Antigua and Barbuda

ATG

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island Caribbean nation known for its 365 beaches, English-speaking population, and stable democratic government. The country has no personal income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax, making it attractive for high-net-worth individuals. Antigua operates a citizenship-by-investment programme with multiple investment routes including a National Development Fund contribution starting at $100,000.

Naturalisation: 7 years
Tax system: No Income Tax
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Capital: St. John's
Region: americas
Population: 100,000
Cost-of-living: 70 /100

→ If you hold a Antigua and Barbuda passport, see the Antigua and Barbuda nationality guide

Passport Rank

#27

Visa-Free

129

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Antigua and Barbuda passport has visa-free access to 129 destinations. See the full Antigua and Barbuda passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Antigua and Barbuda without a prior visa (111)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

Canada+93 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

Immigrating to Canada from Antigua and Barbuda

Current IRCC processing times for Antigua and Barbuda nationals, by application type.

Visitor visa (outside Canada)	29 days
Super visa	No processing time available
Study permit	No processing time available
Work permit	No processing time available
Sponsor a dependent child	No processing time available
Adopted child (citizenship)	Not enough data
Government-assisted refugees	Not enough data
Privately sponsored refugees	sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data

Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.

As of 2026-10-07 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.

Sources & last verified

Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)

Official source

Country Details

Capital: St. John's
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Languages: English
Population: 100,000
Tax System: No Income Tax
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 7 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Tropical
GDP per capita: $24,819
Life expectancy: 77.77 yrs
Population growth: 0.46%/yr

GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

138

Tax Summary

Tax System: No Income Tax
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 7 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
St John's	$900	$580	$400	$160	$45
Codrington	$550	$350	$350	$140	$30

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

St John's

26°J

26°F

27°M

28°A

28°M

29°J

30°A

29°S

29°O

28°N

27°D

Rainfall range: 40–130 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Codrington

26°J

26°F

27°M

27°A

28°M

29°J

29°A

29°S

28°O

27°N

26°D

Rainfall range: 35–120 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist Visa
Work Permit
CBI - National Development Fund
CBI - Real Estate Option
CBI - Business Investment Option
CBI - University of the West Indies Option
Family Reunification
Student Visa
Permanent Residence
Spousal Permit
Dependent Permit
Business Visitor Visa

Authority: Citizenship by Investment Unit
Official Portal: cip.gov.ag
Phone: +1-268-562-9249
Email: cip@ab.gov.ag

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 5
Language Test: No
Civic Test: Yes
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $300
Processing: ~12 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $3,500
Transaction taxes: 10%

Foreign buyers: Foreign nationals require an Alien Landholding Licence (ALHL, 5% of purchase price) for freehold property. CBI-approved developments are pre-cleared. St John's and English Harbour villas USD 2,500-4,500/sqm; beachfront up to USD 8,000/sqm. Stamp duty 2.5% buyer + 7.5% seller. No annual property tax for non-commercial property. Strong demand from UHNWI buyers and CBI investors.

International Schools

← scroll the table →

International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
Island Academy International School	St John's	IB + US	$8,000–$18,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

40 Mbps median

40% fibre coverage

eSIM: Flow Caribbean, Digicel Antigua

Driving

IDP required

Local licence required after 0 months

Exchange eligible: Drives on the LEFT. IDP accepted; visitors must purchase a local visitor's permit (approx. USD 20) from the Licensing Authority. Permanent residents must obtain an Antiguan licence; bilateral exchange agreements with UK, Canada and some other nationalities available.

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre required

EU pet passport: not accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

#51

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠unlicensed beach vendors selling counterfeit jewellery and souvenirs
⚠taxi overcharging from VC Bird International Airport — use licensed taxis with official rate cards
⚠timeshare pitch tours for cruise ship passengers
⚠fake online rental listings for villas that don't exist

Examples of areas to avoid: Parts of central St John's near the market late at night, Isolated coves accessible only by boat without local knowledge

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Not legal
Civil Partnerships: Not recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: No
ILGA Rank: #104

Religious Life

Halal Food: Limited
Kosher Food: Limited
Prayer Facilities: Limited

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from Britain in which year?

Answer: 1981

Source: Citizenship by Investment Unit — Antigua and Barbuda

Q2. What is the name of the main harbour and historic area in the south of Antigua used as a base by the British Royal Navy?

Answer: English Harbour

Source: Citizenship by Investment Unit — Antigua and Barbuda

Related Guides

Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list

Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Life logistics

Reference tables

Visa routes

Official visa and residence routes for Antigua and Barbuda, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.

Work (sponsored)

Antigua and Barbuda Work Permit

Work (sponsored)

For people who have a job offer from an employer in Antigua and Barbuda. The work permit is employer-led and is completely separate from the citizenship-by-investment programme.

Sponsor requiredA temporary, employer-tied permit, typically issued for a defined period and renewable; it does not by itself lead to settlement.

Government of Antigua and Barbuda · reviewed 2026-06-01

Citizenship by investment

Antigua and Barbuda CBI - Approved Real Estate

Citizenship by investment

For people who would rather own an asset than donate: you buy into a government-approved property development in Antigua and Barbuda and, in return, you and your family can apply for citizenship.

Leads to settlementFull citizenship; the qualifying property must be held for a minimum period before it can be resold under the programme.

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit · reviewed 2026-07-10

Antigua and Barbuda CBI - Business Investment

Citizenship by investment

For entrepreneurs who want citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investing in an approved business - either alone or jointly with other approved applicants in a larger venture.

Leads to settlementFull citizenship once the qualifying business investment is made and the application is approved; the early-years physical-presence step applies.

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit · reviewed 2026-07-10

Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund

Citizenship by investment

For people who want citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by making a one-time, non-refundable donation to the National Development Fund, rather than buying property or a business. This is the most popular route.

Leads to settlementFull citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; a short physical-presence step applies in the early years (see FAQ).

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit · reviewed 2026-07-10

Antigua and Barbuda CBI - University of the West Indies Fund

Citizenship by investment

For larger families seeking citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: a donation route designed for bigger households that also helps fund the University of the West Indies and can include a tuition scholarship for one family member.

Leads to settlementFull citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; the early-years physical-presence step applies.

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit · reviewed 2026-07-10

Sources & last verified

Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-10-15. Each route links to its official government source.

Official source

Citizenship by Investment