The University of the West Indies Fund (UWIF) of Antigua and Barbuda

The University of the West Indies Fund (UWIF) of Antigua and Barbuda is a special investment option within the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, designed for large families of 6 or more members. It is the most cost-effective of Antigua and Barbuda’s CBI options for large families, with a contribution of $260,000 USD that includes the government processing fees — a notable figure compared with the other options.

The UWIF was launched in October 2018 and significantly amended in May 2020 to support funding the fourth campus of the University of the West Indies at Five Islands, Antigua. A unique feature of this option is that one family member receives a one-year tuition-only scholarship at the UWI Five Islands Campus — a significant additional benefit on top of citizenship and passports. This article analyses in detail the UWIF, contribution levels, the accompanying scholarship and a comparison with other CBI options.

Detailed article onthe country of Antigua and Barbuda.

Legal framework and purpose

The UWIF was established by decision of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda under the framework of the Citizenship by Investment Programme Act, 2013. The fund is a special financial mechanism serving two combined purposes: funding the development of the UWI Five Islands Campus and attracting investment from large families through the CBI programme.

According to the official websiteCIU, the UWIF is the financing mechanism for UWI’s fourth campus at Five Islands, Antigua. Revenue and returns from the fund are reinvested in developing educational activities at the campus, positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a regional higher education hub for the Eastern Caribbean.

The UWI Five Islands Campus is the fifth campus of the University of the West Indies — the regional Caribbean university founded in 1948, with more than 50,000 students across campuses in Jamaica (Mona), Trinidad and Tobago (St. Augustine), Barbados (Cave Hill) and the Open Campus for distance learning. According to information on theofficial UWI Five Islands website, the campus officially launched in 2019 with the backing of Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

UWIF contribution levels

The UWIF’s financial structure is specifically designed for large families:

• Family of 6: $260,000 USD contribution (government processing fees included)
• Family of 7 or more: $260,000 USD + $10,000 USD for each additional dependant
• Due diligence fee: $7,500 USD for the main applicant and $4,000 USD for each dependant aged 12+
• Interview fee: $1,500 USD per person aged 16+
• Passport fee: $300 USD per passport

This is an important difference from the NDF option: while the NDF requires separate government processing fees ($30,000 USD for a family of 4 + $15K for each additional person), the UWIF includes all processing fees in the $260,000 USD contribution. This makes the UWIF a significantly cheaper option for large families.

The total cost for a family of 6 (parents + 4 children under 16) through the UWIF is about $293,000 USD, compared with the NDF option for the same family:

• NDF for a family of 6: $245,000 contribution + $60,000 processing fees ($30K + 2x$15K) + $19,500 due diligence fees + $1,500 interview fees + $1,800 passports = ~$327,800
• UWIF for a family of 6: $260,000 contribution + $19,500 due diligence fees + $1,500 interview fees + $1,800 passports = ~$282,800
• Savings: about $45,000 USD

The savings grow with the number of family members. For a family of 8, the UWIF can save $60,000–$80,000 USD compared with the NDF.

The UWI scholarship

A unique feature of the UWIF is the scholarship benefit at the University of the West Indies. One family member included in the CBI application can receive a one-year tuition-only scholarship at the UWI Five Islands Campus.

Scholarship details:

• Scope: full tuition — excluding accommodation, meals and living costs
• Duration: 1 academic year
• Beneficiary: any 1 family member included in the application
• Time frame for use: within 5 years of receiving citizenship
• Requirement: must be admitted to a UWI Five Islands programme under the standard entry criteria

The UWI Five Islands Campus currently offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through four schools:

• School of Business and Innovation: business, management and innovation
• School of Health Sciences: health, nursing and health sciences
• School of Humanities and Education: humanities, languages and education
• School of Science and Technology: science, information technology and mathematics

From September 2026, the campus will add a Bachelor of Laws programme. A School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence is also being developed with $200 million USD of investment from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), announced in September 2025.

Studying is not required to keep citizenship — families can choose not to use the scholarship and still keep full citizenship rights. However, the scholarship is a significant financial benefit if used — one year’s tuition at UWI is normally about $5,000–$8,000 USD for OECS citizens or $15,000–$20,000 USD for international students.

UWIF eligibility requirements

The eligibility requirements for the UWIF option differ in some ways from the other CBI options:

• Minimum number of family members: 6 people
• Main applicant: aged 18 or over
• Eligible dependants: spouse, children under 30, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over, and unmarried siblings
• Clean criminal record: no serious criminal record
• Good health: no serious communicable diseases
• Lawful assets: evidence of a transparent source of funds
• Pass CIU due diligence: under the standard process

The physical residence requirement of 5 days within the first 5 years after receiving citizenship applies as for the other options. The UWI scholarship is available only if the family member meets the university’s academic criteria.

The citizenship application process via the UWIF

The citizenship application processvia the UWIF option is similar to the other options:

Step 1: Consult an authorised agent

Contact an agent licensed by the CIU. The agent assesses eligibility, especially the requirement for a family of at least 6, and advises on the most suitable option.

Step 2: Prepare the family file

The file must include documents for all 6 or more family members:

• A valid passport and certified copies
• A birth certificate with an apostille or equivalent certification
• Police clearance certificates from every country of residence for more than 6 months
• Evidence of family relationships (marriage certificate, adoption papers if applicable)
• Evidence of income and financial dependency for members over 18
• Proof of the source of the investment funds
• Medical certificates for all members

Step 3: Submit the application to the CIU

The authorised agent submits the file to the CIU together with the full due diligence fees. The CIU checks that the file is complete and starts the due diligence process.

Step 4: Due diligence and interviews

The CIU carries out multi-level due diligence on all family members aged 12 and over. The main applicant and dependants aged 16+ attend mandatory online interviews.

Step 5: Approval and contribution

After passing due diligence, the CIU issues an Approval-in-Principle Letter. The applicant has 30 days to make the $260,000 USD contribution to the UWIF. The contribution is transferred to a special account managed by the government.

Step 6: Issue of certificates and passports

The CIU issues Certificates of Registration of Citizenship to all family members. Passports are issued within 4 weeks. The Oath of Allegiance is taken in Antigua and Barbuda or at the nearest Embassy/Consulate.

Comparing the UWIF with other CBI options

For large families, choosing between the UWIF and the other options is an important decision. Points of comparison:

• UWIF for a family of 6: ~$282,800 USD in total + a 1-year UWI scholarship (worth $5K–$20K)
• NDF for a family of 6: ~$327,800 USD in total — $45,000 USD more expensive
• Real estate investment for a family of 6: ~$362,800 USD in total, but with a tangible asset
• Business investment for a family of 6: $1.5M USD individually — not realistic for a standard family

The rule of thumb: if the family has 6 or more members and no need to own a tangible asset, the UWIF is the optimal choice. Saving $45,000+ USD compared with the NDF, combined with the UWI scholarship, adds up to significant value. For families of 4 or fewer, the NDF is the only suitable option, since the UWIF applies only to families of 6 or more.

For a family of 5 (not eligible for the UWIF), the NDF is the cheapest option. Adding one more person (an elderly parent or an unmarried sibling) to reach 6 members may make the UWIF more economical. This is why many families interested in the UWIF structure carefully consider including additional eligible dependants. Details of all the CBI options are set out in the articleAntigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment.

Additional benefits of the UWIF

Besides citizenship and the UWI scholarship, the UWIF option brings several additional benefits:

• Educational support for all members: UWI Five Islands offers a wide range of programmes suited to children of university age
• Preferential tuition for OECS citizens: after receiving citizenship, other family members pay UWI tuition at OECS citizen rates (50–70% lower than international rates)
• Access to the Caribbean education system: including prestigious schools and international programmes
• A positive social contribution: UWIF funds are used to develop education, a worthy purpose
• A Caribbean education network: connections with the large community of UWI students and alumni

For Vietnamese families with several children of university age or approaching it, the UWIF can be a particularly attractive option. The UWI education system is internationally recognised and English is the main language of instruction.

The University of the West Indies Fund (UWIF) of Antigua and Barbuda — a summary

The University of the West Indies Fund (UWIF) of Antigua and Barbuda is the optimal CBI option for large families of 6 or more members. The combination of the lowest cost ($260,000 USD including processing fees), a one-year UWI scholarship and a positive contribution to Caribbean educational development creates a comprehensive solution for many families.

For Vietnamese families with an extended structure (parents + grandparents + several children), the UWIF is an option worth serious consideration. The financial savings compared with the NDF, combined with educational opportunities for children and grandchildren, deliver long-term value. Working through a legitimate authorised agent with deep expertise in family structuring and study planning is the best way to maximise the benefits of this option.