Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Changes

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The RIF Trust Reaction to the New Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Regulations

Leila Bagheri is our Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) specialist. She reveals that “this announcement confirms the rolling out of the new Antigua and Barbuda citizenship costs and signals the end of the grace period.” “These new Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment regulations set in stone what we knew was coming.”

Bagheri goes on to elaborate that: “To keep up to date with the latest Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme developments, be sure to bookmark the news section of our site.”

Legislative Changes to the Antigua and Barbuda CBI Regulations

Charmaine Donovan, the CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit, sent out a Memorandum to Stakeholders on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

It begins by stating that “the current investment thresholds and fees will continue until 31st July 2024, at 11:59 p.m. AST.” Then it instructs the reader to “take note of the following amendments in the attached Regulations which take effect on 1st August, 2024.”

The first amendment concerns “Modifications to the definition of dependent”. Importantly, child dependents no longer need to demonstrate financial dependence on you. Antigua and Barbuda, also, now expand the definition to refer to a dependent as:

• Your biological or legally child or that of your spouse aged 30 or under
• A spouse who you marry after the approval of the application if they’re aged 35 or younger when submitting your application to add this dependent
• A grandchild born or legally adopted following the application being approved as long as the relevant dependent is 35 or under when the submission to add their child is made

Moving onto the second amendment, this allows you to name an alternative main applicant from among your family members. This do, however, stipulate that the designated family member is:

• A minimum 18 years old
• Denied the authority to assume your responsibility unless you’re dead or have become “physically or mentally incapacitated”
• Added when submitting an application to include a dependent

The third amendment relates to minimum investment amounts. So, this means that you need to pay at least:

• $230,000 for the National Development Fund
• $260,000 (inclusive of processing charges) for the University of West Indies Fund
• $300,000 for property investment
• $1.5 million  for investing in a business and $5 million for joint investments with a minimum $400,000 from each party (figures unchanged)

Extra Fees and Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations 2024

There are the following due diligence, processing, and miscellaneous charges to pay:

• $10,000 initial application charges for you, $20,000 for a family of up to 4, and $10,000 for every extra family member
• $10,000 post-approval addition fees for dependent children 0-5, $25,000 for 6-17, and $50,000 for those aged 18 and over
• $8,500 due diligence charge for you, $5,000 for your spouse, $2,000 for children aged 12-17, $5,000 for a benefactor, and double where a denied file needs to be reviewed
• $300 for a passport for you and each dependent
• $500 for 5-year passport renewal for dependents aged up to 17
• $1,000 for 5-year passport renewal for you and dependents aged 18+
• $1,000 for a police certificate request letter post-application

The new Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Regulations reference the original 2016 regulations. So, you can still add dependents of any age who you fully support that are physically or mentally incapacitated. Along with parents or grandparents over 55 who you fully support.

How to Invest in Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship

If you want to get Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment, you need to choose from 4 options. Then, you should get in touch with an experienced Citizenship by Investment consultancy like RIF Trust to establish the right option for you. So, contact us now and we’ll show you how to acquire Antigua and Barbuda nationality.