Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship — Real Estate

Summary

The real estate track of Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), also called a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program, grants full citizenship in exchange for purchasing a qualifying property in a government-approved development. The program sits under the Citizenship by Investment Act of 2013 and has been the most popular route for applicants who'd rather hold a tangible asset than make a non-refundable donation.

The minimum investment is $300,000 in an approved project. You must hold the property for at least five years before it can be sold. There is no language test or pre-application residency, but the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), the government office that reviews applications, may require an interview if it needs one. Antigua allows dual citizenship, so your U.S. passport is unaffected.

Eligibility

You qualify if all of the following are true:

• You're at least 18 years old and of good character.
• You clear the CIU's due diligence screening (no serious criminal record, no sanctions links, no visa denials from countries with Antigua visa-free access).
• You can document the source of the purchase funds.
• You commit to an approved development and hold the property for five years post-approval.

Investment

• Purchase amount: Minimum $300,000 in a CIU-approved real estate project.
• Holding period: Five years from the date of approval. After the hold period, the property may be resold, including to another buyer who wants to use it for a later CIP application.

Only properties in projects that the CIU has formally approved qualify — ordinary private-market purchases don't count. Approved developments are concentrated around Jolly Harbour, Nonsuch Bay, Verandah Estates, and Hodges Bay.

Family inclusion

You can include your spouse, unmarried children under 30 (who are fully dependent), dependent parents or grandparents aged 55+, and unmarried siblings of the main applicant or spouse under the same investment.

Fees on top of the purchase price

• 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.
• Stamp duty, legal fees, and closing costs on the real estate itself — these are on top of the $300,000 minimum.

Dual citizenship

Antigua and Barbuda permits dual citizenship. You do not need to give up your U.S. passport.

The five-day residency requirement

Every new citizen — including real estate investors — must spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda within the first five years after citizenship. If you don't, your passport won't be renewed.

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 filings must go through a government-authorized agent or service provider. The agent will also vet the development you're considering.
2. Choose an approved project. The CIU publishes the list of approved developments. Confirm the project's approval is still current before you sign.
3. Sign the purchase agreement and pay the deposit. Funds typically go into escrow while the citizenship application is pending.
4. File the citizenship application. Submit biometrics, police clearances from every country of residence over the past 10 years, medical reports, proof of funds, and supporting documents.
5. Clear due diligence. Background checks are a central part of the application and must be completed before approval.
6. Receive approval-in-principle, then close the purchase. Once the CIU issues a conditional approval, you complete the property closing and pay remaining government fees.
7. Receive certificate and passport. After final approval and closing, the CIU issues the citizenship certificate and coordinates passport issuance. Plan your mandatory five-day visit within the first five years.

Sources

• Citizenship by Investment Unit — Antigua and Barbuda — official program portal.
• Real Estate investment option — approved projects and track rules.
• Schedule of fees — current government, due-diligence, and passport fees.
• Citizenship by Investment Act 2013 — governing legislation.
• Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations 2024 — raised the real estate threshold to $300,000.