The Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme

The NDF is a one-time, non-refundable contribution to a government fund that finances national projects. At $230,000 it is the lowest entry point for a household of up to 4, with each additional dependent adding $15,000.

The minimum rose from $100,000 in August 2024, which understandably rattled the market. Even after that rise, Antigua remains the strongest value per person for most households, because the breadth of its dependent definition means more people fit under the same contribution than anywhere else in the region. There is no asset to manage afterwards, which keeps the route administratively light and typically the fastest of the four.

The UWIF exists specifically for larger households. At $260,000 it includes processing for up to six applicants, which is why families of six or more frequently find it cheaper overall than the NDF once per-person fees are counted.

It also carries a one-year tuition benefit at the University of the West Indies for one family member — genuinely useful if you have a child approaching university age, and worth nothing if you do not. We run the arithmetic both ways rather than assuming; the crossover point depends on exactly who is in your application.

From $300,000 you acquire an interest in a government-approved development — typically resort-grade property — and hold it for a minimum of 5 years before you are free to resell.

Unlike a donation, this leaves you owning something. The asset may generate rental income and may appreciate, though neither is guaranteed and a curated approved-project list is not the same as an open market. The route carries additional government and processing fees, and property selection adds real steps to the timeline. It suits investors who want the Caribbean exposure anyway and are treating the citizenship as the second reason rather than the only one.

The business route starts at $1,500,000 for an individual investment into an approved Antiguan enterprise, with a joint or shared structure across multiple investors available under separate thresholds.

Suitability here depends almost entirely on the specific project and on what you want from it operationally, so quoting a single figure would be misleading. We assess this route case by case, and we will tell you plainly when one of the other three delivers the same citizenship for materially less money and effort — which, for the majority of enquiries, it does.