May 20, 2020

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investment to Your New Life

Thinking about investing in citizenship? Antigua and Barbuda usually receives lots of positive feedback. Its offer is the best value for money. The Antigua and Barbuda passport offers its owner numerous benefits. You can apply for it by buying real estate in Antigua and Barbuda. If you are considering obtaining citizenship by investment of Antigua and Barbuda, check out our latest digest.

Recent deterioration of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and a number of post-Soviet countries, as well as the numerous restrictions on financial and other transactions in India and China are forcing a growing number of wealthy individuals to consider moving to the West.

And this can be done in various ways. One of the first options to come to mind is obtaining a residence permit on certain grounds that would open a way to naturalization. But this is a process that lasts long which does not suit many wealthy immigrants. There are also other options. In Ireland, for example, citizenship can be obtained by proving that one of your ancestors was an Irishman.

But if the immigrant does not have such ancestors, this option is no longer available. Fortunately, a number of Western countries have launched special programs for wealthy immigrants, allowing to obtain a passport by investment within 1 to 12 months .

You can find such an immigration program in the Caribbean, in the country of Antigua and Barbuda that boasts a high standard of living and a long-standing partnership with influential Western countries, from Canada to the United Kingdom.

The investment citizenship service market is expanding rapidly, becoming more and more competitive. And recently, a real raging “price war” took place over there. The main result of it is the increasing availability of Caribbean passports to investors.

For example, Antigua and Barbuda has reduced the entry threshold by 50 percent (from USD 200,000 to USD 100,000) to stimulate the demand. According to the islanders, additional investors and their capitals are needed to rebuild the island of Barbuda whose infrastructure was almost completely destroyed by the strongest hurricane in the autumn of 2017.

In an effort to expand the coverage of their program, Antiguans have also introduced the possibility of paying for the program participation not only with American dollars, but also with cryptocurrencies, as well as with the alternative fiduciary money like euro.

But the list of reasons for obtaining the citizenship by investment of Antigua and Barbuda in 2020 is not limited down to this. Especially if a successful applicant decides to move to Antigua and Barbuda having received their new passport. We have prepared this latest theme digest specifically for such individuals, as well as for those who may follow suit, and it is covering the following topics: 

  • Safety (virtually complete absence of fatal road accidents; increased physical safety);
  • Earnings from tourism (growing tourist inflow, investments in new hotels i.e. Marriott Courtyard Antigua and Rosewood Half Moon Bay Antigua);
  • Travels (increased transport accessibility, visa-free Moldova and the prospect of visa-free Canada);
  • Advanced technologies (developing alternative energy, country’s own official cryptocurrency exchange);

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Invest in A Country With Almost Zero Fatal Road Accidents

No deaths in the road accidents were registered in the last five months in the country. The only incident of the kind during the year occurred on March 3, when a police officer failed to control the car and crashed into an obstacle.

According to a press release from the Antigua and Barbuda Road Safety Authority, a number of factors contributed to this result, including the increased awareness of road users, increased compliance with the road safety legislation, and education in the field of road safety.

According to this body, every year there is usually a six-month period when the number of fatal road accidents is zero. Officials say they are ready to do everything in their power to extend this result and improve it as much as possible.

Officials acknowledged that carnival times could become very difficult in terms of accidents. They reminded all the drivers to avoid driving under influence. Officials also urged party goers to use the services of sober taxi drivers to get home safely.

Carnival participants and spectators were also advised to stay away from musical equipment trucks and high voltage wires in the city during the celebrations that are held annually in the summer.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in the Improved Physical Safety and Security Thanks to the Judicial Power Development

In order to further improve the safety and security of residents and visitors to Antigua and Barbuda, the authorities of the island nation set up a special court that focuses on the prompt legal proceedings regarding sexual misconduct cases.

The special court establishing is expected to provide support to victims and witnesses. This step should also facilitate the reduction of such offenses in the islands via their prevention. After this court started operating, potential offenders should have realize that they would receive severe punishment almost immediately without delay.

The new sexual offences court was established in 2019 as part of the Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project; JURIST), which in turn is being implemented via cooperation between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC).

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in the Rental Real Estate and Tourist Businesses in a Country with the Growing Tourist Inflow

One of the most rational ways to apply for Antiguan passport by investment at this stage is to buy a property in Antigua and Barbuda and rent it out afterwards. Since the tourism segment positive dynamics says that there will be plenty of clients to rent this accommodation.

Tourism is flourishing in Antigua. After a difficult second half of 2017, when the islands were hit by powerful hurricanes, Antigua and Barbuda yet again began to record the growth of key indicators of the tourism sector dynamics. In 2018, more than 7 percent more visitors arrived in the country compared to 2017.

Antiguan authorities registered 269,000 visitors to the country in 2018. There has been a significant increase in tourist inflow from key markets, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In the case of the United States of America, there was a 14.35 per cent increase in the number of new arrivals in Antigua, while Canada’s tourist flow showed a tremendous increase of 170 per cent year-on-year in 2018.

The number of visitors from other Caribbean countries and the United Kingdom also increased by 8.69 and 8.27 per cent respectively. In addition, there was an increase in the number of new arrivals by sea from January to May 2018 by 11.57 per cent (502,527), and an increase in the average occupancy rate of hotels by 8.6 per cent.

In 2018, the islands of Antigua and Barbuda welcomed a total of more than 1 million tourists who arrived in the Caribbean country by sea and air. All of these people have chosen to stay in one of the most popular resort destinations of the Caribbean, where a variety of attractions is in place, from all-inclusive resorts to some rather impressive beaches. The number of beaches in the islands is 365, one for each day of the year.

It should be noted that citizenship by investing in the resort property in Antigua and Barbuda is not the only way to get local passport with a benefit. Experts also recommend obtaining citizenship by investing in tourism-related businesses, which can cover a wide variety of segments , from restaurants to water sports.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in A New Marriott-Branded Hotel

In recent months and years, the Caribbean country has been actively renovating its existing hotels and building new resorts, which increases its tourism potential. The relevant development projects often receive a “green light” from the local government to attract capital from foreigners who want to obtain citizenship by investing in real estate in Antigua and Barbuda. One of such projects is the Marriott Courtyard Antigua.

The new Marriott Courtyard hotel which belongs to the most recognizable business hotels brands will be built in the island of Antigua next to the V.C. Bird International Airport. Once completed, the new hotel will offer 125 high-end rooms, meeting rooms, a restaurant, casinos and other leisure and business facilities. The Marriott Courtyard Antigua construction is the result of partnership between G.P. Group and Marriott International.

Commenting on the project, Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that the Marriott Courtyard was a perfect addition to his Government’s plan to turn Antigua and Barbuda into an economic center of the Caribbean.

“Business travelers coming to Antigua will have the opportunity to stay in one of the best business hotels in the world,” the Prime Minister said, adding that he hopes to start construction in the near future and complete it in the short term. The politician reminded that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has a task to increase the number of rooms in the country to 10,000 over the next few years.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in the Resort Of Rosewood Half Moon Bay Antigua

Yet another new approved development project investing into which you can get citizenship by investment of Antigua and Barbuda is called the Rosewood Half Moon Bay Hotel. It is expected to be completed in 2021 with a grand opening.

The project is backed by a Vancouver-based developer Replay Destinations who chose the Rosewood Hotels and Resorts Group to manage the Rosewood Half Moon Bay Antigua Resort. According to the project, the resort will be located on a 130-acre land plot stretching along the Half Moon Bay.

The new resort will not be built from scratch. It will replace the former Half Moon Bay Hotel that was founded in the 1950s and has been a popular holiday destination and resort for the rich and famous for decades.

The revamped resort that is supposed to be a tranquil oasis for discerning travelers, will offer its guests 47 rooms, including a luxurious three-bedroom presidential suite. Staying in any room, you can enjoy breathtaking ocean views and well-thought-through infrastructure.

The Rosewood Half Moon Bay Antigua Resort will be also offering its investors a number of exclusive ocean-view villas. There will also be a bar where guests can enjoy Caribbean cocktails accompanied by live reggae and ska music that will create an atmosphere of an exciting night.

In addition, the resort will have a beach bar with a grill, as well as an organic farm that will offer fresh ingredients for the seasonal menu all the year round. Additional amenities include two pools, one adult and one family, a fitness center, tennis courts and a spa.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in A Country with The Growing Transport Accessibility

Getting to these and other Antiguan resorts will soon become even easier thanks to the growing transport accessibility of the island nation. This only benefits foreigners who are going to get a new citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda upon buying real estate for renting it out to tourists.

Yet another major carrier has added flights to Antigua and Barbuda to its services. Delta Air Lines has successfully implemented its long-standing plans to launch a new route between the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (USA) and Antigua. The flights to this new destination are carried out weekly on Saturdays.

The start of the new route flights by Delta Air Lines was announced shortly after American Airlines announced that it would add a second daily flight to Antigua from Miami (USA), which became yet another incentive for the Americans to visit one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.

Delta Air Lines flies Boeing 737-800 with 16 first class seats, 36 Delta Comfort+ seats and 108 standard seats. The flights depart from New York at 8:35 a.m. and arrive in Antigua at 1:49 p.m. local time. On the way back, the planes depart from Antigua at 2:50 p.m. and arrive in New York at 6:31 p.m.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in The Visa-Free Entry to Moldova and A Perspective of Visa-Free Canada

But having successfully obtained a new citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda upon purchasing real estate for renting it out to tourists, you can use the growing transport accessibility of your new homeland not just for earning money on tourism, but also to simplify your own travels around the world for business and recreational purposes. Since the Antiguan passport is an excellent travel document.

In 2018, the list of countries that the Antiguan passport holders can visit without a visa was once again expanded and now includes Moldova whose government has canceled visas for Antiguans. Indigenous and economic citizens of the Caribbean country will now be able to visit the Republic of Moldova without hindrance. Antiguan authorities have previously introduced similar benefits for Moldovans. According to the authorities of both jurisdictions, these measures will help to enhance cooperation in the economic field and will contribute to the development of bi-directional tourism.

The Antiguan authorities are also hoping that the visa regime with Canada will get re-liberalized after citizens of the Caribbean lost the right to cross the Canadian border under a simplified procedure in the summer of 2018.

In 2019, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a public speech that his government might consider lifting visa requirements for the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda in the presence of “significant improvements” in the Caribbean country’s investment citizenship program.

“We always guarantee protection for Canadians, and if countries like Antigua and Barbuda make significant improvements and necessary changes to their programs, then we could consider waiving visa requirements,” Trudeau explained, adding that earlier Canadian officials had concluded that immigration and border controls in Antigua and elsewhere were not sufficiently stringent. The Prime Minister of Canada did not specify what changes would be required for his Government to revise the visa policy for the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

Commenting on Trudeau’s statements, independent analysts stressed that for the first time Canada recognized one important fact: the Antiguan immigration program was the decisive factor in changing Canadian visa policy.

In response to the statement from his Canadian counterpart, Antiguan Prime Minister Browne, in turn, called on Trudeau and members of the Canadian Government to point out the specific shortcomings of the Citizenship by Investment Program of Antigua and Barbuda, elimination of which would allow for the resumption of the visa-free regime policy.

The Antiguan Prime Minister expressed a desire to better understand the specific negative aspects that had led to the change in Canadian policy and stressed that his country’s immigration program implies very high standards of carrying out the security check of all the applicants.

“Since I am not aware of the profoundness of Canada’s border control and security standards, I cannot comment on whether our intensive inspection system has somehow not met Canadian standards. However, I am obligated to state that our system includes four levels of rigorous vetting of the applicants prior to approval. This includes checks involving Interpol and the Joint Regional Communications Center, which, in turn, involve the relevant Canadian agencies,” Browne said, adding that on August 31, 2018, the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda, Ronald Sanders, was to meet with Canadian authorities in Ottawa to consider the issue, among other things.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in A Country With The Growing Alternative Energy Industry

The islanders also do not forget about the need of their country for sustainable development, implementing public-private partnership projects in the field of alternative energy to protect the environment while improving energy preparedness.

In 2019, for example, a local firm, GreenTech Solar, signed a contract with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to supply a 10 MW of power generated by the solar and wind power system. The deal, worth more than USD 20 million, became the largest renewable energy development contract in the history of the Caribbean.

The project of deploying such an energy cluster in the country will contribute to sustainable and clean energy production in Antigua and Barbuda and thus reduce the island nation’s dependence on expensive fossil fuels.

The cluster will help the Antiguan authorities achieve their previously set ambitious alternative energy development target that amounts to 20 per cent of the country’s electricity generated by renewable sources.

The project proposed by investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to create a solar power plant on the island of Barbuda should also contribute to this goal. Residents of Barbuda are soon to have access to a new USD 3.1 million solar farm, construction of which will be part of the refurbishment in the disaster-ravaged island.

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the United Arab Emirates have signed an agreement to build a solar power plant that will help turn Barbuda into a “green energy island”. The project covers installation of a modern hybrid solar power plant with a capacity of 800 kilowatts in the island. In addition to financial support, the UAE will provide technical assistance to their Caribbean partners by sending technical personnel to the island.

Technical details of the project were explained in a press release from the Antiguan Ministry of Energy, which stated, among other things, that energy from the solar power plant would flow into the island’s central electricity grid, complementing supplies from other renewable and conventional energy sources in Barbuda.

Citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda: Investing in Cryptocurrencies

Another progressive area that is being actively developed by the authorities of this Caribbean country is the introduction of cryptocurrencies. And they seek to make their jurisdiction as attractive for crypto-investors as possible, offering not just the above-mentioned citizenship for bitcoins.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has decided to create a full-fledged cryptocurrency exchange. The local authorities want to create an additional source of income for the national treasury and help the country stand at the forefront of the new financial revolution. The Antiguan Parliament should soon consider the issue and introduce a legal framework.

According to representatives of the Antiguan Ministry of Information Technology, the new cryptocurrency exchange will unite buyers and sellers, facilitating the exchange of cryptocurrencies for other assets for a fee. The Government expects that the trading platform will generate, among other things, non-tax revenues for the budget of the island country.

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