Antigua and Barbuda is a beautiful place to live and retire. The citizenship of this country offers numerous opportunities and benefits. The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program started back in 2013 and since then it has grown as more and more investors are showing interest in getting a second citizenship of the country. So, if you are looking to invest your money in exchange for a second passport then Antigua and Barbuda can be your destination.
The Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program is lucrative it allows the high net work families to gain access to their country. Moreover, they can even get access to the Europe and other countries. The major Asian countries are also on their passport list of visa-free travel. So, you can boost your business while traveling to those countries.
What are the benefits of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment?
The answer to this question is that their citizenship by investment program is much cheaper than European countries and allows you to invest as little as 100,000 US dollars to get citizenship. However, this amount will be donated to national funds of the government and is non-refundable. However, if you are looking to buy a property there you need to invest at least 200,000 US dollars in government-approved projects. It is still cheaper than in many European countries.
The another benefit is that the processing time is quick you can get your passport from Antigua and Barbuda within 3 to 6 months. But only if the application process goes smoothly and there are no hiccups so to avoid the delay fill your forms correctly and honestly as they have strict due diligence procedures.
The biggest benefit of an Antigua and Barbuda passport is that you will have travel freedom. You can visit up to 150 countries without the need for a visa and visa on arrival. The countries even include the UK, Europe Schengen zone, Hong Kong, Russia, and Singapore. Moreover, you can live in the UK for up to 180 days with the passport of Antigua and Barbuda. You are also free to travel Schengen zone without the need for a visa. So, the passport of Antigua and Barbuda will open many doors for you.
Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the commonwealth which gives numerous benefits to the passport holder in The United Kingdom and other member states. The Antigua and Barbuda is a dreamy place to live if you do not want to travel they have beaches and beautiful landscapes that will surely attract you.
Another benefit is that you can include your family members. You can include your spouse and your dependant children under the age of 31. You can even add parents if they are above the age of 55.
Requirements of Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment
The first requirement is that the applicant must be over 18 years of age. You can choose any option from the four options of requirements available.
The requirement for investment is that the applicant must invest at least 100,000 US dollars in the government fund which is non-refundable. The second option is that the applicant must invest 150,000 US dollars in the University of West Indies. This amount is also non-refundable. The third option is that you should invest at least 200,000 US dollars in the real estate which is approved by the government of Antigua and Barbuda. However, you should know that the property cannot be sold for at least five years. So, you are stuck with it. You cannot dispose of the property for the next 5 years.
The fourth option is for those who have a lot of money and want to invest more than the initial amount. If you have the money you can buy the direct approved business for 1.5 million USD dollars. The advantage is that you will get the working business but only if you have this much money to invest. However, choose any form other three options if you are not looking to invest in the business.
These are the basic requirements if you want to acquire Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment.
Procedure To get the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment
The government-approved authority known as Citizenship by Investment Unit AKA CIU is responsible for all applications and they will determine if you qualify or not. They take a look at the application very thoroughly and in some cases can ask for an interview with the applicant. So, be prepared for that as well.
The procedure is that you invest the money and fulfill all the requirements by filling out the forms you will gather to get the passport from Antigua and Barbuda. They have strict policies of due diligence. If they find out that the applicant has missing the form or omitted any option they will simply decline your application. So, when filling out the required forms do not omit anything. They don’t have very complex forms they are straightforward but mistakes can be made so to avoid this you can hire professional help. But it totally depends on you.
You will undergo the due diligence and they will check if you have any criminal record or not. If not then you will be notified. The whole process can take up to 3 to 6 months. So, be patient as they have a lot of applications to go through.
If the submission is successful you will be required to stay in the Antigua and Barbuda for at least five days. However, if you have purchased the property the stay period can vary depending on the project. Once you get the passport it will be valid for five years then you have to renew it.
Conclusion
Antigua and Barbuda is an excellent place to invest your money as it offers numerous benefits like living in Antigua and Barbuda or living in Europe. You can just visit or expand your business by taking advantage of the Antigua and Barbuda passport.