The Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process: 6 detailed steps and processing times

The Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process is a tightly designed sequence of six steps that ensures both the transparency and the efficiency of the Citizenship by Investment programme. The entire process is managed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) under the Citizenship by Investment Act 2013, with a standard time frame of 4–6 months from the start to receiving the passport.

An important feature of the programme is that all CBI citizenship applications must be submitted through an Authorized Agent — there is no direct application route to the CIU. This ensures the process is carried out professionally and in line with the rules, while allowing the CIU to focus on its core tasks of due diligence and approval. This article analyses in detail the six steps of the process, the required documents, fees and timings, and important notes for Vietnamese applicants.

Detailed article onthe country of Antigua and Barbuda.

General requirements before you start

Before starting the Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process, applicants must meet the basic requirements:

• Minimum age: 18 for the main applicant
• Clean criminal record: no serious criminal record in any country of residence for more than 6 months
• Good health: no communicable diseases that could threaten the community
• Lawful assets: a transparent source of funds sufficient to make the required investment
• Residence commitment: 5 days in the first 5 years after receiving citizenship
• English is not required: but interviews are conducted in English or through an interpreter

Eligible dependants include: spouse, children under 30, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over, and unmarried siblings of any age. This is the broadest family structure among the Caribbean CBI programmes.

Step 1: Choose an authorised agent

The first step of the process is choosing an Authorized Agent licensed by the CIU. There are two types of agent:

• Authorized International Marketing Agent (AIMA): operates outside Antigua and Barbuda
• Authorized Local Agent (ALA): submits applications directly to the CIU on behalf of clients

According to information published on the website ofCIU, the list of authorised agents is updated regularly on the official website. Applicants work with an AIMA, which then coordinates with an ALA to submit the application to the CIU.

Criteria for choosing an authorised agent:

• Valid licence: licensed by the CIU and verifiable on the official website
• Experience: years in operation and number of successful applications
• Legal expertise: in-house immigration lawyers and due diligence specialists
• Fee transparency: a detailed fee schedule provided before signing the contract
• Approval rate: a key indicator of service quality
• Multilingual support: including Vietnamese for Vietnamese clients

Agent service fees usually range from 5–15% of total CBI costs, depending on the complexity of the file and the size of the family. The initial consultation with an agent is usually free and includes an assessment of basic eligibility.

Step 2: Prepare a complete file

After signing a contract with an authorised agent, the next step in the Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process is preparing a detailed file. Preparation usually takes 4–8 weeks depending on the complexity of the applicant’s circumstances.

Personal documents for each family member:

• Valid passport: the original + copies of all pages
• Birth certificate: with an apostille or equivalent certification
• Police clearance certificate: from every country of residence for more than 6 months (valid for 3 months)
• Bank statements: for the last 12 months from all accounts
• Proof of the source of the investment funds: business contracts, property sale deeds, tax statements, wills and inheritance documents
• Medical certificate: completed within the last 6 months, on the CIU form
• 6 passport photos: to the ICAO 9303 standard
• CBI citizenship application form: fully completed and notarised

Additional documents:

• Marriage certificate: for married applicants
• Divorce certificate: for divorced applicants (if any)
• Adoption papers: for adopted children (if applicable)
• Proof of financial dependency: for children aged 18–30 and parents
• Proof of education: for children at university (if applicable)

All documents must be translated into English (if in a foreign language) by a certified translator and notarised. Missing or invalid documents are one of the main reasons applications are returned.

Step 3: Submit the application and initial fees

Once the file has been thoroughly checked, the authorised agent submits it to the CIU. The authorised agent is responsible for the validity and completeness of the file.

The initial fees payable on submission, according to theSchedule of Fees CIU:

• Due Diligence Fee: $7,500 USD for the main applicant + $4,000 USD for each dependant aged 12+ (non-refundable)
• 10% of the government processing fee: $3,000 USD for a family of up to 4 people (non-refundable)
• Interview Fee: $1,500 USD per person aged 16+ (paid at the interview stage)

For the NDF option with a family of 4, total initial fees are about $14,500–$22,500 USD, excluding agent service fees. After submission, the CIU issues a receipt confirming the application has been received and starts the due diligence process.

Step 4: Multi-level due diligence and interviews

This is the most important and most time-consuming stage of the whole process. The CIU carries out multi-level due diligence involving many domestic and foreign agencies.

Components of due diligence

The CIU carries out comprehensive checks across many areas:

• Criminal record checks: in Antigua and Barbuda and every country of residence for more than 6 months
• International watchlist checks: Interpol, OFAC (US Treasury), EU sanctions, UN sanctions
• Financial due diligence: proof of the legitimate source of the invested funds
• Political risk checks (PEP): Politically Exposed Persons and influential figures
• Media and social media checks: to detect potential issues
• Checks for links to criminal or terrorist organisations

The CIU works with professional international due diligence firms such as S-RM, IPSA International, Exiger and several other partners. Due diligence takes 60–90 days depending on complexity.

Mandatory interviews

In September 2023, the CIU began requiring mandatory interviews for all main applicants and dependants aged 16 and over. Interview details:

• Format: online via secure video platforms
• Language: mainly English, with interpreters possible for the applicant’s native language
• Duration: 30–60 minutes per person
• Content: verification of the information in the application, reasons for investing and plans for using the citizenship
• Present: usually a representative of the authorised agent and a CIU officer

Common interview questions:

• Why do you want citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda?
• How do you plan to use the citizenship once you have it?
• Where do the investment funds come from?
• Do you plan to live in Antigua?
• What do you know about Antigua and Barbuda?

Inconsistent answers or false information in the interview can lead to immediate rejection of the application. Authorised agents often hold mock interviews before the official interview to help applicants prepare.

Step 5: Approval in principle and investment

After passing due diligence and the interview, the CIU issues an Approval-in-Principle Letter (AIP). This is an important milestone — the application has been approved in principle and only the investment remains to be completed.

In the Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process, applicants have 30 days from receiving the AIP to complete the investment:

• NDF option: transfer $230,000 USD to the Government Special Fund
• Real estate option: complete the property purchase and transfer the full amount
• Business option: transfer capital into the approved business
• UWIF option: transfer $260,000 USD to the University of the West Indies Fund

At the same time, applicants must pay the remaining 90% of the government processing fee:

• Family of up to 4 people: $27,000 USD (the $30,000 total minus the 10% already paid)
• Each additional dependant: $13,500 USD ($15,000 minus 10%)
• Passport fee: $300 USD per passport

Failing to complete the investment within 30 days leads to cancellation of the approval, and the application must be resubmitted from scratch. All fees paid are non-refundable.

Step 6: Certificate, passport and Oath

Once the investment is confirmed, the CIU issues a Certificate of Registration of Citizenship to the main applicant and all approved dependants. This certificate is the official proof of citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda.

The applicant then completes two final tasks:

Oath of Allegiance

The main applicant and all dependants aged 16+ must take the Oath of Allegiance — a commitment to abide by the laws of Antigua and Barbuda. There are three options:

• In Antigua and Barbuda: during the first visit to the country
• At an Embassy/Consulate: the nearest one of Antigua and Barbuda
• Online: by video call with an Antigua and Barbuda official (for those far away)

Passport issue

Once the Oath of Allegiance is complete, theAntigua and Barbuda passportis produced and issued at the Passport Office. Passport issue usually takes 2–4 weeks. The authorised agent can deliver the passport to the applicant by diplomatic courier to a designated address.

Passport features:

• Adult validity: 10 years
• Child validity: 5 years
• Cover: dark blue with the gold coat of arms
• Data page: biometric polycarbonate with an RFID chip
• Benefits: 154 visa-free destinations

Total time and cost

The total time from signing with an agent to receiving the passport is usually about 4–6 months:

• Steps 1–2 (preparing the file): 4–8 weeks
• Step 3 (submission and initial fees): 1 week
• Step 4 (due diligence and interviews): 8–12 weeks
• Step 5 (approval and investment): 4 weeks
• Step 6 (certificate, oath and passport): 4–6 weeks

In 2025–2026, the CIU faced a significant backlog because of a surge in applications ahead of legal changes. The actual time can stretch to 6–9 months.

Total cost for a standard family of 4 through the NDF option:

• NDF contributions: $230.000 USD
• Government processing fee: $30.000 USD
• Due diligence fee: $19.500 USD
• Interview fee: $3,000 USD (for 2 people aged 16+)
• Passport fee: $1.200 USD
• Agent service fees: $20.000-$45.000 USD (5-15%)
• Total: about $303,700–$328,700 USD

Special notes for Vietnamese applicants

Vietnamese people interested in the Antigua and Barbuda CBI programme should note some important points:

Proving the source of funds

This is the toughest requirement for Vietnamese applicants because Vietnam’s financial and tax systems differ from those in the West. Suitable supporting documents include:

• Annual personal income tax statements bearing the official red seal
• Business registration certificates
• Notarised property sale contracts in Vietnam
• Vietnamese bank statements signed and stamped by the bank
• Employment contracts and payslips
• Inheritance or gift certificates

International money transfers from Vietnam must comply with State Bank of Vietnam regulations. Applicants should consult their bank about the procedures for large transfers before starting the process.

Vietnamese criminal record

Criminal Record Certificate No. 1 or No. 2 (as required) must be issued by the local Department of Justice. The certificate must be translated into English and bear an apostille or consular legalisation. This can take 2–4 weeks.

Online interviews

Because interviews are conducted in English, Vietnamese applicants who are not fluent in English should request an interpreter in advance. The authorised agent should help with mock interviews in Vietnamese and English to prepare.

Details of the specific investment options can be found in the articleAntigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment.

The Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process — a summary

The Antigua and Barbuda CBI application process is a tightly organised sequence of six steps combining transparency and efficiency. The standard 4–6 month process (possibly 6–9 months because of the 2025–2026 backlog) ensures thorough due diligence while still offering the fastest route to a second citizenship in the Caribbean.

Three key factors for success: choosing a reputable authorised agent, preparing a thorough and transparent file, and cooperating fully during due diligence and interviews. For Vietnamese applicants, working with an agent who has expertise in the Vietnamese market and understands Vietnam’s financial system is the best way to meet the source-of-funds requirements.