Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament is considering the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2026, which would raise the post‑naturalisation physical‑presence requirement for successful applicants from five days to 30 days within the first five years of citizenship. The amendment also adds new oversight duties for the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).
What is changing?
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Residency requirement:
- Current law: minimum of 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda over the first five years after citizenship is granted.
- Proposed law: minimum of 30 days over the same period.
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Investment routes and eligibility: No alterations to the existing options (real‑estate, government fund, or business investment) or to the eligibility criteria.
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Legislative timeline: The bill was tabled on July 14, 2024 by Prime Minister Gaston Browne and will be debated in Parliament.
Why the increase?
- The change aligns the national law with the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) Agreement, which already applies a 30‑day residency rule administratively.
- It follows a broader regional reform process that began with a 2024 Memorandum of Agreement among the five Eastern Caribbean states operating CBI programs. The agreement set common standards for pricing, due diligence, transparency, and governance.
- ECCIRA is slated to become operational in September 2026, providing a regional oversight body for all participating programs.
Strengthened oversight for the CIU
If enacted, the CIU will be subject to:
- Annual independent financial audits and operational audits every two years, conducted under internationally accepted auditing standards.
- Reporting obligations: continued reports to Parliament and, once ECCIRA is active, semi‑annual reports to the regional authority.
These measures aim to improve transparency, accountability, and consistency across Caribbean CBI schemes.
Implications for prospective investors
- Investment options remain unchanged, so the cost and qualifying thresholds for real‑estate, government fund, or business contributions are unaffected.
- The 30‑day physical‑presence requirement is modest compared with many residence‑by‑investment programs, which often demand several months of annual presence.
- Applicants who already plan periodic visits to Antigua and Barbuda are unlikely to face a material barrier; the rule primarily serves to demonstrate a tangible connection to the country.
Outlook
The amendment reflects a continued shift toward regional harmonisation and stronger regulatory oversight of Caribbean citizenship‑by‑investment programs. By codifying the 30‑day residency rule and mandating independent audits, Antigua and Barbuda is embedding the ECCIRA commitments into domestic law, aiming to preserve international confidence and ensure the long‑term sustainability of its investment migration sector.
Source article: outboundinvestment.com
