Antigua & Barbuda Increases Residency Requirement to 30 Days in CBI Law Update

Antigua and Barbuda has approved amendments to its Citizenship by Investment Act 2013, introducing new requirements for future applicants and strengthening the regulatory framework governing the program.

The most notable change increases the mandatory physical presence requirement from five to 30 days. Under the amended legislation, the main applicant and all included family members must spend a cumulative total of at least 30 days in Antigua and Barbuda within the first five years after obtaining citizenship.

The new requirement applies only to applications submitted after the amendments enter into force and does not affect existing citizens.
In addition to the revised residency requirement, the legislation introduces new governance measures for the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).

These include mandatory annual independent financial audits, operational audits every two years in accordance with internationally recognised standards, regular reporting obligations and a legal requirement for the CIU to comply with the standards and directives established by the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA).

Part of a Wider Caribbean Reform

The legislative changes form part of a broader reform of Caribbean citizenship by investment programs agreed by the five member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The reform includes the establishment of ECCIRA, a regional regulator responsible for overseeing national Citizenship by Investment Units, introducing common due diligence standards, conducting program audits and promoting consistent regulatory practices across participating jurisdictions. ECCIRA is expected to become operational in September.

The amendments were approved shortly after the European Commission renewed its call for five Caribbean countries to phase out their citizenship by investment programs by June 2028 or face the possible suspension of visa-free access to the Schengen Area. Caribbean governments have maintained that the current legislative reforms were initiated before the Commission’s latest proposal and are part of an ongoing regional effort to strengthen program governance and regulatory oversight.

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