Antigua offers to close its CIP, seeks EU time to 2030

Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to close its citizenship by investment programme, but has asked the European Union for a transition until the end of 2030 and for financial and technical support, Antigua News reported on 30 October 2026. Prime Minister Gaston Browne set out the offer in a letter dated 30 October to EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner. The EU had proposed a closing date of 1 June 2028. The letter does not show that the EU has accepted the longer timeline, and so far this report comes from a single local outlet.

Of three options discussed at a 20 October meeting in Brussels, the government chose to commit to closure while asking for more time and support. It proposes a joint assessment of the economic and legal effects, to be shared with the Commission by the end of the first quarter of 2027. Browne said a longer transition would let approved developers finish projects and give banks time to recover loans linked to programme proceeds. Citing the IMF, he said programme inflows helped Antigua reach a primary surplus of nearly 5% of GDP in 2025, with public debt down from about 101% of GDP in 2020 to an estimated 68% in 2025.

Antigua's deadline to answer the EU is 12 November 2026. The programme remains open: as of October 2026, the National Development Fund option starts at US$230,000 plus a US$10,000 government processing fee for a single applicant.