Antigua and BarbudaCitizenship by investment

Business investment in Antigua and Barbuda

Citizenship through business investment allows foreign nationals to obtain citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investing in a business project approved by the cabinet. The investor may act alone or join a group of co-investors. Once citizenship is granted, the investor receives a passport and may live in the country or abroad, provided the physical presence requirements are met. The programme is open to people over eighteen with no serious criminal convictions and no medical contraindications.

Source: Citizenship by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda — Schedule of Fees

Types of investor and family member

The programme is aimed at the main investor and their family members. Each category has its own requirements and conditions of participation.

The main investor

Citizens of foreign states with the funds to invest
Entrepreneurs and business owners with experience
People over 18 with no convictions carrying more than 6 months

The applicant's family members

The main investor's spouse
Children under 30 who are financially dependent on the investor
Parents over 55 who are financially dependent on the investor

When the programme will not suit you

A conviction for an offence carrying a sentence of more than 6 months

Wait for the limitation period to expire or obtain a pardon before filing

An infectious disease or serious health problems

Deal with the medical problems and obtain a certificate of recovery from a medical institution

A visa refusal from a country with which Antigua and Barbuda has visa-free arrangements

Obtain a visa for that country before filing the citizenship application

You cannot invest the required minimum amount

Consider other investment routes with a lower amount (real estate, the development fund)

What it costs

Business investment (sole investor)The minimum direct investment in an approved business project	1 500 000 USD
Business investment (joint, per participant)The minimum for each participant in a group investment; the combined amount must be at least USD 5m	400 000 USD
Application processing (single applicant)The fees for considering and processing the application	10 000 USD
Application processing (family of up to 4)Applies where dependent family members, up to 4 people, are included in the application	20 000 USD
Application processing (family of 5 or more, base fee)The base fee for a family of 5 people or more	20 000 USD
Application processing (each additional member beyond 4)An additional fee for each family member beyond 4 people	+10 000 USD
Due diligence for the main applicantChecks for discrepancies and further verification of the main investor	8 500 USD
Due diligence for the main applicant's spouseVerification of the spouse where they are included in the application	+5 000 USD
Due diligence for a dependant aged 12-17For each minor child aged 12 to 17	+2 000 USD
Due diligence for a dependant aged 18 and overFor each adult dependent family member (a child or a parent)	+4 000 USD
Passport (per person)The fee for issuing a passport of Antigua and Barbuda for 5 years	300 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Application processing (each additional member beyond 4)” adds 10 000 USD; “Due diligence for the main applicant's spouse” adds 5 000 USD; “Due diligence for a dependant aged 12-17” adds 2 000 USD; “Due diligence for a dependant aged 18 and over” adds 4 000 USD; the “Application processing (family of up to 4)” branch replaces the “Application processing (single applicant)” line — 1 948 800 USD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1,938,800–1 959 800 USD

Paid separately

Agents' fees — The licensed agent's fee for preparing and filing the documents is not part of the government fees
The cost of transferring the investment from abroad — Bank charges on international transfers to the project's account are paid by the investor in addition

Documents to gather

The application is filed through a licensed agent. A set of forms and supporting documents is required.

Form AB1 (Citizenship by Investment Application) — the main citizenship application
Form AB2 (Photograph and Signature Certificate) — the photograph and signature certificate
Form AB3 (Medical Certificate) — the medical certificate of health
Form AB4 (Investment Confirmation) — confirmation of the investment in the business project
Form AB9 (Business Investment Application) — the additional application for the business investment
Form AB5 (Agent Form) or AB6 (Representatives and Service Providers) — the agent documents
The applicant's passport or identity document
Documents on financial standing and the sources of the investment
The business plan for the chosen project
Police certificates
Family members' documents (marriage, birth and guardianship certificates)

How the process runs

Filing the application and obtaining citizenship runs through the following stages:

1
Choosing and approving the business project
Varies
The investor chooses from the list of business projects approved by the cabinet. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) carries out checks and recommends the project to the cabinet. The project must be approved before the citizenship application is considered.
2
Preparing and filing the documents
2-4 weeks
The licensed agent helps to gather the set of documents (forms AB1-AB9, the medical certificate, the certificates) and files the application with the CIU. The documents include proof of the investment, financial certificates and the family members' documents.
3
Paying the initial fees
After filing
The applicant pays the due diligence fees and 10% of the government processing fees. This payment allows the CIU to begin considering the application.
4
Consideration and approval of the application
4-8 weeks
The CIU carries out due diligence enquiries, verifies the sources of the investment and the character of the applicant and the family members. Once consideration is favourable, a letter of approval is issued by the cabinet.
5
Final payment of the investment and the fees
30 days from approval
Once the letter of approval is received, the applicant pays the balance of the government fees and transfers the investment within 30 days. The transfer may be made through an escrow mechanism or directly to the project's account.
6
Issue of the certificate and citizenship
1-2 weeks
Once the payment is confirmed, a certificate of registration as a citizen is issued. The applicant receives a passport of Antigua and Barbuda and takes the citizen's oath either in the country or at an embassy or consulate of Antigua and Barbuda.

Timelines and rights

Work

Work permits from the labour department are for non-citizens. The requirement does not apply to a citizen.

Who you can bring with you

The main investor's family members may be included in the citizenship application on certain conditions.

The main investor's spouse

Included automatically. Due diligence fee USD 5,000. Must not be divorced or formally separated from their spouse at the time of filing.

Children of the main investor or their spouse

Up to the age of 30 and financially dependent on the main applicant. Children aged 0-11 — no due diligence fee. Children aged 12-17 — USD 2,000. Children aged 18-30 — USD 4,000. Children with disabilities over 30 may also be included where they receive full support.

Parents or grandparents of the main investor

Aged 55 and over and financially dependent on the main applicant. Due diligence fee USD 4,000. They must be named in the documents on family relationships.

Unmarried brothers or sisters of the main investor

May be included where they are financially dependent on the main applicant and remain unmarried. Evidence of the family relationship is required.

The main investor's future spouse

May be included in the application where the marriage is planned and evidenced by documents. Once the marriage actually takes place, citizenship follows automatically.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

After citizenship you must spend 5 days in the country over 5 calendar years. Those who do not are deprived of citizenship, and the money invested is not returned.

The passport is issued for five years. Renewal is considered provided the citizen has spent at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda since citizenship was granted, within the five-year period of the passport's validity. Where the residence requirement is not met, renewal of the passport may be refused. Where the five days of presence in each five-year period are not observed, citizenship may be revoked without any return of the investment or the contribution.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The programme has no intermediate permanent residence stage: on approval a certificate of registration as a citizen is issued.

Route to citizenship

On approval the balance of the fees is paid and the investment transferred within 30 days. The passport is collected and the oath taken in Antigua and Barbuda or at the country's embassy or consulate.

Frequently asked questions about Business investment

How long is a passport of Antigua and Barbuda issued for?

The passport is issued for five years from the grant of citizenship. To renew it you must spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda during the whole five-year period of the passport's validity.

Which family members may be included in my application?

The application may include: a spouse; dependent children under 30; dependent parents or grandparents aged 55 and over; dependent unmarried brothers or sisters; and a future spouse where there are documents on the planned marriage. Each family member requires a separate due diligence fee.

What happens if I do not spend five days in the country in the five years after citizenship is granted?

If you do not spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda during each five-year period after citizenship is granted, your citizenship may be revoked. Where citizenship is revoked you have no right to the return of the investment, the contribution or any fees paid.

When must the investment in the business project be made?

The investment must be made within thirty days of receiving the letter of approval from the cabinet. The balance of the government processing fees must be paid at the same stage. The transfer may be made through an escrow agreement or directly to the approved project's account on the terms agreed.

What are the grounds for refusing citizenship?

An application may be refused where: the applicant has given false information; the applicant or a family member has an infectious disease or serious health problems; there is a conviction for an offence carrying a sentence of more than six months; the applicant is under criminal investigation; the applicant poses a threat to national security; or the applicant has been refused a visa by a country with which Antigua and Barbuda has visa-free arrangements.

Can I invest together with other investors?

Yes, a joint investment is possible. The minimum combined amount for a group project is five million US dollars, and each participant must invest at least four hundred thousand US dollars. Every participant in the joint investment receives citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda provided their applications are approved.

Other ways to move to Antigua and Barbuda

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Antigua and Barbuda.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.