Antigua Prepares for Stricter Citizenship by Investment Rules

Antigua and Barbuda, along with its Caribbean neighbors, is moving toward a unified legal framework for citizenship by investment, a shift that could change the way wealthy foreigners gain residency in the country.

The draft agreement, signed in July 2025, involves Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, and is intended to standardize rules across the Eastern Caribbean.

If approved, the new regulations are expected to tighten eligibility, impose residency obligations, and limit the number of passports issued annually.
Investors might be required to spend at least 30 days in Antigua within the first five years and complete a national orientation course covering the country’s laws, history, and political system. Initial passports could also be limited to five years, with a 10-year renewal contingent on meeting all conditions.

For Antigua, the changes could reshape the citizenship-by-investment landscape, which has long been a key source of foreign investment. Currently, applicants are not required to live in the country or pass any exams—they simply need to pass a background check and meet the investment threshold, which starts at $230,000.

Experts warn that the window of opportunity to take advantage of the current system is narrow. “Families looking to secure a second citizenship in Antigua should act now before stricter rules take effect,” said Lyle Julien, an investment programs consultant with Immigrant Invest.

For residents, the shift highlights Antigua’s growing effort to strike a balance between economic benefits, national security, and social accountability.

While the program has contributed to infrastructure, education, and tourism projects, tightening the rules may change who qualifies and how quickly investments are made.

The reforms are not yet law; they still require approval by Antigua’s Parliament. Until then, existing rules remain in place, allowing investors to apply under the current framework.