$4,000. A passport fee of US$300 per person is payable in addition. Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence is required (for example, an employment letter or contract and the last 3 months' payslips). All documents must be in English or accompanied by an officially accredited certified translation. Applications must be filed through a CIU-licensed authorised agent; direct applications are not accepted. Ineligibility grounds include false information, a custodial conviction exceeding 6 months, an ongoing criminal investigation, a security risk, or a visa denial by a visa-free travel partner.
- Does Antigua and Barbuda citizenship grant the right to live in the European Union?
- No. Antigua and Barbuda citizenship can confer a second passport and visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel, but it grants no right to live, work or settle in the EU and no path to an EU passport. For a European foothold, residence by investment is the direct route.
General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Figures are verified to 2026 against official primary sources, and eligibility, thresholds and timelines are confirmed in writing before you commit to anything.
The programme you apply under is the one that exists on the day you file.
For residence applications, we generally plan on approximately two to three months to approval and three to six months from instruction to residence card.
Citizenship applications vary more widely. A straightforward application may receive approval within approximately three months, but six to nine months to passport issuance is a more prudent planning assumption.
Programme rules, government fees and processing times can change. We therefore reconfirm the applicable terms immediately before an application is filed.
Neither approval nor timing can be guaranteed.
If Antigua and Barbuda is the route you want, we can start your file.
A first conversation, not a commitment. Tell us who would be included and what you already hold, and we come back with the route, the confirmed terms and the timeline for Antigua and Barbuda — or tell you honestly if another programme fits you better.