Reviewed by Jane Katkova, Founder & Licensed CICC ConsultantKey points
- The physical presence requirement is 30 days within the first five years of citizenship.
- Applications approved before the 2026 amendment took effect keep the earlier five-day requirement.
- There is no language test, and property is needed only on the real estate route.
- Tax residence is a separate test, generally 183 or more days a year.
The 30-day physical presence requirement
Antigua and Barbuda legislated a new residence condition in 2026: every new citizen must spend 30 days in the country within the first five years of citizenship. The rule replaced the earlier five-day requirement. Applicants approved before it took effect were grandfathered and keep the five-day rule.
Conditions that do not apply
There is no obligation to relocate, no language test and no requirement to buy property unless you choose the real estate route, which starts at US$300,000 in an approved project held for five years. Everyone aged 16 or over is interviewed and gives biometrics. The full list of conditions is set out in our guide to Antigua and Barbuda citizenship requirements.
- Minimum investment: US$230,000 National Development Fund donation, for one applicant or a family of four.
- Processing: 14 months on average, within a range of 10 to 18 months.
- Dual citizenship: permitted, with no renunciation.
Tax residence is a separate test
Meeting the 30-day rule does not make you an Antiguan tax resident. The country's zero tax on foreign income, capital gains and inheritance applies only to tax residents, generally those present 183 or more days a year. The US continues to tax its citizens on worldwide income, and Canada taxes by residence. Our Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment page covers the routes and fees in full. To plan the 30 days around your family's schedule, book a consultation with our licensed team.
People also ask
Can you travel to the US or Canada on an Antigua and Barbuda passport?
Not visa-free. The US requires a visa, and since 1 January 2026 Proclamation 10998 suspends immigrant, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas for Antiguan nationals. Canada grants an eTA only to Antiguan nationals who held a Canadian visa in the last ten years or hold a valid US visa, and only when arriving by air.
How much does St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment cost in 2026?
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship costs from US$250,000 through the Sustainable Island State Contribution, for a single applicant or a family of up to four. With due diligence, administrative and passport fees, a single applicant pays about US$261,500 in government charges and a family of four with young children about US$270,500.
Will the St Kitts and Nevis passport keep visa-free access to Schengen?
Schengen access is intact today. In July 2026 the European Commission asked all five Caribbean governments to phase out citizenship by investment by 1 June 2028, and the Visa Suspension Mechanism now treats operating a programme as grounds for suspension. We advise that visa-free Schengen access is current and not guaranteed after 2028.
How long does Dominica citizenship by investment take to process?
Dominica citizenship by investment takes 9.3 months on average, within a range of 4 to 18 months, according to the IMI Processing Times Tool for Q4 2025. That is the widest range of the five Caribbean programmes, so plan for a year. The 60–90 day timelines some agents still quote do not reflect current processing.
Can you enter the UK without a visa on a Dominica passport?
No. The UK withdrew visa-free entry for Dominican nationals in July 2023 and has not restored it, so a UK visa is required. Schengen, Hong Kong and Singapore are unaffected, and the passport reaches around 140–145 destinations. If the UK is a regular destination, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis or Antigua and Barbuda suit better.