Enhancements to the Antigua and Barbuda CIP

The Government of Antigua & Barbuda announced a number of amendments to their Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) that will ensure it remains one of the top options in the Caribbean. The most noteworthy change is the ability of the main applicant or their spouse to now add an unmarried sibling to the application.

The amendments focus on expanding the definition of dependents, specifically:

• A child of the principal applicant, or of his or her spouse, who is 0 – 30 years of age and is financially dependent;
• A parent or grandparent of the principal applicant or of his or her spouse, who is fifty-five (55) years of age or older and who is financially dependent (previously this was 58 years of age); and
• An unmarried sibling of the principal applicant, or of his or her spouse (new).

Previously adult children needed to be enrolled full time in post-secondary school but this requirement has been reduced to only needing to be financially dependent. This new definition aligns with Grenada CIP’s definition of an adult child dependent which is the most flexible in the Caribbean.

In addition to the expansion of the definition of dependents, Antigua has also reduced the fees to add a future spouse or child as follows:

• A future spouse of the principal applicant. A fee of US $50,000 will apply;
• A future spouse of dependent children where the dependent child is financially dependent on the principal applicant; and
• A future child of a dependent child.

A fee of US $10,000 applies for children under 5 years of age and US $20,000 for children between 6 – 17 years of age.

The Antigua CIP has always been an attractive CIP for discerning private clients and these enhancements will only further solidify it as a top option for families looking to add a second citizenship.

Contact us for more information on the Antigua CIP.