The United States has announced partial travel restrictions on citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, citing their citizenship by investment programs as the main reason. The restrictions are scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, and will suspend most visa categories for affected nationals.
The policy applies to most visas for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, including:
- Immigrant visas.
- Visitor visas.
- Student visas.
According to the transcript, the White House says the measure is intended to prevent people from using second passports to avoid travel or financial restrictions.
Citizenship by investment cited as the reason
Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica both operate citizenship by investment programs. These programs allow qualified applicants to obtain citizenship after meeting investment and due diligence requirements.
The US administration specifically cited these programs as the primary reason for the partial entry ban.
The measure does not apply to all Caribbean citizenship by investment countries. Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia are not included in the restrictions, despite also operating citizenship by investment programs.
Antigua and Barbuda pushes back
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne rejected the basis for the decision, arguing that the policy relies on outdated information.
He pointed to a new law requiring at least 30 days of physical residence for citizenship applicants. He also said Antigua and Barbuda has worked with US agencies to strengthen vetting.
According to the transcript, Browne plans to write to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to request a review of the decision.
Dominica seeks clarification
Dominica is seeking urgent clarification from the US Embassy in Bridgetown.
The country says it will cooperate with US authorities.
Other countries affected
The restrictions also apply to 15 mostly African countries, including:
- Nigeria.
- Angola.
- Zambia.
- Tonga.
Laos and Sierra Leone are also affected, moving from partial travel restrictions to full bans.
Review timeline
The US administration says the restrictions will be reviewed every six months.
That means the policy could change or be reversed by June 2026, though the transcript notes that the outcome remains uncertain.
Practical implications
The announcement creates uncertainty for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica who rely on US visa access for travel, study, immigration, or business.
It also raises a broader issue for citizenship by investment programs: second passports may face greater scrutiny if major countries believe they can be used to bypass travel or financial restrictions.
For investors, the key distinction is that not all Caribbean citizenship by investment countries are affected. Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are included in the partial restrictions, while Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia are not.
