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Antigua and BarbudaCitizenship by investment

Real estate investment in Antigua and Barbuda

The programme allows foreign investors to obtain citizenship by buying an approved property. The investor must choose a property from the official list of developers' projects and enter into a sale and purchase contract. Title is registered in the applicant's name, and the property may not be resold for a set period, except where another approved property in the country is bought. Family members may be included as dependants: a spouse, children and elderly parents, where they meet the programme's requirements.

Source: Citizenship by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda — Real Estate

Who a real estate investment suits

This is the option for foreign nationals who want a second citizenship and wish to invest in the country's developing property market.

The main investor

  • People over 18 with the funds to invest
  • Those who want a passport and visa-free travel
  • Investors prepared to hold the property for at least five years

The investor's family

  • The applicant's spouse
  • Dependent children under 30
  • Dependent parents or grandparents over 55

When the programme will not suit you

A conviction in any country carrying more than six months

Programmes for citizens with a clean record, or passports through other countries

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

Programmes in countries that have granted you a visa

An infectious or serious illness

Applying after treatment or recovery

Unwillingness to hold the property for five years, or plans to resell quickly

The National Development Fund, with a three-year holding period

What it costs

Minimum value of the propertyThe purchase of an approved property from a licensed developer300 000 USD
Government processing fee (single applicant)10% is paid on filing, the balance after approval10 000 USD
Government processing fee (family of up to four)Covers the applicant and family members, up to four people20 000 USD
Government processing fee (each additional family member)Where the family runs to five people or more+10 000 USD
Due diligence fees (main applicant)Paid when the application is filed8 500 USD
Due diligence fees (spouse)Where a spouse is included in the application+5 000 USD
Due diligence fees (dependant aged 12-17)For each child aged 12-17+2 000 USD
Due diligence fees (dependant aged 18-30 or parent aged 55 and over)For each adult dependant or elderly parent+4 000 USD
Passport feeFor each person on the application+300 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Government processing fee (each additional family member)” adds 10 000 USD; “Due diligence fees (spouse)” adds 5 000 USD; “Due diligence fees (dependant aged 12-17)” adds 2 000 USD; “Due diligence fees (dependant aged 18-30 or parent aged 55 and over)” adds 4 000 USD; “Passport fee” adds 300 USD; the “Government processing fee (family of up to four)” branch replaces the “Government processing fee (single applicant)” line — 328 500 USD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.318,500–339 800 USD

Paid separately

  • Fees to the developer — Paid directly to the seller of the property; not part of the government fees
  • The licensed agent's fees — The cost of the representative's services is paid separately by the applicant

Documents to gather

The required file comprises the programme forms, identity documents, certificates of good standing and evidence of the investment.

  • Form AB1 – the citizenship application
  • Form AB2 – the photograph and signature certificate
  • Form AB3 – the medical certificate
  • Form AB4 – evidence of the investment
  • The signed sale and purchase contract with an approved developer
  • Police certificates from every country where the applicant has lived for more than six months since reaching majority
  • A passport or other identity document
  • Documents evidencing the source of funds

How the process runs

Obtaining citizenship runs through several stages, from choosing the property to taking the oath.

  1. 1

    Choosing the property and signing the contract

    Depends on the project chosen

    The investor chooses an approved property from the official list, agrees the terms with the developer and signs a binding sale and purchase contract.

  2. 2

    Approaching a licensed agent

    A few days

    The applicant engages one of the programme's licensed representatives, who provides expert support at every stage and acts as the point of contact with the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

  3. 3

    Preparing and filing the documents

    2-3 weeks

    The agent helps to gather the required documents, complete forms AB1-AB4 and obtain the police and medical certificates, then files the complete package with the CIU.

  4. 4

    Payments on filing

    On filing

    All the due diligence fees and 10% of the government fee for processing the application are paid.

  5. 5

    Eligibility checks and consideration

    4-8 weeks

    The CIU carries out detailed eligibility checks on the applicant and the family members, verifies the source of funds and may request further information or hold an interview.

  6. 6

    Receiving the letter of approval

    After a favourable decision

    The letter of approval is received from the CIU, after which the remaining 90% of the government fee must be paid and the settlement with the developer for the property completed.

  7. 7

    Registering title

    2-4 weeks

    Title to the property is registered at the land registry in the applicant's name.

  8. 8

    Taking the oath

    Before the certificate is issued

    The applicant and the family members included take the oath of allegiance to Antigua and Barbuda, either on their first visit to the country or at an embassy, consulate or high commission.

  9. 9

    Issue of the certificate of registration and the passport

    After the oath

    The certificate of registration and a passport of Antigua and Barbuda are received. The passport is issued for five years and is renewable provided at least five days have been spent in the country over the five-year period.

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

Close family members may be included in the citizenship application and receive citizenship on the same footing as the main applicant.

Spouse
The main applicant's spouse may be included at any age and receives citizenship alongside the main applicant, provided a joint investment agreement is signed.
Children
The applicant's biological or adopted children from birth up to and including the age of thirty, provided they are financially dependent on the main applicant. Children over eighteen with a physical or mental disability may be included at any age provided they are wholly supported financially.
Parents and grandparents
A parent or grandparent of the main applicant aged fifty-five and over, provided they are financially dependent on the applicant and have no other source of income.
Brothers and sisters
Unmarried brothers or sisters of the main applicant may be included provided financial dependency is proved and the CIU approves.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

After citizenship is granted you must spend at least 5 days in the country over 5 calendar years

The passport is issued for five years and is renewable provided the holder has spent at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda during the five-year period since citizenship was granted. Where that condition is not met, the citizenship may be revoked. Renewing the passport requires an application on Form AB10 and payment of the relevant fees.

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 is issued to the applicant and the family.

Route to citizenship

The certificate of registration is issued to the applicant and the relatives included. The oath is taken in Antigua and Barbuda or at an embassy, consulate or high commission. Citizenship is withdrawn where a person has spent less than 5 days in the country over 5 calendar years.

Frequently asked questions about Real estate investment

What is the minimum real estate investment?
The minimum value of an approved property is three hundred thousand US dollars. The property must be chosen from the official list of approved developers' projects working with the citizenship by investment programme.
How long does the application take to process?
Processing times depend on the property chosen and on how complete the documentation is. Consideration usually takes four to eight weeks once all the required payments have been made, though in some cases further time is needed for eligibility checks or an interview.
How long is the passport issued for and what is needed to renew it?
A passport of Antigua and Barbuda is issued for five years and may be renewed provided the holder has spent at least five days in the country during the five-year period since citizenship was granted. Where that condition is not met, the citizenship may be lost. Renewal requires an application and payment of the relevant passport fees.
How long must I hold the property after buying it?
The property may not be resold within five years of purchase. There is one exception: where, instead of reselling the current property, the investor buys another approved property in Antigua and Barbuda, they may resell the first without breaching the programme's conditions.
Which family members may be included in the application?
The application may include a spouse, children from birth up to the age of thirty provided they are financially dependent, and parents and grandparents aged fifty-five and over where they are financially dependent on the main applicant. Children with a disability may be included at any age where they are wholly supported financially.
What are the grounds for refusing citizenship?
The programme refuses citizenship where there is a conviction in any country for an offence carrying imprisonment of more than six months, where there is an infectious or serious illness, where a visa has been refused by a country with which Antigua and Barbuda has visa-free arrangements (unless that has since been put right), or where false information is given in the application. Including people under criminal investigation is likewise not permitted.

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.