EU pressure puts Antigua’s citizenship revenue at risk

Antigua and Barbuda is likely to phase out its citizenship-by-investment program under EU pressure, putting government revenue and projects funded by passport sales at risk.

• Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Antigua would “very likely” commit to phasing out the program after the EU set a November 12 deadline for five Eastern Caribbean nations to agree to close their schemes by June 1, 2028.· 1 source
• Antigua collected about $58 million from citizenship sales in 2025 and budgeted $44.4 million for 2026; an analyst estimated ending the program would erase more than half of this year’s projected primary surplus.· 1 source
• The EU says the programs create security risks and could lead to suspension of visa-free access to the Schengen area; analysts say losing that access could also affect projects financed through passport sales.· 1 source