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The Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda are a beach-loving expat’s dream destination.
The pristine sands of a single beach on Barbuda stretch for more than 10 miles, with crystal blue waters lapping the palm-fringed shores.
But don’t be fooled into thinking the tiny island paradise is poor or underdeveloped.
Antigua & Barbuda may have a small GDP compared with many countries, but the islands have thriving tourist and financial services sectors that underpin the economy. Tourism accounts for around 80 per cent of GDP.
Historically, Antigua & Barbuda are former British colonies that are now an independent country and member of the Commonwealth.
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No tax for expats settling in Antigua & Barbuda
Another attraction for expats is Antigua & Barbuda has no income, capital gains or inheritance taxes for residents on their worldwide income.
This makes the islands an attractive zero-tax zone for wealthy digital nomad expats seeking to run their businesses from a tax haven – although be warned Antigua & Barbuda are actively file tax reports under the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA) and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS).
Travelling to and from the capital St John’s is easy as the city has an international airport with direct flights to the UK and USA. London is around eight hour’s flying time from the Caribbean.
About Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua & Barbuda are part of the Windward Islands, lying 800 miles north of Venezuela.
East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Capital
St John’s (Antigua – Population: 22,000) – the country’s largest city, port and where the international airport is located
Towns and cities
Antigua: All Saints, Pigotts and Liberta
Barbuda: Codrington
Population
102,400
British Expats
2,800 British expats live in Antigua & Barbuda
Languages
The national language is English, but Spanish is spoken by about 10,000 people
Climate
The Antigua & Barbuda climate is dry and sunny for most of the year. The wettest time is between September and November when hurricanes can strike the islands.
Year-round temperatures average 27 °C (80.6 °F), with a range from 23 °C (73.4 °F) to 29 °C (84.2 °F) in the winter to between 25 °C (77.0 °F) to 30 °C (86.0 °F) in the summer and autumn. The temperature cools between December and February.
GDP
The Antigua & Barbuda GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is one of the lowest in the world – posting US$1.471 billion in 2021, which ranked 180th in a list of 196 countries.
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Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship By Investment Options
Antigua & Barbuda have offered a citizenship by investment program since 2014.
To file an application, the lead person must be:
- Over 18
- Meet the qualifying tests
And opt for one of three investments:
- GIve a non-refundable minimum US$200,000 to the government’s national development fund
- Invest at least US$400,000 into an approved real estate project for five years
- Invest US$1,500,000 as a sole or joint investor into a single business
The applicant must spend at least five days on the islands in the first five years after granting citizenship.
Travel
An Antigua & Barbuda passport offered to expats on the citizenship program allows visa-free travel to 165 countries, including the UK, all European Union countries, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Timescale
Citizenship by investment applications can take up to 12 months to process.
Visas
Although British expats do not need a visa to visit Antigua & Barbuda, they do need a permit to work.
Usually, a tourist or business visit can last for up to six months. Multiple entry visas are available over 12 or 24 months.
Visa applications may be made online. The supporting documentation includes:
- Valid passport valid for at six months from the date of arrival in Antigua & Barbuda
- A 45mm x 35mm coloured passport photograph
- A return ticket, enough money to pay their way while on the islands and confirmation of somewhere to stay
- Birth certificate
- Police certificate
- Immigration status in current home country
Find out more about Antigua & Barbuda visa applications
Tax
For an expat to establish tax residency in Antigua & Barbuda, they must:
- Live on the islands as their main home
- Spend at least 30 days a year in the country
- Earn US$100,000 a year
- Pay a US$20,000 a year flat rate tax
Tax residents pay no income tax, capital gains, or inheritance taxes on worldwide income or assets.
Cost Of Living
Due to a lack of official data, comparing the cost of living in St John’s, the Antiguan capital, with London is impossible.
However, some groceries are much cheaper than in the UK, but imported goods, like cars, clothing and white goods are more expensive.
Prices are going up slower than in the UK, with year-on-year inflation running at around 4.5 per cent.
Property
Expats seeking to buy property in Antigua & Barbuda need a landholding licence from the government unless they are applying for citizenship by investment as the program already includes a licence.
Opening a local bank account is unnecessary for expat property buyers, although dealing locally can ease property finances as transactions can be carried out in East Caribbean Dollars without worrying about exchange rate fluctuation or currency exchange fees.
Buying and owning property does come with some fees – the closing fee to complete the purchase is one per cent of the agreed price plus 2.5 per cent stamp duty. Rental income (ABST) is taxed at 15 per cent.
Other property taxes levied by the Antigua & Barbuda Inland Revenue may apply each year.
| Property type | Monthly rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | $999.06 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | $740.04 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | $1,850.10 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | $1,295.07 |
For homebuyers, the mortgage rate is about 9 per cent and the average monthly take-home pay is US$999.
Expats tend to buy villas with four or more bedrooms, with prices of between US250,000 and US$12,500,000.
View Antigua & Barbuda properties for sale on Rightmove
Healthcare
Antigua & Barbuda has just one hospital and two health clinics.
The hospital – the Mount St John Medical Centre on Antigua – is not free to expats and sometimes demands immediate payment from patients.
Patients suffering from serious medical conditions are often airlifted to the US, adding a huge amount to the cost of treatment.
Expats are advised to take out adequate medical insurance before travelling to Antigua & Barbuda and to maintain cover if they become residents.
Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship By Investment FAQ
Find out more about the Antigua & Barbuda citizenship by investment program
Can the Antigua & Barbuda government take away citizenship?
Citizenship can be withdrawn if the applicant spends fewer than five days on the islands for the five years after citizenship was granted.
The government will also take away citizenship if someone lies or conceals information on the application or the person has been convicted in Antigua and Barbuda for treason or sedition.
When is a citizenship application rejected?
Ineligible applicants are as follows:
- When a doctor diagnoses any family member suffers from a contagious disease and/or serious health problems
- When an applicant has at any time been convicted in any country of an offence for which the maximum custodial penalty is more than six months imprisonment
- From anyone subject of a criminal investigation
- Is a potential national security risk to Antigua and Barbuda or to any other country
- Is involved in any activity likely to cause disrepute to Antigua and Barbuda
- Has been denied a visa to a country with which Antigua and Barbuda has visa-free travel and who has not subsequently obtained a visa to the country that issued the denial
How long is the flight from Antigua to the UK?
Antigua is 4,010 miles from London, with the flight to Heathrow taking an average of eight hours.
What’s the currency in Antigua & Barbuda?
The Antiguan currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD).
Do British passport holders need a visa?
British passport holders do not need a visa to enter Antigua & Barbuda. On arrival, expats are granted a specific stay which can be extended for a fee. However, a visa does not entitle an expat to work.
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