Antigua weighs November 12 CIP pause ahead of EU deadline

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said on 24 October 2026 that Antigua and Barbuda's Cabinet leans toward suspending its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) by 12 November 2026 to keep 29-country Schengen visa-free access, IMI Daily and Antigua News Room reported on 25 October. After an October EU-OECS technical meeting under Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 and Brussels's 25 June 2026 letter seeking a 1 June 2028 phase-out, EU officials gave OECS states until 12 November to commit to suspension or risk Schengen access.

As of October 2026 (InvestCARICOM, checked 7 October 2026), Antigua's NDF requires US$230,000 plus US$10,000 single or US$20,000 family-of-four processing; approved real estate is US$300,000 (five-year hold); the UWI Fund is US$260,000 (six-plus family); and business routes are US$1,500,000 sole or US$5,000,000 joint (US$400,000 each). Statutory presence is five days in five years, while a July 2026 bill raises it to 30 days under ECCIRA.

Per Browne and the 2026 budget cited by IMI Daily, the CIP generated EC$1.4 billion (US$518 million, as of October 2026) in economic activity since 2013 and projects EC$157 million (US$58 million, as of October 2026) in 2026 non-tax government revenue.

In IMI Daily (6 September and 25 October 2026), Frederick Capital CEO Joseph Boll argued that historic focus on Schengen access left programmes exposed, whereas Antigua's durable edge for US, UK and European families and retirees is "beyond the passport": English common law, zero personal income, wealth, inheritance or capital gains tax for qualifying residents, healthcare, asset protection and direct flights.