Programme overview
Antigua & Barbuda launched its Citizenship by Investment Programme in 2013 and has built a reputation for being the most family-friendly of the Caribbean five — particularly through the unique University of the West Indies Fund route, which makes it the lowest per-capita option for families of six or more. The programme is administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) under the Prime Minister’s office.
The 2024 CARICOM Memorandum of Agreement reset the minimum NDF contribution to USD 230,000 (from a pre-reform USD 100,000 floor that had been criticised as undercutting peers). Antigua complied by July 2024 and has tightened due diligence at the same time. Importantly, Antigua is the only Caribbean CBI that requires any physical presence: five days in-country across the first five years post-citizenship, which becomes relevant if the client wishes to renew their passport (renewal requires evidence of those days).
The Antiguan passport gives Schengen access, UK access via ETA (introduced 2025), and a strong Asian footprint including Singapore and Hong Kong.
Investment routes
National Development Fund (NDF) — USD 230,000. Non-refundable contribution to the NDF, which finances national infrastructure and social projects. Single applicant or family of up to 4 carries the same USD 230K contribution. Processing fees: USD 30,000 (family up to 4), then USD 15,000 per additional dependant. Due diligence: USD 7,500 (principal), USD 4,000 per dependant 12+.
University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund — USD 260,000. Available only for families of six or more. The contribution funds the UWI’s Five Islands Campus and includes a one-year tuition-only scholarship at UWI for one family member. For large extended families, this is the cheapest per-capita Caribbean option in the world.
Approved Real Estate — USD 325,000. Investment in a CIU-approved development (typically Tamarind Hills, Hodges Bay Resort, Pearns Point, Galley Bay Heights). 5-year minimum hold. Two principal applicants may jointly invest at USD 325K each in the same project. Plus USD 30,000 government fees for a family of up to 4.
Business Investment — USD 1,500,000 (sole) or USD 400K each in a USD 5M joint project. Direct investment in an approved business — used very rarely; most clients prefer NDF or UWI.
Due diligence & process
Antigua’s CIU runs four-tier due diligence: international firm screen (typically S-RM, BDO Caribbean, or Thomson Reuters), Antigua FIU check, Interpol, and a mandatory video or in-person interview (introduced 2024). Applications must go through CIU-licensed Authorised Agents — there is no direct application channel. The CIU has demonstrated willingness to revoke citizenship for misrepresentation, which has helped Antigua retain Schengen and UK ETA mobility through the post-2024 EU-Caribbean dialogue. Typical timeline: 4-6 months from filing to oath, with passport issued shortly after.
What it gets you
Lifetime Antigua & Barbuda passport (renewable every 10 years on satisfaction of the 5-day-in-5-years requirement). Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ~154 destinations including the Schengen Area, the UK (with ETA), Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia. Zero personal income tax (abolished 2016), zero capital gains, zero inheritance tax. Right to live, work, and study in Antigua & Barbuda. Family inclusion is the broadest in the Caribbean: spouse, children up to 30, parents and grandparents 55+, plus unmarried siblings of the principal or spouse — a category Dominica and St. Lucia do not allow.
Our role on an Antigua & Barbuda file
- Eligibility & route selection — for families of 6+ the UWI Fund is almost always optimal; for 1-4 person files, NDF; real estate only if the client wants the asset.
- Authorised Agent appointment — engage a CIU-licensed agent (mandatory channel) and confirm fee schedule and escrow.
- Source-of-funds dossier — assemble bank, tax, and transaction records; build a forensic SOF narrative aligned to Antigua’s tightened post-2024 standards.
- Application submission & DD — file Form A1 plus annexes; coordinate mandatory video interview and any FIU follow-up.
- Investment release, approval & oath — instruct NDF wire or developer escrow on Approval; arrange oath at the High Commission or in-country.
- Passport collection & 5-day compliance — schedule the in-country presence requirement (5 days across years 1-5) and onboard banking, tax, and renewal calendar.