Antigua and Barbuda resists EU request to phase out CBI by June 1

Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment programme remains open, but the European Commission has requested a 24-month transition followed by its phaseout on June 1, 2028.

EU rules now put visa-free access at risk

Operating a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme can now be grounds for suspending EU visa-free access under a framework adopted Dec. 31, 2025. That creates a direct link between the programme’s future and passport holders’ access to Europe that didn’t previously exist, according to Antigua and Barbuda’s government.

The Commission’s June 25 letter requested the 2028 closure and interim security measures by September 2026. Those steps include excluding people subject to EU sanctions and strengthening vetting across all nationalities, the government said.

Antigua and Barbuda rejects a unilateral closure

The government publicly responded July 6, saying it would continue talks with Brussels but wouldn’t accept a unilateral shutdown without “replacement revenues.” The programme will remain open during those discussions.

The EU is expected to account for the country’s response in its next Visa Suspension Mechanism Report in December 2026. The request reportedly extends to other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States members with active CBI programmes.

Applicants face tighter checks before any phaseout

Prospective applicants are the first group that needs to adjust: Applications filed after September 2026 should be prepared for stronger vetting regardless of nationality. Submissions must go through an authorised agent and remain subject to due diligence by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

Investment thresholds currently start at $230,000 for a nonrefundable National Development Fund contribution. Other routes require at least $300,000 in approved real estate, $1.5 million for a sole business investment or $260,000 through the University of the West Indies Fund. Further costs include processing, due diligence and $300 per person passport fees.

Nothing in the government’s response revokes citizenship already granted through CBI. Existing citizens and prospective residents can track related entry and mobility rules in the Antigua and Barbuda guide.