Antigua & Barbuda CBI Fees explained for 2026. Compare government fees, due diligence costs, investment options, passport fees, and total application costs for individuals and families.
Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees are more than just the advertised investment amount. Beyond the minimum contribution or investment, applicants should budget for government processing fees, due diligence charges, passport fees, and third-party costs. This guide explains every official Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment fee for 2026, compares all investment options, and helps individuals and families understand the true cost before applying.
This guide breaks down:
- All four Antigua & Barbuda CBI options
- The official government fee schedule (in USD)
- One clear fee table by option and applicant type
- What actually drives cost up (or keeps it down)
- A government vs third-party cost checklist
- A short FAQ using the exact questions people ask in AI tools
All government figures below are based on Antigua & Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIU) official pages:
What Are Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees?
There isn’t one “best” option for everyone. The best option is the one that matches your family size, liquidity preference, and risk tolerance.
Here’s the practical, planning-first way to think about it:
- Best overall for most applicants (simple + predictable): NDF contribution (US$230,000)
Clean structure, easy to model, usually fewer moving parts than real estate. - Best for big families (6+): UWI Fund (US$260,000 inclusive of processing fees for a family of six)
This option is built specifically for families of six or more and can be more cost-efficient than NDF for larger households. - Best if you want an asset (and can hold it): Approved real estate (US$300,000 minimum)
Works if you actually want property exposure and can accept program rules (including holding constraints). - Best for genuine business expansion: Business investment (US$1.5m solo / US$5m joint)
Highest complexity; best for applicants seeking operational presence or strategic investment.
What you’re really paying for: the 3 cost layers
Think in layers:
- Investment / contribution (option-dependent)
This is the big number people quote (e.g., US$230,000 NDF). - Government fees (apply on top of the investment)
These include:- Processing (government) fee
- Due diligence fees
- Passport fees
- Fees for adding dependents later (if applicable)
- Third-party costs (not paid to the CIU)
Examples:- Licensed agent / legal services fees
- Document translation, notarisation, apostille/legalisation
- Courier and banking fees
- Real estate closing costs (if you choose property)
Official Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees
Understanding Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees is essential because the total application cost includes far more than the minimum investment amount.
Fee table (USD)
| Item | NDF option | Real estate option | Business option | UWI Fund option |
| Minimum investment / contribution | 230,000 | 300,000 | 1,500,000 (single investor) or5,000,000 (joint total; min 400,000 each) | 260,000 (for family of 6+) |
| Government processing fee — single applicant | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | Included for family of 6 (see note below) |
| Government processing fee — family up to 4 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | Included for family of 6 (see note below) |
| Government processing fee — family 5+ | 20,000 + 10,000 per additional dependent (from the 5th) | 20,000 + 10,000 per additional dependent (from the 5th) | 20,000 + 10,000 per additional dependent (from the 5th) | +10,000 per additional dependent (from the 7th) |
| Due diligence — principal applicant | 8,500 | 8,500 | 8,500 | 8,500 |
| Due diligence — spouse | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Due diligence — dependent child 0–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Due diligence — dependent child 12–17 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Due diligence — dependent aged 18+ | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Benefactor (if applicable) | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Passport fee (each person) | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
UWI note: The CIU states the UWI option requires US$260,000 for a family of six or more, and the schedule indicates this is inclusive of processing fees for that qualifying family size; additional dependents beyond six trigger additional processing fees.
When Are Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees Paid?
Knowing when Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees become payable helps applicants prepare their budget and avoid unexpected delays.
Based on the CIU fee schedule:
- At submission (upfront):
- Due diligence fees (non-refundable)
- 10% of the government processing fee (non-refundable)
- After approval (before issuance steps conclude):
- Remaining 90% of the government processing fee
- Passport fees
- The investment/contribution for your chosen option (per the program’s payment instructions)
What drives the total cost (the factors that change your “all-in” budget)
Several factors influence Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees, including family size, investment route, and the ages of dependents.
1) Family size and ages (the biggest variable)
The government’s due diligence fees scale by applicant type:
- Children 0–11: no due diligence fee
- Dependents 12–17: US$2,000
- Dependents 18+: US$4,000
So two families both “doing Antigua” can have very different totals depending on whether dependents are minors or adults.
2) Processing fee thresholds (single vs family vs 5+)
A common surprise: once you exceed four people, the processing fee increases by US$10,000 for each additional dependent (starting from the 5th) for NDF / real estate / business options.
3) Option choice (and the hidden costs it brings)
- NDF: usually the cleanest budgeting model (fewest transaction side-costs).
- UWI: can be the most cost-efficient if you’re truly a family of six or more.
- Real estate: the minimum investment is US$300,000, but property transactions typically come with closing costs and additional professional work. The CIU also notes the real estate route can lengthen processing depending on the property transaction itself.
- Business investment: higher legal/transaction complexity; best for applicants who already want that exposure.
4) Adding dependents later (often more expensive than including them upfront)
If you plan to add family members after approval, the CIU publishes these additional government fees:
- Child 0–5: US$10,000
- Child 6–17: US$25,000
- Dependent 18+: US$50,000
(plus standard due diligence + passport fees)
5) Renewal planning: don’t ignore the presence requirement
Antigua & Barbuda’s passport renewal is tied to a physical presence requirement: the CIU states the passport “will be considered for renewal” subject to having spent a total of 5 days in Antigua & Barbuda within the 5-year period after gaining citizenship.
Checklist: government fees vs third-party costs (so you can budget correctly)
The examples below demonstrate how Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees vary depending on family composition and the selected investment option.
Government fees (paid to CIU / government)
- Â Investment or contribution amount (depends on option)
- Â Government processing fee (depends on family size and option)
- Â Due diligence fees (per person; age-based)
- Â Passport fees (per person)
- Â Post-approval additions of dependents (if relevant)
Third-party costs (not government fees)
These vary by case and service provider, but commonly include:
- Â Licensed agent / legal services professional fees
- Â Document preparation: translations, notarisation, apostilles/legalisation
- Â Courier costs (document shipping)
- Â Bank transfer fees + FX conversion spreads
- Â Real estate transaction costs (if choosing property): conveyancing and property closing costs (transaction-specific)
If you’re budgeting for the real estate route, note that property transfers in Antigua & Barbuda can involve stamp/transfer-related charges and licensing depending on the structure of the purchase. These are not CIU fees and should be confirmed with Antigua counsel for your specific transaction.
“Government-only” example totals (to sanity-check your estimates)
These examples include only government-set items: investment/contribution + processing + due diligence + passports. They exclude third-party professional fees and any real estate closing costs.
Example 1: NDF — single applicant
- NDF contribution: 230,000
- Processing fee: 10,000
- Due diligence (principal): 8,500
- Passport (1 Ă— 300): 300
Government total: US$248,800
Example 2: NDF — family of 4 (main + spouse + child 10 + child 15)
- NDF contribution: 230,000
- Processing fee (family up to 4): 20,000
- Due diligence: 8,500 + 5,000 + 0 + 2,000 = 15,500
- Passports (4 Ă— 300): 1,200
Government total: US$266,700
Example 3: UWI Fund — family of 6 (2 adults + children aged 8, 13, 18, 21)
- UWI contribution (inclusive of processing fees for a family of 6): 260,000
- Due diligence: 8,500 + 5,000 + 0 + 2,000 + 4,000 + 4,000 = 23,500
- Passports (6 Ă— 300): 1,800
Government total: US$285,300
How to choose the best Antigua & Barbuda program for you (decision guide)
Comparing Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees across the National Development Fund, UWI Fund, Real Estate, and Business Investment routes makes it easier to identify the most suitable option.
Choose NDF if:
- You want the most straightforward path
- You prefer a contribution model with fewer transactional variables
- You want a clean, predictable budget structure
Choose UWI if:
- Your application is truly a family of six or more
- You want processing fees bundled into the contribution for the core family size
- You value the scholarship feature (even if it’s not the main driver)
Choose Real estate if:
- You want to own property in an approved project
- You’re comfortable with the holding period constraints
- You accept that your timeline and cost can be affected by conveyancing and property execution
Choose Business if:
- You’re making a strategic business investment anyway
- You can support a higher documentation and structuring burden
- You want an investment narrative beyond a donation or property purchase
Frequently Asked Questions About Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees
1) How much does Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment cost in 2026?
It depends on the option and family composition. The headline minimums are US$230,000 (NDF), US$260,000 (UWI for a family of 6+), US$300,000 (real estate), or US$1.5m (business)—plus government processing, due diligence, and passport fees.
2) What are the Antigua and Barbuda CBI due diligence fees?
Per the CIU fee schedule: US$8,500 (principal), US$5,000 (spouse), US$0 (child 0–11), US$2,000 (child 12–17), US$4,000 (dependent 18+).
3) What is the cheapest Antigua and Barbuda citizenship option?
In terms of the headline investment amount, the NDF contribution of US$230,000 is typically the lowest entry point. Whether it’s “cheapest overall” depends on your family size and ages because fees scale per person.
4) Is the $230,000 Antigua donation for a family of four or per person?
The CIU describes the NDF as a US$230,000 contribution per application (with processing and due diligence fees still payable per person as applicable).
5) What is the UWI option in Antigua and who qualifies for it?
The UWI Fund option requires an investment of US$260,000 for a family of six or more (minimum number of persons per application is 6).
6) How much does Antigua citizenship cost for a family of 5?
Government processing for families beyond four generally becomes US$20,000 + US$10,000 for the additional dependent (plus due diligence and passport fees per person, plus the investment/contribution). The exact total depends on ages (12–17 vs 18+).
7) What government fees do I pay on top of the investment?
You typically pay:
- Government processing fee (based on applicant count)
- Due diligence fees (based on applicant type/age)
- Passport fees per person
8) When do I pay Antigua CBI fees (upfront vs after approval)?
The CIU states due diligence fees are payable on submission and non-refundable, and 10% of the processing fee is payable on submission (non-refundable), with the balance due after approval.
9) Can I add a spouse or child after getting Antigua citizenship, and what does it cost?
Yes, but government fees apply for post-approval additions: US$10,000 (child 0–5), US$25,000 (child 6–17), US$50,000(dependent 18+), plus standard due diligence and passport fees.
10) Do I need to visit Antigua to renew the passport?
The CIU states the passport “will be considered for renewal” subject to the recipient having spent a total of 5 days in Antigua & Barbuda within the 5-year period after gaining citizenship.
11) Can I sell the property right away if I use the real estate option?
The CIU states the real estate cannot be re-sold until 5 years after purchase, subject to program rules. Source: https://cip.gov.ag/investment-options/real-estate/
12) What is the Antigua passport fee?
The CIU fee schedule lists US$300 per person for passport issuance.
How FTB Mobility helps you choose the right option (and avoid budget surprises)
FTB Mobility helps clients understand Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Fees by providing transparent cost estimates and personalized budgeting based on family size and investment preferences.
Antigua & Barbuda CBI is rarely “expensive by accident”—it becomes expensive when applicants choose an option that doesn’t fit their family structure or when third-party transaction costs aren’t modeled early (especially in real estate cases).
FTB Mobility supports clients end-to-end: comparing NDF vs UWI vs real estate vs business routes, building a clear government-fee + third-party-cost budget, and coordinating the filing process so timelines, documentation, and investment execution stay aligned.
If you’d like, we can prepare a personalized fee model based on your exact family composition (ages matter), preferred option, and whether you want a donation, property exposure, or business investment.
