Wealthy Americans are increasingly turning to Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean nations for second passports as political and economic uncertainty at home drives demand for so-called 'Plan B' options. According to Antigua News Room, citing data from global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, US nationals now account for 50 percent of all 2026 applications to Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship-by-investment programme — up sharply from 26 percent of total applications in 2025.
The surge is part of a broader global trend. US nationals accounted for nearly a third of all citizenship-by-investment applications processed by Henley & Partners worldwide in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the firm told Newsweek. Applications from Americans represented just 5 percent of all requests the company received in 2018; by 2025, that figure had climbed to nearly 40 percent — a roughly 2,400 percent increase over that period.
While Europe remains popular for Golden Visa residency programmes, Henley & Partners describes the Caribbean as an "efficient and accessible" route to a full second passport — a distinction the firm notes is far less common than simple residency options. Caribbean citizenship programmes typically deliver a passport within a matter of months.
Antigua and Barbuda's particular appeal, according to Henley & Partners, "lies in its flexibility and family inclusivity — it allows a broader range of dependents to be included in a single application compared to many competing programs." The country also offers strong global mobility and does not require applicants to relocate.
"We don't see many clients relocating. Caribbean citizenship is often used as a mobility hedge — a safeguard in case of future global disruptions," said John Maniatis, Henley & Partners' Managing Director of Private Clients.
Henley & Partners has received Caribbean programme applications from nationals of more than 25 countries in 2026, though US nationals represent the majority. St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia are also among the most sought-after Caribbean options, each offering a second passport in approximately four to six months and visa-free access to more than 140 countries.
Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship-by-investment programme offers several pathways. The minimum investment option is a $230,000 contribution to the National Development Fund. Applicants may also contribute a minimum of $260,000 to the University of the West Indies Fund, purchase approved real estate valued at a minimum of $300,000, or make a direct business investment of at least $1.5 million as an individual. Joint purchase arrangements are available for the real estate and business investment options, with higher individual contribution thresholds applying.
Other Caribbean nations offer comparable structures. In St. Kitts and Nevis, the minimum investment stands at $250,000 toward a public benefit project, or a real estate purchase of at least $325,000. Dominica's programme starts from $200,000 for an individual applicant, rising to $250,000 for an individual with up to three qualifying dependents, with a real estate option also available from $200,000. In Grenada, applicants can invest a minimum of $235,000 in the National Transformation Fund or purchase real estate worth at least $270,000. Saint Lucia's programme accepts contributions of at least $240,000 to the National Economic Fund, a minimum $250,000 investment in an approved enterprise, a real estate purchase of at least $300,000, or an equivalent investment in non-interest-bearing government bonds.
The acceleration in American applications began during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by a range of motivations including lower taxes and access to better healthcare, and has continued to grow. Other firms have reported similar trends, as reported by Antigua News Room, with Citizenship Invest noting that enquiries from US nationals for backup residency and citizenship options surged 183 percent between the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 — a period that coincided with President Donald Trump's return to the White House.
