The government of Antigua and Barbuda is reviewing a proposal to introduce a premium tier within its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), offering a so-called “golden passport” at a significantly higher cost.
Chief of Staff Lionel Max Hurst confirmed during Monday’s post-Cabinet press briefing that the proposal, which emerged during the recently concluded Caribbean Investment Summit, is now under legal examination to ensure compliance with the country’s constitution and laws.
“The idea is to differentiate a new category of citizenship at a much higher price point, but we must be certain that any such offering respects the principle of equality before the law,” Hurst said.
The proposed golden passport would cater to ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking a premium citizenship product, similar to offerings in other jurisdictions. However, Hurst emphasised that legal advisers, including the Solicitor General and Attorney General’s office, must first review the plan to ensure it does not undermine the egalitarian framework of Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship system.
He explained that while the concept is still in its early stages, Cabinet has requested that detailed documentation be submitted before any decision is made.
The government views the CIP as a vital source of non-tax revenue and is exploring ways to strengthen its competitiveness in an evolving global market, where other countries are also offering citizenship and residency programmes targeted at wealthy investors.
Further announcements are expected once the legal review is completed and Cabinet makes a final determination on whether to proceed.
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Sometimes it pays to read the details instead of looking at the headline. For a second, I thought it was USA golden passport initiative.