Are you looking for a destination that offers quick and affordable citizenship by investment? You have found it! Antigua and Barbuda, a small island nation in the Caribbean, is an ideal jurisdiction if you want to obtain a passport in a matter of several months without much hassle. And if you want to have a place to live in a tropical paradise, you can make both of these dreams come true. The passport issued by Antigua offers visa-free access to numerous countries, which is yet another benefit. You can read more by following the above link.
Main Benefits of the Antiguan Program
Let’s look at the advantages available to those who decide to apply for Antigua and Barbuda economic citizenship:
- Yachtsman’s paradise. Antigua and Barbuda is home to Jolly Harbour, a port where private yachts and boats are parked, and also a location where you will find luxury villas and golf courses. If you enjoy yacht regattas, you will be happy to look at the most luxurious and expensive vessels here.
- Transport center. Antigua and Barbuda is an important transport center that connects the Caribbean states to North America and Europe thanks to its large airport. There is also a major port in the country’s capital, St. John’s, that can receive a few cruise ships at once. You can enjoy duty-free shops and restaurants in the vicinity.
- A holidaymaker’s paradise. Antigua and Barbuda is also known as the “Country of 365 Beaches” as it has some of the world’s most stunning beaches. Enjoy sailing, fishing, diving, snorkeling, or swim with stingrays if you want to. If you like unity with silent nature, opt for Barbuda, the second island.
- Visa–free opportunities. If you obtain a passport from Antigua and Barbuda, you will be able to enter 165 countries without a visa (or with an e-visa or visa-upon-arrival), including South America, Ireland, the UK, and Schengen states.
- Mandatory Caribbean holiday. Is it an advantage or a disadvantage? We don’t know. You will need to stay in your new homeland for 5 days within five years after becoming a citizen, and this may be seen as a disadvantage in rare cases – however, most people enjoy visiting the local beaches.
- Quick passport. In 2013, the local government made important amendments to the country’s immigration laws to make it possible for economic citizens to obtain a passport within 4 to 6 months upon submission of a complete package of documents.
- No income tax for tax residents. Want to reduce the tax burden? Antigua and Barbuda is a place where you will not have to pay any taxes on your worldwide income. However, you are required to live in the country for at least 183 days to take advantage of this benefit.
- Dual citizenship is allowed. According to the local laws, you can have two passports. It means that you will not have to renounce the citizenship of your current country of residence if it allows dual citizenship in its turn. If it does, you can benefit from all the advantages offered by two passports.
Sounds interesting? You can click on the above link to ask any questions using a live chat.
Requirements for Applicants
Here are the criteria that prospective Antiguan economic citizens have to meet:
- The main applicant has to be at least 18 years of age
- The criminal record must be clean
- All applicants are required to be in good health
- The main applicant must possess sufficient personal capital to make investments
- All applicants have to be prepared to take an oath of allegiance to the new homeland.
The following family members can be included in the application as dependents:
- Spouse
- Children under 18
- Children aged 18-28 on the condition that they are dependent on their parents (for example they are students, and you will need to provide a document to prove that) and they have no children or their own families
- Parents who are no less than 59 years of age
There are certain limitations by country as the nationals of a number of states cannot obtain an Antiguan passport. Here they are:
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Somalia
- North Korea
- Iran
- Afghanistan
However, you can participate in the Antiguan program even if you were born in one of these countries subject to fulfillment of a number of conditions. If you have emigrated to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, or the United States, you have permanent residence and lived in a non-blacklisted country for at least 10 years, and you have no economic ties with the country of origin, you will be eligible.
Investment Options
The majority of Caribbean countries offer only two investment options, while Antigua and Barbuda offers four. Let’s take a look at each of them.
Contribution to the National Development Fund
If you apply solo or with 3 dependents at the most, you will have to donate 100,000 US dollars. You will also have to pay a state fee of 30,000 for application processing. If you have a five-member family, you will need to contribute 130,000 US dollars. The application processing fee is 30,000 plus 15,000 US dollars per fifth and each next member.
Grant to the University of West Indies
This option is only available to 6-member families. You will need to donate 150,000 US dollars to the University fund plus 15,000 US dollars per additional dependent if you are blessed with a larger family. One member of your large family will have an opportunity to study at the university for one year free of charge.
Investment in Real Estate
You will have to buy government-approved real estate that costs at least 400,000 US dollars. If you make a joint investment with someone, your share may equal 200,000 US dollars. The processing fees are the same as in the previous cases. You will be able to resell the property in 5 years.
Investment in Business
You can invest 1.5 million US dollars in a business project approved by the government. This amount can be reduced to 400,000 US dollars on the condition that you are one of the investors in a large project whose total worth is at least 5 million US dollars.
Interested in an Antiguan passport? Please follow the above link to see what additional expenses you may incur. Don’t delay your decision as 2024 may be a year of considerable changes in Caribbean economic citizenship programs!
