Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship — Donation

Summary

Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), also called a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program, was established under the Citizenship by Investment Act of 2013 and is administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), the government office that reviews applications. The National Development Fund (NDF) track is the cheapest of four investment options: you make a non-refundable donation to a government-managed fund that finances public-sector projects, and in return you and your qualifying family members receive full Antiguan citizenship.

Under the 2024 regional harmonization agreement between the five Eastern Caribbean CBI states, the NDF minimum was raised from $100,000 to $230,000. That figure now applies per application, including families. There is no language test, no business experience requirement, and no pre-application residency, but the CIU may require an interview if it needs one. The only in-country obligation is a five-day visit to Antigua within the first five years after citizenship is granted.

Eligibility

You qualify if all of the following are true:

• You're at least 18 years old and of good character.
• You can pass the CIU's due diligence screening (no serious criminal record, no denial of visa from a country that has visa-free access with Antigua, no links to sanctioned regimes).
• You can source and document the donation funds (the CIU asks for proof of origin of wealth and funds).
• You can pay the NDF contribution plus government and due diligence fees.

Investment

• Single applicant or family: $230,000 donation to the NDF.
• Family of 5 or more: no additional NDF contribution, but the government processing fee increases from the 5th dependent onward.

The NDF donation is non-refundable and is paid after conditional approval — not at application.

Who counts as family

The CIP definition of family is broader than most CBI programs. You can include:

• Your spouse.
• Unmarried children under 30 (fully dependent on the main applicant).
• Dependent parents or grandparents of the main applicant or spouse, aged 55 or older.
• Unmarried siblings of the main applicant or spouse.

Fees on top of the donation

• Government processing fee: $10,000 for a single applicant, $20,000 for a family of up to four, plus $10,000 for each additional dependent from the 5th person onward.
• Due diligence: $8,500 for the main applicant, $5,000 for the spouse, $2,000 for each dependent aged 12-17, and $4,000 for each dependent aged 18 or older.
• Passport fee: $300 per person.

Dual citizenship

Antigua and Barbuda fully allows dual citizenship. No renunciation of U.S. citizenship is required.

The five-day residency requirement

Unique among Caribbean CBIs, Antigua requires every new citizen to spend at least five days physically in Antigua and Barbuda within the first five years of citizenship. If you don't, your passport won't be renewed. The visit can be split across multiple trips.

What This Route Allows

If approved, this route can lead to citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda. Citizenship is the national status itself, not a residence permit: you can document the citizenship, apply for citizen identity or passport documents, and live in Antigua and Barbuda without a separate immigration permit.

What This Route Is Not

This is not automatic citizenship. Naturalization, registration, and restoration routes usually require an application, supporting documents, and a decision by the relevant authority.

Next Steps

1. Hire a licensed agent. CIP applications must be filed through a government-authorized agent or service provider — you cannot apply directly. Rates vary; the agent fee is separate from government and due diligence fees.
2. Gather documents. Birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearances from every country you've lived in for the past 10 years, medical report, proof of source of funds, tax returns, bank statements, a professional reference, and passport copies for every applicant.
3. Submit application and pay due diligence fees. The CIU opens a file and begins background checks. Fees are paid up front and are non-refundable.
4. Receive conditional approval. If due diligence clears, the CIU issues a Letter of Approval-in-Principle.
5. Pay the NDF contribution and government fees. Wire the $230,000 donation plus processing fees to the designated government account.
6. Receive citizenship certificate and passport. After final approval and payment, the CIU issues the Certificate of Registration and coordinates passport issuance.
7. Plan your five-day visit. Schedule your mandatory in-country time within the first five years so your passport renewal isn't blocked.

Sources

• Citizenship by Investment Unit — Antigua and Barbuda — official program portal.
• NDF investment option — National Development Fund track detail.
• Schedule of fees — current government, due-diligence, and passport fees.
• University of the West Indies Fund — separate family-of-six-or-more contribution option.
• Citizenship by Investment Act 2013 — governing legislation.
• Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations 2024 — 2024 threshold increases following the Caribbean CBI Memorandum of Agreement.