Independent Dubai advisory · Antigua & Barbuda CBI since 2013
Real estate route
Invest from $300,000 in a government-approved property and hold it for at least 5 years, plus the standard government and processing fees. Unlike the National Development Fund donation, this route leaves you owning a Caribbean asset that you may resell once the holding period ends.
It suits investors who want a tangible asset alongside a second passport — ideally one they would actually enjoy using or renting. This page explains how the route works, what qualifying property looks like, and how it genuinely compares with the simpler donation.
How it works
The route has three moving parts, and each one adds something the donation route does not have.
The full filing, screening and approval sequence is on the process page, and the programme overview places real estate alongside the other three routes.
Approved project types
Qualifying developments are vetted and approved by the programme, and the specific approved list changes over time. The categories below describe the shapes these projects usually take rather than current listings.
Apartments or suites within an internationally branded resort, typically with on-site amenities and a managed rental programme. The brand is generally what underpins both occupancy and resale, so the covenant behind it matters more than the finish.
A fractional or unit share in a hotel-style development where a managed pool distributes rental income. Lower entry cost per unit, but your return depends on the operator's performance and on terms that deserve proper legal review before signature.
Standalone or semi-detached villas within approved developments, suited to investors who want a private residence they will actually use rather than a yield instrument. Usually the highest entry price and the most straightforward ownership.
The honest comparison
The comparison is straightforward once you stop framing it as cheaper or more expensive. The donation costs less and the money is gone. Property costs more and some of it may come back.
| Factor | NDF donation | Approved real estate |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | $230,000 (household of up to 4) | from $300,000 |
| Do you get money back? | No — a non-refundable contribution | An asset you may resell after 5 years |
| Complexity | Simpler; fewer moving parts | Property selection, legal review, holding rules |
| Effect on timeline | Typically the fastest route | Adds property-specific steps before and after approval |
| Holding period | None | 5 years before resale |
| Ongoing obligations | None after the contribution | Ownership costs, management fees, maintenance |
| Best for | Households wanting the lowest, simplest cost | Investors who want Caribbean exposure anyway |
The framing we would encourage is this: decide whether you want Caribbean property on its own merits first. If the answer is yes, the real estate route lets the same capital do two jobs and is a genuinely good structure. If the answer is no, then you are buying an asset you do not want in order to save money you will not save, and the donation is the cleaner decision.
We have no preference between the two and are not a property agency. Where a client's case points to the donation, we say so, and the cost breakdown shows what each route actually totals for a given household.
Real estate questions
Free consultation
Tell us what you want from the capital as well as from the passport. If property is right for you we will work through the approved options; if it is not, we will say so and model the donation instead.
No obligation
Tell us about your household and we will send a written, itemised estimate for the route that actually fits — including the fees most sites leave out.