Antigua and Barbuda is considering major updates to its Antigua Citizenship by Investment program. Prime Minister Gaston Browne has presented the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2026 to Parliament for review.
If passed into law, this new bill will introduce two massive changes: it will subject the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) to strict independent audits and increase the post-citizenship physical residency requirement from five days to 30 days.
The main purpose of the proposed bill is to align domestic laws with the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), a new regional regulator expected to start operations in September 2026.
What the Proposed 30-Day Residency Rule Means
Immigration experts want to clear up a common misunderstanding about this proposed change: new citizens will not need to live in Antigua for 30 days every single year.
According to the draft bill:
- The Timeline: The proposed requirement is a total of 30 days spread over a full five-year period.
- When It Starts: This clock would only begin after citizenship is approved and official passports are issued.
- Who It Affects: If passed, the rule will apply only to new successful applicants and their dependents, not to existing citizens.
Some experts believe this proposed rule is very manageable, comparing it to taking family vacations in a tropical destination over five years. However, others warn that flight costs for large families could add financial pressure if the bill becomes law.
Proposed Independent Audits for Greater Transparency
To make the program more secure, the new bill proposes strict financial and operational checks. Under the draft law, the CIU must undergo annual independent financial audits and operational audits every two years. These checks must follow international auditing standards.
Additionally, the bill requires the CIU to submit financial reports every six months to the regional regulator (ECCIRA) while continuing to report directly to Parliament.
Industry leaders highly support these audit proposals, stating that transparent, well-governed programs are ultimately the strongest. Experts also note that clear financial oversight ensures local citizens see the real economic value of CBI funds, which are used to build schools, hospitals, and affordable housing.
A Regional Plan, Not a Surrender to Europe
Caribbean nations, asking them to phase out their passport programs by June 2028. However, Prime Minister Browne and regional experts clarified that these proposed amendments are not a direct reaction to Europe’s recent headlines.
All five Caribbean nations agreed to the 30-day residency principle and the regional regulator months ago. This bill is simply the legislative step required to transition those shared regional agreements into domestic law.
The five Caribbean CBI states have already sent a joint diplomatic response to the European Commission. The next major checkpoint will come in December 2026, when the EU publishes its next Visa Suspension Mechanism report.
