Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP)
About Antigua
The Citizenship by Investment Programme Act of Antigua & Barbuda allows individuals to apply to become Citizens of Antigua & Barbuda.
Antigua & Barbuda is an English speaking Island which obtained Independence from Britain in 1981. This Island is 108 sq miles and has a population of 90,000 people. The Island benefits from tropical temperatures throughout the year of 80/90 degrees Fahrenheit and cooling breezes. A climate which cannot be found anywhere else other than the Caribbean.
St. Johns is the capital city situated on the northern side of the island and English Harbour being the second town on the Southern Side of the island. English Harbour is the main hub on the island for the yachting community and famous Nelsons Dockyard, the only working Georgian dockyard in the world.
The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar.
With 365 beaches, constant sunshine and international flights from all around the globe, Antigua is the perfect place to be, with the ability to establish a wonderful lifestyle and invest in a developing Island.
The Citizenship by Investment Programme aims to attract individuals, families, and business people whom wish to make a contribution to the growth of the nation.
The Citizenship by Investment Act 2013, provides investors with stability by obtaining citizenship, providing certain requirements are fulfilled.
More details on the Citizenship by Investment Programme can be found on the Antigua & Barbuda government website www.cip.gov.ag
Investment Options
Investors seeking permanent residence MUST invest in one of the following:
- THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
- REAL ESTATE
- BUSINESS INVESTMENT
1. The National Development Fund
This investment requires the Main Applicant to pay US$100,000 into a National Development Fund. The above mentioned amount is limited and on offer until the 30th April 2018.
The National Development Fund established for the funding of government sponsored projects and includes approved public-private partnerships and charitable investments.
Charitable Investments will come from the National Development Foundation and granted to approved non profit organisations which deliver services in health care, education, environmental management, youth development or promotion of sports or culture in Antigua & Barbuda.
2. Real Estate
There are a number of approved developments, areas and projects in Antigua & Barbuda which the main applicant for Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship may invest.
The main applicant may invest in real estate valued at no less than US$400,000.
List of Approved Areas & Developments
List of approved real estate areas for investment are as follows:
Antigua
- Fort James to Blue Waters
- Pillar Rock to Five Islands
- Pearns Point to Johnsons Point
- Falmouth Harbour to Galleon Bay
- Willoughby Bay to Half Moon Bay
- Nonsuch Bay areas
- Guiana Island and its environs
- Crabbs Penisular and India Point
- Blackmans Estate (Blackman Point)
Barbuda
Low Bay to Palmetto Point and Coco Point
Listed below are some approved developments. For an extensive list of approved developments, click on to www.cip.gov.ag
- Blueprint Developments – Nelsons Retreat JHR – Harbour Island Residence
- Papaya
- South Point
- Tamarind Hills
- Naple Developers – Dieppe Villa
3. Business Investment
Investment in business option requires an investment of at least US$1.5 million by the applicant in an approved business in Antigua & Barbuda.
There is the possibility for more than one individual to make a joint investment in an approved business totalling at least US$5 million and each individual proposes to contribute at least US$400,000 to the joint investment.
How To Apply
Application forms are available from Licensed Agents. The Licensed Agent will assist with the application process as well as submission to the Citizenship by Investment Unit. Government Forms can be found by visiting www.cip.gov.ag
Who Can Apply
The main applicant must be 18 years of age or older. If the main applicant wishes to obtain Antiguan & Barbudan Citizenship for his or her spouse or dependent children, those applications must accompany the main applicants.
Time Frame of Application Process
The time frame to process an application is approximately 3 months. Within this time frame the Citizenship by Investment Unit will advise the Licensed Agent whether the application has been approved, denied or delayed and being processed.
Notations
- Application and supporting documentation must be in English. If documents are in a different language, an authenticated translation will be required.
- Application must be signed by main applicant and any dependants 18 years or older. If dependants are under 18 years of age, both parents may be required to sign.
- Documents in support of an application for the Citizenship by Investment Programme must be certified, in accordance with the laws where documentation originated.
Government Processing Fees
Fees associated with the processing of an application can be found on the Antigua & Barbuda Website www.cip.gov.ag and are as follows:- ( N.B. There will be a link on the company website, once the applicant clicks onto it, will go directly to the fees page on the government website. )
In addition to the funding of the selected investment option, additional fees are payable by each family member. These comprise of the following:
Government Fee
The fees applicable are stated in the table below. 10% of the government fee is payable (and non-refundable) upon submission of your application with the balance due following receipt of an approval letter sent to the authorised agent who submitted the application. A government fee is charged for each family member.
Due Diligence Fee
All applications are subject to rigorous due diligence to ensure that only meritorious applicants are granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The due diligence fee is charged for each family member above the age of 11 years as prescribed in the table below. The due diligence fee is payable upon submission of the application by the appointed agent and is non-refundable.
Passport Fee
Each family member is required to pay the sum outlined for issuance of their passport.
Schedule of Fees:
| Government fee – Principal Applicant ** | $50,000 |
| Government fee – Spouse | $50,000 |
| Government fee – Dependent child aged 0-11 | $25,000 |
| Government fee – Dependent child aged 12-17 | $25,000 |
| Government fee – Dependent child aged 18-25 | $50,000 |
| Government fee – Dependent parent aged over 65 | $50,000 |
| Due diligence fee – Principal Applicant | $7,500 |
| Due diligence fee – Spouse | $7,500 |
| Due diligence fee – Dependent child aged 0-11 | $0 |
| Due diligence fee – Dependent child aged 12-17 | $2,000 |
| Due diligence fee – Dependent child aged 18-25 | $4,000 |
| Due diligence fee – Dependent parent aged over 65 | $4,000 |
| Passport fee – each person | $300 |
**Principal Applicant $50,000, Spouse $50,000 and Two dependents free until 30th April, 2015 (applies to the NDF investment option only)
Application Forms
For the required Application Forms, go to www.cip.gov.ag, ( when applicant clicks on government web address, applicant will be taken directly to the Application Form page as seen below on the government website )
N.B. Application Forms shown below are samples and cannot be used when making an application. Original Forms must be obtained by the Applicant from a Licensed Agent, recognized by the CIU.
The documentation that you require is as follows
- Citizenship by Investment Application Form AB1 – Sample
- Photograph and Signature Certificate Form AB2 – Sample
- Medical Certificate Form AB3 – Sample
- Investment Confirmation Form AB4 – Sample
- Agent Form Form AB5 – Sample
Passport Application Forms
Citizenship by Investment – Investment Options
- Real Estate Developer Application Form AB8 – Sample
- Business Investment Application Form AB9 – Sample
Forms for Agents & Representatives
- Representatives and Service Providers Form AB6 – Sample
- Agent’s License Form Form AB7 – Sample
Approval
Once approval of Application has taken place, the Citizenship by Investment Unit will contact the Licensed Agent as to the status of the processed application. Successful applicants will be required to pay the balance of the processing fees and complete their investment. The oath of allegiance will be taken and the applicant will thereafter be advised of the procedure to obtain their Antigua & Barbuda passport.
The Antigua & Barbuda passport will allow visa free travel to 131 countries. This includes Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the European Union. Click here to view the list at www.cip.gov.ag
Applicants whom are successful will be required to spend at least 5 days in Antigua & Barbuda during a 5 year period once registered as a citizen. The Applicants passport will be valid for 5 years and be considered for renewal providing the recipient having spent the required time in Antigua & Barbuda.
Visa-free travel for Antigua & Barbuda passport holders:
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bolivia
- Bonaire, St. Eustatius & Saba
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Isl.
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cook Isl.
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Rep.
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Rep.
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French West Indies
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong (SAR China)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland (Rep.)
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Korea (Rep.)
- Kosovo (Rep.)
- Lao People’s Dem. Rep.
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao (SAR China)
- Macedonia (FYROM)
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- Nicaragua
- Niue
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Reunion
- Romania
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Isl.
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Maarten
- St. Vincent & The Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turks & Caicos Isl.
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Virgin Isl. (British)
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
