Parliament has approved legislation paving the way for a new immigration amnesty programme that will allow certain undocumented migrants living in Antigua and Barbuda to regularize their status during a two-month window beginning July 1.
The Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Bill 2026 was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, with Immigration Minister E.P. Chet Greene describing the initiative as an opportunity for eligible non-nationals to come forward and become compliant with the country’s immigration laws.
The amnesty will run from July 1 to Aug. 31.
Greene told Parliament that applicants will be required to provide a police record from every country in which they have resided during the previous four years.
In addition, applicants must pay a $500 processing fee and a $150 change-of-status endorsement fee, bringing the total cost of applying under the programme to $650.
“Persons applying for amnesty must provide a police record from every territory in which the applicant resided for the last four years,” Greene said while piloting the legislation.
The minister also outlined restrictions aimed at preventing repeated use of successive amnesty programmes.
Under the new law, individuals who have previously benefited from amnesty programmes on three occasions will not qualify for the latest initiative.
“A person who has applied for amnesty on three previous occasions is ineligible and will not qualify for the amnesty extended here and now by the government,” Greene told lawmakers.
Government officials have said the programme is intended to regularize the status of undocumented migrants who are already living and working in Antigua and Barbuda while ensuring that applicants undergo background checks before receiving legal status.
The legislation forms part of broader efforts by the government to strengthen immigration administration and bring more residents into compliance with national immigration requirements.
Authorities are expected to release additional details on the application process before the amnesty takes effect on July 1.
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Good initiative. Where will the background checks be done? In Antigua or from the country of birth?
If the last 4 years was spent in a country not of their birth and they were illegal in that country what background checks can be acquired?
If they were legal then they should be able to get a record but might have to travel back there to obtain such.
Will they have to travel back to their country to get a police record?
This is so wrong on so many levels, especially for such a small island as ours.
Yes, the government was given a mandate by the electorate to pursue such a questionable immigration policy, but with youth unemployment and rising crime – and let’s not forget about Trump’s deportees and refugees being forced upon us!
Also, we just do not have the wherewithal or infrastructure to cope with this unnecessary influx.
All we can now hope for, is that this out of touch ABLP administration does their due diligence on vetting (unlike the questionable third party CIP vetting that left a lot to be desired) every single one of these immigrants that they are giving amnesties to, so that those given such a privilege to stay here will contribute by paying their taxes; and most importantly be law abiding citizens.
Just what the F’ck is wrong with this Administration. Antigua as we know it really done. ABLP is just encouraging these people to continue this illegal practice. This is a deliberate act to cement themselves in power. When the hell will Antiguans wake up and recognize that soon from now they will not only be second and third class citizens in their land of birth but not even worth a shit. Forget about political allegiance and think about yourselves for once, because the Administration certainly does not. The see you as just a vote at election time
You know my only problem with this is that we are demonstrating that undocumented status can be resolved through amnesties rather than by following standard procedures. This policy will inadvertently encourage future illegal immigration in the hope of similar future amnesty programs. We need to stop incentivizing people for breaking the law.
@Audley Phillip…. Funny that you should make this comment when you have been the same hypocrite condemning Donald Trump for doing the very same thing in the USA. As we say locally, had so nah lub so.
@ Do not care, why do you think indigenous Antiguans like me are leaving?
Each and everyday, we are feeling more like strangers in our own country. How has it come to this in such a short space of time?
ABLP are single-handedly destroying the fabric and togetherness of our once wholesome society. I’m appalled actually…
I would rather an amnesty program over accepting Donald Trump’s deportees ANY DAY!
@ Brixtonian
You sound like such a ding-bat.
So you are leaving Antigua because you feel like a stranger only to go to a country where you WILL be AND TREATED as a stranger. This is hilarious. Go see and feel how immigrants in a country feel.
Hahahahaha. I wouldn’t believe it it I didn’t read it myself.
Nice retort @Ding-Bat! 👍🏾
But the truth is I’m missing my grown-up sons (who are living successfully in Europe), and I was always going to go back at some point to spend time with them and see my young grandchildren at long last.
What’s been going on here in the last few years has prompted my move…
I hope that’s ok with you, you DING-BAT!!! 🤣
@ Any day
For your information both ideas are wrong as wrong can be. In time to come you and others who think like you will feel the repercussions of Gaston’s foolishness, of course it will not affect him and his type
😂..The man have already taken up residence in Dubai and the Philippines, so he doesn’t give two bits about you people.. 😂..he got his votes, so now here comes the mayhem.
By the way, for those who doesn’t come forward to take advantage of this amnesty because they know they clearly have a criminal history, will this justice department go knocking at their doors to round them up, then deport them for working without proper documents?
I remember years ago they use to do that is the US VI..will Antigua implement such a policy?
If not, this report is incomplete.
Most of these people will get fake police records. I also know people will say this is not possible because it will have to be on an Official document, but also remember people will do anything if the money is right
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