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Antigua and Barbuda · citizenship by investment · Leads to settlement

Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 4 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

For people who want citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by making a one-time, non-refundable donation to the National Development Fund, rather than buying property or a business. This is the most popular route.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyFull citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; a short physical-presence step applies in the early years (see FAQ).In flux
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official CIU page.
Government fees
Indicative only - a non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund applies, set by family size, plus due-diligence and government fees. The shared CARICOM US$200,000 floor applies. Confirm current amounts on the official CIU page.
Typical duration
Full citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; a short physical-presence step applies in the early years (see FAQ).
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit ↗

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund for Antigua and Barbuda is an unsponsored Antigua & Barbuda immigration route. Sources: official Antigua and Barbuda government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/antigua-and-barbuda/cbi-national-development-fund#answer

What is the Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund in Antigua and Barbuda?

Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund is an unsponsored Antigua & Barbuda route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - a non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund applies, set by family size, plus due-diligence and government fees. The shared CARICOM US$200,000 floor applies. Confirm current amounts on the official CIU page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official CIU page; typical duration is Full citizenship once the contribution is made and the application is approved; a short physical-presence step applies in the early years (see FAQ). This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The National Development Fund (NDF) is the donation option of the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme, run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). You make a single non-refundable contribution to a government fund that finances public and private-sector projects, and in return you and qualifying family members can be granted citizenship after due-diligence checks. It is usually the most affordable of the Antigua routes for a family. Amounts and family bands are set by the government and change. Good to know: Antigua and Barbuda applies a small physical-presence expectation in the first years (see the FAQ) - confirm the current rule before you apply on the official CIU page.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    On the official CIU page, confirm the National Development Fund option, the current amount for your family size, and the physical-presence rule.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Assemble passports, birth certificates, police clearances and proof of lawful funds for everyone on the application.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply through an authorised agent, who files with the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

  4. After approval

    Make the contribution as instructed, collect your certificate and passport, and plan for the early-years physical-presence step.

After a successful citizenship decision

For Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Check whether an oath, registration, certificate or passport application remains outstanding. Do not assume that approval of citizenship is itself a travel document.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Check passport-use obligations and the effect on any other nationality before renouncing or using another passport.
Official Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Antigua & Barbuda

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Antigua and Barbuda CBI - National Development Fund.

    Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I have to spend time in Antigua and Barbuda to keep my citizenship?+

Antigua and Barbuda has applied a small physical-presence expectation - historically around 5 days spent in the country within the first 5 years - before the passport can be renewed at the end of its initial term. This differs from some other Caribbean programmes that ask for none. The exact rule can change, so confirm the current physical-presence requirement on the official CIU page before you apply.

Is the National Development Fund contribution refundable?+

No - it is a one-time, non-refundable donation. Good to know: due-diligence and government fees are generally non-refundable too. Confirm exactly when and how the contribution is paid on the official CIU page.

Do I have to buy property to get Antigua and Barbuda citizenship, or can I just make a donation?+

You do not have to buy property - the National Development Fund route lets you qualify through a one-time, non-refundable donation to a government fund rather than buying property or a business, and it is usually the most affordable Antigua route for a family. If you would rather own an asset, the approved real-estate option requires investing in a government-approved development held for a minimum period. Confirm the current options on the official CIU page.

What is the minimum investment for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment?+

A shared CARICOM minimum of US$200,000 applies across all qualifying investment options and has been in force since 1 July 2024, with discounting below that floor not allowed. The exact contribution for your family size and chosen route is set by the government and changes, so confirm the current amount on the official CIU page.

Is Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship-by-investment programme changing in 2026?+

The five Eastern Caribbean programmes, including Antigua and Barbuda, have enacted a new permanent regional regulator (ECCIRA), headquartered in Grenada and standing up in 2026. A region-wide 30-day physical-presence requirement within the first five years has been proposed but its start date has slipped to around mid-2026, so current presence rules still differ by country. Always confirm the current options and rules on the official CIU page before you apply.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit

Last checked: 1 June 2026

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