The Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme allows individuals and their eligible family members to become citizens of Antigua & Barbuda by making a significant economic contribution. Rather than naturalization through long residence, this programme is designed for investors, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals who wish to gain the rights of citizenship relatively quickly in exchange for investment in the country.
Citizenship includes a passport valid for life, subject to maintaining certain conditions, and grants the same rights as any citizen: the right to live, work, study, and vote in Antigua & Barbuda (once of legal age).
To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, and select one of the approved investment options. Below are the key requirements:
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Requirement
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Details
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Age
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Main (primary) applicant must be 18 years or older.
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Character & Background
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Clean criminal record; must pass due diligence checks. Ineligible if an applicant has provided false information, is under criminal investigation, or is deemed a security risk.
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Health
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Must meet health requirements; no serious or contagious disease.
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Dependents
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Applicants may include family members—spouse, children, sometimes parents or grandparents over a certain age, unmarried siblings under conditions.
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Residency/Visit Requirement
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After citizenship is granted, the citizen must spend at least five days in Antigua & Barbuda during the first five years. Failure to do may lead to deprivation of citizenship.
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Applicants choose one of several investment paths. As of the most recent updates, these are:
National Development Fund (NDF)- Non-refundable contribution of USD 230,000.
University of the West Indies Fund (UWI)- Contribution of USD 260,000, inclusive of fees, usually more advantageous for larger families.
Real Estate- Investment of at least USD 300,000 into an approved real estate project, which must be retained for five years.
Business Investment
As sole investor: minimum USD 1,500,000 in an eligible business.
Joint investment: At least USD 5,000,000 total, with each contributor putting in at least USD 400,000.
There are additional fees for processing and due diligence on top of the base investment.
If an applicant is eligible and successfully obtains citizenship under this programme, the benefits include:
A passport of Antigua & Barbuda, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to many countries (150+), including the Schengen Area, the UK, etc.
Ability to include family members in the citizenship grant (spouse, children, sometimes parents/grandparents, unmarried siblings under specific criteria)
No requirement to reside continuously; only the minimal 5 days over the first five years.
Rights to live, work, and study in Antigua & Barbuda, and enjoy its quality of life (tropical climate, tourism facilities, etc.)
Dual citizenship is permitted (you are generally not required to renounce your current citizenship).
Example 1: A couple from India with two children, both under 18, decide to apply under the National Development Fund route. They contribute USD 230,000, include the spouse and dependents, pass due diligence, and after several months receive citizenship. They fulfill the 5-day visit requirement over five years.
Example 2: An investor from Nepal wants a tangible asset. He buys a property in an approved real estate project costing USD 300,000. He holds it for five years, includes his spouse and a child, and obtains citizenship.
Example 3: A businessperson from Beliz invests USD 1,500,000 in an eligible business as a sole investor. After due diligence and meeting all criteria, they and their eligible family gain citizenship.
The processing time can vary, but typical timelines are several months (often around 3-6 months) after submission of a full application and all required documents.
Yes. Some investment options, like the UWI Fund, are structured to be more cost-efficient for larger families.
No. The property must be held for the minimum period of five years as one of the conditions. Selling earlier may result in loss of eligibility or other penalties.
No. The requirement is minimal—just five days in Antigua & Barbuda during the first five years after obtaining citizenship. There's no strict continuous residency requirement.
Some ineligible cases include: providing false information on the application; serious criminal records; being subject to criminal investigation; health issues that are serious or contagious; being a potential security risk.