Antigua Investment Opportunities

Exploring Antigua Investment Opportunities: A Gateway to Growth and Prosperity

The 19th Issue published on May 2024 of Antigua & Barbuda The Citizen covers a broad range of topics including Antigua investment opportunities showcasing the twin-island nation’s continued progress, innovation, and global leadership. The issue highlights the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), which plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic growth by attracting high-net-worth investors. Barbuda & Antigua Overview Diminutive but dynamic certainly describes the twin-island nation of Antigua & Barbuda. Forever surprising and consistently innovating, this tiny nation of just under 100,000 has always dared to dream big. And with a slew of projects on the horizon, Antigua & Barbuda continues to defy expectations and shake things up. Whether it’s projects like developing the cargo and cruise ports to upgrade the maritime offer in the twin islands, or whether it’s on land, establishing a world-class center of cricket and sport at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, the projects are varied and well and truly game-changing. The expansion of the University of the West Indies’ Five Islands Campus clearly demonstrates the country’s ongoing commitment to improving its educational offer – the cornerstone of any developing nation and the foundation of sustained economic growth. And the new state-of-the-art conference center at the American University of Antigua (AUA) will not only be one of the largest in the region but will also transform Antigua & Barbuda into a key player in the global meetings and conferences circuit. This is undoubtedly another game-changing project in the islands. The first event to be held in the new conference center is, in turn, a game-changing one. The upcoming 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States is expected to host several thousand delegates from across the globe and will pave the way for other future world-class events. And who would want to turn down the opportunity to come to Antigua & Barbuda for a conference, holiday, business trip, or even visit as a new citizen of the twin-island nation? Its perfect climate, incredible beaches with iridescent turquoise waters and historical marvels such as the UNESCO Heritage Site of Nelson’s Dockyard make Antigua & Barbuda one of the most beautiful places on the planet. With daily flights to major business centers in North America and London, reliable communications and infrastructure, a wide range of accommodations to suit all holidaymakers and conference goers, and fabulous restaurants to boot, the islands have it all. With so much going on in Antigua & Barbuda, it is no wonder that many would like to make it their permanent home. And for those choosing to become citizens in paradise, the island offers excellent education, good healthcare, a stable political situation, and fantastic real estate developments across both islands. Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme is ranked amongst the top three in the 2024 Henley Passport Index. Citizenship to the islands grants individuals a myriad of benefits, offering freedom, mobility and security against all of life’s uncertainties. Citizenship by Investment Programme Information What happens once my application has been accepted? A certificate of registration of citizenship will be issued and submitted to the passport office. Your authorized agent/representative will forward your passports and Citizenship Certificate to you. Do I need to travel to Antigua & Barbuda to complete the process? The application process can be made from your country of residence. Once your application is successful and you have received your passport, you must take your oath or affirmation of allegiance. You are entitled to take up full-time residence in Antigua & Barbuda at any time you wish. Does Antigua & Barbuda recognise dual citizenship? There are no restrictions on dual citizenship in Antigua & Barbuda. For how many years will my passport be valid? The passport will be valid for a period of 5 years and is renewable for a period of 10 years thereafter, provided that the requirements are met, which includes spending a minimum of five days in the country during this period after becoming a citizen. Can I invest with my Bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies? This is in the pipeline but has not yet been established. In addition to the citizenship by investment programme does Antigua & Barbuda have a tax residency programme? Antigua & Barbuda does not currently offer a tax residency programme. Why does Antigua & Barbuda have a citizenship by investment programme? The programme was introduced to promote economic growth, attract real estate development, increase foreign direct investment to the country, support the development of infrastructure and provide for a sustainable future. What is the processing time? Processing your application should take from 3 to 6 months. Who can apply for citizenship? To apply for the citizenship programme in Antigua & Barbuda, you must be at least 18 years of age, be of a good character with no criminal record, and have good health. Do I need to speak English to apply for citizenship? You don’t need to speak English to be an applicant. Who can be included on the application? Your dependent children under 30 and dependent parents over 55 can be included within the application. How do you conduct the due diligence and vetting of applicants? All applicants have to undergo an interview and rigorous screening prior to consideration by the Citizenship by Investment Unit. Complete applications will be forwarded to an international, unbiased third-party due diligence service provider who will conduct detailed background checks on all applicants before the application is approved. INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE  You and your family can obtain citizenship by purchasing a property in Antigua & Barbuda. You may also benefit from rental revenue with this investment. To qualify for citizenship under this option, you must invest US$ 400,000 or more in a designated, officially approved real estate development, undertake a joint investment of US$ 200,000 each between two (2) related parties/applications, or US$ 200,000 for a fractional share in an approved property. You must own the property for a minimum of five years before selling it. At this time, owners may resell their units or

Antigua Economic Growth

Antigua Economic Growth: Driving Prosperity Through Innovation and Sustainability

This blog features Issue 17 of The Citizen from September 2023 which focuses on Antigua Economic Growth. The issue explores how these sectors have contributed to the nation’s development, including insights into the evolving CBI programs, investments in real estate and sustainable infrastructure, and the expansion of the financial services sector. How Antigua & Barbuda Can Stay Ahead in the New Age of Citizenship Citizenship by the investment industry was the product of a globalizing world. It all started in the 1980s when borders were beginning to blur. Capital and people were beginning to fly around the globe, and travel became more possible than ever. Business was truly multinational. ISLAND NATIONS: FLAUNT WHAT YOU’VE GOT What does a wise country with no significant population or natural resources do in a globalized world? The answer is simple: set up itself in the most appealing way possible to promote business. A passport was the key to what people wanted, three things in particular: privacy, visa-free travel, and freedom from excessive hassle. Out of these motivations, many programmes were born. Last of the independent Caribbean states to declare independence from Britain in 1983, St Kitts & Nevis hit the ground running and understood the assignment. It was the perfect moment to capitalize on one of the island economy’s most valuable assets: its citizenship and all the privileges that came with it. Antigua & Barbuda’s programme coupled well with the country’s leadership in the region for logistics, tourism, and transport, and a passport with some unique visa-free destinations such as South Africa. An industry was born. Clients were beginning to get what they wanted without the uncertainties of regular naturalization and the investments of time, money, and energy normally associated with it. Clients wanted to be part of the Commonwealth and go to the UK, and they got it. Clients wanted access to Europe; they got it. And money was pouring into economies that needed it. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?  Remember, new investor citizens didn’t just want to travel – they wanted the gatekeepers of desired institutions to perceive them in a completely different way. Opening a company as a Nigerian citizen? Banking as an Iraqi? Trading in and out of Iran? Easier said than done with certain identities. But the CBI could solve it all – almost. Obviously, nothing that simple ever lasts. CBI experienced its share of hits as time went on. Simplicity often gives way to complexity over time. And requirements only grew deeper as the digital information era began to take hold in the late 2000s. Admittedly, some of it was probably needed – the industry could not manage long-term growth unless it was managed properly. Antigua & Barbuda revamped its due diligence in the latter part of the last decade and joined in Caribbean-wide efforts to upgrade the product landscape. GOAL-POST ALWAYS MOVING, CARROT NEVER COMING?  But now, the Tradewinds of Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes are changing. The introduction of US-led ‘6 Principles’ – backed by UK- and EU-based institutions – is changing the conversation towards one of an external locus of control, and I think it’s not for the best. Few would oppose proper due diligence protocols that protect a nation’s integrity and a programme’s reputation. But we all know that something has changed and that it goes far beyond these basic ideas.  First, they came for Vanuatu, which many saw as an easy target or perhaps a harbinger of the EU’s rejection of island-based CBI. And now the inevitable has come: rumblings of complete EU visa-free suspension for Caribbean CBIs have changed the field.  Anyone having any familiarity with the European Commission knows that this charade has long ceased to have anything to do with due diligence. The EU’s hypocrisy for complaining about well-vetted, wealthy immigrants coming through the ‘backdoor’ means nothing with even the most cursory look at their ignorance of migration crises and illegal immigration, which remain barely addressed. Retaining the core value proposition of CBI itself is existential to the survival of this entire multi-billion-dollar industry. So how can Antigua & Barbuda stay competitive as a citizenship programme? Value client privacy and efficiency  One of the foundational value propositions of citizenship by investment is privacy. In a world where everything is trackable and traceable, many people turn to our programmes to get better control of their identity. Privacy does not mean fraud.  Privacy does not mean illegality. Privacy does not mean ‘secrecy’. Privacy includes many things – including the right to change or choose your nationality, conceal personal information from prying eyes, and much more. Once you begin to factor in the weight of all the onerous and lengthy requirements for due diligence, the ‘checkbox checked’ personal interviews of questionable utility and several other constantly-evolving definitions of ‘genuine links’ or ‘proper vetting’, the whole notion of privacy begins to degrade, and clients don’t like that. Stop obsessing over Schengen access I’ve written before about this topic and have developed a small bit of niche notoriety with it. But the point here is not whether you or I personally like traveling to Europe. It’s about whether this feature is the most important (or, for some people, the only) reason to market or buy citizenship by investment. True ‘visa-free’ Schengen access itself is, in any case, about to sunset with the introduction of ETIAS, a sort of electronic pre-authorisation not unlike that of Australia’s ETA or America’s ESTA. Remember: true visa-free travel died after COVID-19. If you need to present a pre-authorisation or paperwork at the border, that’s a visa. Regardless, shouldn’t anyone with US$150,000+ to their name who passes extensive due diligence be more than able to obtain a Schengen visa or any visa they want? I have heard many with far less get far further than that. Visa-free Schengen in 2023 isn’t make-or-break for anything – or at least it shouldn’t be. It is not the only reason to get Antiguan citizenship. Do not fall for excessive hassle in KYC policy  I think

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