Applicants for Antigua’s Citizenship by Investment: Where do They Come From?

The Antigua Citizenship by Investment Program was launched at the end of 2013. Since that time, the popularity of this route to Caribbean citizenship has been steadily growing, driven by the interest of international investors and prudent people from all over the world in a reliable place to relocate or move assets in case of need. Let’s look at the geography of demand and the most popular investment options.

Geography of Demand for Antigua Investment Passport 

A review of the reports on the Antigua Economic Citizenship Program in recent years provides a clear understanding of the geography of demand, breaking down the applicants by country of origin.

For example, over the six-month period from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021, 63 applicants came from Algeria and 63 – from Hungary (we take into account the main applicants and dependants listed in the applications), 145 from Bangladesh, 884 from China, 76 from Egypt, 185 from Lebanon, 206 from Nigeria, 184 from Russia, and 149 from Switzerland. The figures in the report covering the period from July 2020 to December 2020 were similar.

Period	Number of applications (principal applicants only)	Income, millions of Eastern Caribbean dollars
2021	498	123.1
2020	366	115.7
2019	446	98.9
2018	672	100
2017	321	64
2016	N/A	117
2015	510	69.5
2014	—	—

Antigua Gold Passport: Price & Benefits

A wealthy investor is entitled to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by making a non-refundable contribution of at least $100,000 to the National Development Fund (NDF). The Caribbean country’s Gold Passport provides visa-free/visa-upon-arrival access to over 150 destinations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, and the Schengen Area.

Another useful feature of this program is the ability to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship for yourself and the dependants listed in the application for 3-4 months without even visiting the host country. But if you move to this state and spend most of the year in its territory (thus becoming an Antiguan fiscal resident), you can be legally exempted from worldwide personal income tax.

As an alternative to a contribution made to the national fund, the applicant for the citizen’s status is offered 3 other options for capital investment:

• acquisition of real estate with a minimum value of $200,000
• investment of at least $400,000 in an approved business
• contribution of $150,000 in the form of a grant to the University of the West Indies campus development

In the latter case, the beneficiary receives the bonus right to one year’s study at the relevant university completely free of charge.

There are various fees charged for filing and processing the application, as well as for vetting of applicants (local officials and international partners determine whether the applicant/dependants have a criminal record or links with terrorism, organized crime, or money laundering).

Official statistics show that contribution to the NDF is the most popular option used by applicants for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. The second place is taken by the purchase of real estate, which requires at least twice as much investment as the contribution to the National Development Fund, but allows you to return the investment in a matter of 5-7 years (depending on the amount). It should be borne in mind that you can invest money only in pre-approved development projects – at present, you can select one of 42 available projects.

Reason to Hurry to Join the Antigua Citizenship by Investment Program

The existence of citizenship by investment programs around the world, including the Antigua and Barbuda scheme, is now seriously threatened by pressure from members of the European Parliament to discontinue them.

According to European officials, such programs in the Caribbean and beyond are “ethically, legally and economically unacceptable.” Members of the European Parliament believe that such immigration routes “are a source of several serious risks to the security of the European Union.”

In March 2022, the EU authorities threatened to cancel the right of visa-free access to the Schengen area granted to citizens of countries with similar schemes. In May, the European officials made the first step and denied Vanuatu citizens visa-free access to the Schengen states, demanding higher standards for vetting applicants.

Good Alternatives to Consider

You are not sure about Antigua and Barbuda or want to compare it with some alternative options? Here are some of the most popular ones. However, the best way to make a choice is to rely on one of our experts as each situation has its peculiarities. Contact us to share the details, and we will give a reasonable outlook of what can be done.

• Grenada: This Caribbean jurisdiction offers one of the world’s most sought-after and successful gold passport programs. Like Antigua, Grenada is ready to grant a trustworthy investor the status of a citizen in a matter of 3 months, offering freedom of movement to more than 150 countries, including the Schengen Area, China, and the United Kingdom. Grenada’s passport will provide access to an E2 American business visa, which gives you the right to move to the United States without becoming a local tax resident. The entry threshold is $150,000 (non-refundable contribution) or $220,000 (purchase of real estate). All procedures can be carried out online.
• Vanuatu: The citizenship program offered by Vanuatu’s South Pacific jurisdiction is considered to be one of the simplest and most accessible ones in the world in terms of bureaucratic burden, cost, and speed of processing. Vanuatu passport allows investors to open offshore bank accounts and facilitates access to Asian markets. Vanuatu tax residents do not pay personal income tax from worldwide sources. The entry threshold for immigrant investors is $145,000 (non-refundable contribution). Again, you can do everything remotely.
• Montenegro: This is the only European country on this list with real prospects of joining the European Union within the next 5 years. The destination is popular due to its thriving tourism industry and well-developed resort infrastructure, a stable political climate, moderate taxes, and low crime rates. The passport issued by Montenegro gives the right of visa-free entry to more than 150 countries, including the Schengen states. The entry threshold is set at 450,000 euros. A minimum of one visit to the host country is required to obtain a Montenegrin gold passport. The offer is valid until December 31, 2022, after which no applications will be accepted.
• Turkey: Investors looking for a promising platform to make profitable investments and obtain immigration benefits choose to obtain Turkish citizenship by investment, which helps to get a second passport within 4 months. Candidates are driven by a strategically advantageous location between Europe and Asia, giving the host country great financial, economic, and political influence in the region. The entry threshold is $400,000 (real estate) or $500,000 (securities/funds/deposit). Refundable investments are made for a 3-year period. Alternatively, you are free to open/buy a local business and create 50 jobs for Turks within a similar period, which will also entitle you to become a Turkish citizen. A minimum of one visit to Turkey is required.

Regardless of the option chosen, an immigrant investor will not have to renounce his or her current citizenship on the condition that the country of origin allows dual citizenship. Thus, don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy all the advantages of having two passports without any restrictions.

But even if there are restrictions on multiple nationalities in the beneficiary’s state of origin, keep in mind that the programs listed above are completely anonymous. It means that the information about new investors that acquire citizenship is not automatically sent to their states of origin or published in the public domain.

Get Expert Assistance in Choosing and Obtaining Citizenship by Investment

If there exists a good and truly universal recommendation in the modern world, it is precisely this: obtain dual citizenship and a reliable second passport. We choose a car with an airbag to ensure safety, and we create a safe haven in life to ensure a better future for yourself and your loved ones. And while your airbag remains inactive most of the time, your second passport will work for you by providing a lot of advantages, including enhanced mobility and visa-free entry to popular destinations, a higher standard of living, and low taxes. A convenient citizenship-by-investment program is one of the best ways to achieve such a goal in an absolutely legal way, without having to deal with bureaucratic mix-ups or spend many years waiting for approval.