Antigua CIU announced a major revision expanding the scope of definition of dependents applying under the citizenship by investment program (CIP). These amendments were introduced into the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Act 2013
Antigua Cabinet also approved the following important changes in Nov 2020 to make the CBI more competitive with other programs in the Caribbean.
Price Reductions
- Fee to add a child shall be US$10,000 for children under 5 years of age and US$20,000 for children 6-17 years.
- Fees for the addition of adult dependents shall be reduced from US$75,000 to US$50,000.
- No time restriction on when a dependent may be be added to an application.
Family members
The new legislation makes it possible for investors to add more family members
- A current spouse of the principal applicant;
- A child of the principal applicant, or of his or her spouse, who is 0 – 30 years of age and is financially dependent on the principal applicant;
- A child of the principal applicant, or of his or her spouse, who is 18 years or older but who is physically or mentally handicapped and who is living with and is fully supported by the principal applicant;
- A parent or grandparent of the principal applicant, or of his or her spouse, who is fifty-five years of age or older and who is financially dependent on the principal applicant. (e) A sibling of the principal applicant, or of his or her spouse, if unmarried;
Post Citizenship Additions
Post citizenship additions makes it easy to include family members or dependants any time. This way you dont have to spend huge amount of money initially.
- A future spouse of the principal applicant. A fee of US$50,000 is payable upon application;
- A future spouse of dependent children where the dependent child is financially dependent on the principal applicant; and
- A future child of a dependent child. A fee of US$10,000 is to be payable for children under 5 years of age and US$20,000 for children 6 — 17 years of age.
Antigua and Barbuda remains the cheapest citizenship scheme for family of four applying under NDF fund or UWI fund (six or more). Antigua also accepts stateless people from certain countries. Iraqi nationals are also admitted into the citizenship program as of 2020.
Ineligible candidates
Antigua and Barbuda does not accept these Ineligible applicants for CIP;
- Where an applicant has provided false information on his or her application
- Where a medical practitioner states that any of the family members is suffering from a contagious disease and/or serious health problems
- Not having received a free pardon, has at any time previously been convicted in any country of an offence for which the maximum custodial penalty is in excess of six months imprisonment
- Is the subject of a criminal investigation
- Is a potential national security risk to Antigua and Barbuda or to any other country
- Is involved in any activity likely to cause disrepute to Antigua and Barbuda
- Has been denied a visa to a country with which Antigua and Barbuda has visa-free travel and who has not subsequently obtained a visa to the country that issued the denial
