Language

English

Car traffic

Left-hand

Phone code

+1268

Currency

East Caribbean Dollar

Recognition of dual citizenship

yes

Covid

There are no COVID restrictions

Insurance policy

Insurance policy recommended

Minimum passport validity

at least 6 months

Residence permit

Citizenship

The process of entering Antigua and Barbuda is simple as long as you meet all the necessary requirements to obtain the appropriate visa, which is mandatory for those planning to stay in the country for more than six months. Residents who have lived in Antigua and Barbuda for more than seven years are eligible for citizenship.

Application for a residence permit

Any person who has legally resided in Antigua and Barbuda for at least four years, or who has been married to an Antiguan citizen for at least one year, can apply to the Immigration Department for a residence permit.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

Evidence of the payment of the established fees
Certificate of clean record and address of the place in Antigua and Barbuda where the applicant has resided for more than six months
Health certificate issued by a doctor on the instructions of the Immigration Department
A letter from the Statutory Council to confirm that you have paid the required taxes
A copy of the bio page of the applicant's passport
Birth and/or marriage certificate
Any other documentation required by the Chief Immigration Officer to review the application and make a decision

The right to a residence permit

Once the application is approved, the Chief Immigration Officer will issue a resident card which entitles the successful applicant to:

Work.
Live in the country alone and/or with dependents who were specified in his/her application for a residence permit and who were approved by the Head of the Immigration Service. The certificate can also be amended later to add or remove dependents or change occupations.
In the event of the death or divorce of the holder of the residence permit, the right of residence in Antigua and Barbuda may be canceled at the discretion of the Immigration Headquarters, but the widow/widower or ex-spouse may, within three months of any cancellation, apply for a residence permit independently. The same requirements as above must be met.

If an application for a residence permit has been submitted within three months of the date of cancellation, the applicant's right to reside in Antigua and Barbuda shall continue on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Immigration Headquarters prior to the decision on application.

The granting of citizenship is based on the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act of 1 November 1981 (Independence Day from Great Britain). Automatic citizenship was granted to persons born in these islands before October 31, 1981, as well as to persons born outside the country if at least one parent was a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda or a British Commonwealth citizen who had close ties to Antigua and Barbuda.

A child born in the territory of Antigua and Barbuda after October 31, 1981, receives citizenship by birth. The citizenship of the parents does not matter. The exception is children born to employees of diplomatic missions.

Citizenship by descent is granted to a child born outside of Antigua and Barbuda after October 31, 1981, if at least one of the parents was a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.

The following persons are eligible for citizenship by registration (that is, by the simplified procedure, and not by the normal naturalization procedure):

Persons who have been married to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda for three years, if their marriage still exists and if the spouses do not live separately.
Citizens of the British Commonwealth who have continuously resided in Antigua and Barbuda for the past seven years.

Citizenship by investment in the economy

The Citizenship by Investment Program was approved by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda on March 19, 2013. To apply for citizenship, the principal applicant must be over 18 years of age, meet the application requirements, and select one of the following four available options:

Invest 200,000 USD in real estate. Purchase of real estate with a minimum value of USD 200,000 under an approved real estate project. Two applicants may make a joint investment, with each applicant investing a minimum of $200,000 to qualify. During the five-year period, real estate cannot be alienated.
Donate 100,000 USD to a public fund. Contribution to the National Development Fund in the amount of a minimum non-refundable amount of USD 100,000.
Business investment in the amount of at least 1.5 million USD for one investor or joint investment of a group of two people - at least 5 million USD, while each investor must contribute at least 400,000 USD.
A minimum non-refundable contribution to the University of the West Indies of USD 150,000 or more.

Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship-by-investment program offers a quick and easy path to citizenship, with a current citizenship application processing time of just 3-4 months. An Antigua and Barbuda passport provides visa-free access to 150 destinations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Great Britain and Schengen countries.

Members of the investor's family

Together with the principal applicant, a spouse and children under the age of 30, as well as parents over the age of 55 can obtain citizenship.

Dual citizenship is recognized in the country. This means that foreign nationals can obtain a second Antigua and Barbuda citizenship without giving up their previous passport.

Loss of citizenship is possible in some limited cases. Voluntary renunciation of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship is permitted by the Parliament. Citizenship can be forcibly revoked in cases where a person obtained citizenship fraudulently or by providing false information. Persons convicted of anti-government agitation and calls for rebellion or treason may also be deprived of citizenship.

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