Antigua and Barbuda vs Republic of the Philippines
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda offers citizenship by investment through its Citizenship by Investment Unit, with options including the National Development Fund, approved real estate, the University of the West Indies Fund, and business investment. The twin-island state also issues ordinary work permits. It is one of the five Eastern Caribbean CBI states bound by the 2024 CARICOM agreement, and applicants must spend a short period in the country within their first five years.
- Official portal
- Citizenship by Investment Unit (Antigua and Barbuda)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- East Caribbean dollar
Republic of the Philippines
The Bureau of Immigration, under the Department of Justice, administers most visas in the Philippines, while the Philippine Retirement Authority runs the well-known Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV). Headline routes include the 9G pre-arranged employment visa (paired with a Department of Labor and Employment work permit), the 13A non-quota immigrant visa by marriage, the SRRV and investor routes (SIRV, SVEG), and a Digital Nomad Visa established by Executive Order in 2025.
- Official portal
- Bureau of Immigration (Philippines)
- Languages
- Filipino, English
- Currency
- Philippine peso
How Antigua and Barbuda and Republic of the Philippines differ
| Dimension | Antigua and Barbuda | Republic of the Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 5 | 8 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 4 | 6 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 5 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund | 9(G) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | English | Filipino, English |
| Currency | East Caribbean dollar | Philippine peso |
| Primary regulator | CIU | IBP |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Republic of the Philippines
9(G) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Routes unique to Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund
citizenship-by-investment
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - Approved Real Estate
citizenship-by-investment
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - University of the West Indies Fund
citizenship-by-investment
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - Business Investment
citizenship-by-investment
Visa routes side by side
Antigua and Barbuda (5)
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund
No sponsor · To settlement · Full citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; a short physical-presence step applies in the early years (see FAQ).
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - Approved Real Estate
No sponsor · To settlement · Full citizenship; the qualifying property must be held for a minimum period before it can be resold under the programme.
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - University of the West Indies Fund
No sponsor · To settlement · Full citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; the early-years physical-presence step applies.
Antigua and Barbuda CBI - Business Investment
No sponsor · To settlement · Full citizenship once the qualifying business investment is made and the application is approved; the early-years physical-presence step applies.
Antigua and Barbuda Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A temporary, employer-tied permit, typically issued for a defined period and renewable; it does not by itself lead to settlement.
Republic of the Philippines (8)
9(G) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Granted in line with the employment contract, commonly for periods of one to three years and renewable.
13(A) Non-Quota Immigrant Visa by Marriage
Sponsor · To settlement · Probationary for the first year, then permanent on conversion once the marriage is confirmed subsisting.
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
No sponsor · To settlement · Indefinite stay with multiple-entry privileges while the qualifying deposit and conditions are maintained.
Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
No sponsor · To settlement · Probationary on issue, then indefinite stay for as long as the qualifying investment is maintained.
Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG)
No sponsor · To settlement · Resident status with multiple-entry privileges while the qualifying enterprise and employment continue.
Digital Nomad Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Designed for up to about one year, renewable once, subject to the implementing rules.
9(A) Temporary Visitor Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short initial stay on entry, extendable in increments up to the maximum allowed for temporary visitors.
Quota Immigrant Visa (Section 13)
No sponsor · To settlement · Permanent residence once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Antigua and Barbuda or Republic of the Philippines?+
Antigua and Barbuda’s Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund is the dominant skilled route; Republic of the Philippines’s 9(G) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Antigua and Barbuda or Republic of the Philippines have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of the Philippines has more: 6 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 4 for Antigua and Barbuda. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.