Antigua and Barbuda: all programs

Antigua and Barbuda at a glance

Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean made up of two large islands and several small ones. The population is about 100,000, almost all on Antigua, and the capital is St. John's. The country is a Commonwealth realm with the British monarch as head of state, and English is the official language. The economy rests on tourism, the yachting industry, financial services and the citizenship by investment programme.

Antigua attracts with beaches - local lore says there are 365, one for every day of the year - a warm climate all year, no personal income tax and a two-year remote work visa. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, firmly pegged to the US dollar.

History and government

Columbus sighted the island in 1493, and in the 17th century the English settled it as a sugar plantation colony. Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour, built in the 18th century, is now a UNESCO site and operates as a yacht marina. The country gained independence on 1 November 1981. It is a parliamentary monarchy with a stable political system and regular elections.

How to move in 2026

Whether you need a visa depends on your passport: the immigration department keeps the list of visa-exempt nationalities, and the border sets the length of stay. The citizenship by investment programme has run since 2013 and requires at least 5 days in the country within the first 5 years; nationality limits are in the rules for specific nationalities below. More on the pages Antigua and Barbuda digital nomad visa and Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment.

Rules for specific nationalities

Citizens of Russia are on the immigration department's visa-exempt list, and the border sets their length of stay at up to 90 days. The citizenship by investment programme does not accept citizens of Russia and Belarus, so the open routes to a second passport by investment for them are Vanuatu and Turkey.

Taxes

There has been no personal income tax since 2016, and a remote worker's income under the remote work visa is not taxed locally. The main tax is the sales tax, raised from 15% to 17% on 1 January 2024, including hotel stays. Companies pay 25% corporate tax. No tax on the island does not remove obligations to the country where you remain tax resident, so tax residence in the year of the move is planned in advance.

Property

A foreigner can buy a house, apartment or land on Antigua, but first obtains an alien landholding licence from the Ministry of Justice. The licence fee is 5% of the purchase price, plus legal and registration costs. The most expensive properties are seaside villas in English Harbour, on the west coast and in Jolly Harbour. A purchase alone does not grant residence.

Business and companies

Foreigners register local companies for tourism, holiday rentals, yacht services and trade, and personal work in the company requires a work permit. International companies operating outside the country are registered under a separate regime. Island banks are small and strictly check source of funds, so accounts are opened with a full document package.

Cost of living

Prices come from several independent price databases for 2025-2026, at 2.70 Eastern Caribbean dollars per US dollar. Almost everything is imported, so food, cars, electricity and water cost more than in the US, and seaside housing prices rise in the high season from December to April.

Where to live

• St. John's - the capital with shops, banks and government offices. More in the St. John's guide.
• Dickenson Bay and the north - beaches and residential complexes near the capital.
• Jolly Harbour - marina village on the west coast, popular with foreigners.
• English Harbour and Falmouth - yacht harbours and seasonal life in the south.
• Barbuda - the quiet second island for secluded living.

Practicalities

• Climate. Tropical and relatively dry, around 26-31 degrees all year, with hurricane season from June to November.
• Transport. Traffic drives on the left, public transport is limited to minibuses, and a car is needed.
• Healthcare. The main hospital is near St. John's, and complex treatment is done in neighbouring countries or the US.
• Getting there. Direct flights from London, New York, Miami and Toronto.

Leisure

Antigua is all about beaches and the sea: diving and snorkelling on the reefs, Sailing Week in English Harbour every spring and walks to Shirley Heights with harbour views. Barbuda has pink beaches and a frigatebird colony, one of the largest in the Caribbean. Neighbouring Montserrat, Guadeloupe and St. Kitts are an hour away by plane or ferry.

Who Antigua and Barbuda suits

The country suits remote workers earning from $50,000 a year who want to live in the Caribbean for up to two years without local income tax, and buyers of resort property. Murblz specialists help with the remote work visa, the purchase licence and property checks. Our consultant calculates the cost of support in the chat.