Features
TYPE
LENGTH
FEE
MIN ANNUAL INCOME
LOCAL TAX
INTERNET
COST OF LIVING
ANTIGUA and BARBUDA
Nomad Residence
Long stay, no income tax but the internet might be tricky!
The Antigua and Barbuda twin-island nation Digital Nomad Visa called Antigua Nomad Digital Residence (NDR) offers a long-stay visa designed for employees and self-employed digital nomads, that want to take advantage of the islands’ no personal income tax for up to two years.
PROS
- Length of stay! Gives you peace of mind for the 2 whole years!
- You literally pay ZERO income tax locally!
- You can work remotely for an employer outside of Antigua!
- Potentially a less risky way for employers as there is no requirement for employers to create a local entity or deduct any withholding tax.
- Magnificent landscapes & 365 beaches - no exaggeration, you get a beach for every day of the year!
CONS
- The $50K required min income per year, is at the higher end.
- Visa fees are payable before the visa is approved, and it's non-refundable.
- Even when you are temporarily out of the country, you need to pay for the local Accommodation.
- Cost of living lower than other Caribbean Islands but it is still quite high.
- Poor local health care options.
- Internet Speeds & stability might still be an issue.
Specification: ANTIGUA and BARBUDA
Nomad Residence
Taxes
Local Taxes
No personal income tax is payable to Antiqua and Barbuda during the whole length of the visa. However, applicants are not allowed to work for nor to drive any income from any local entity.
Antigua is a genuine tax haven for Non-Resident individuals and off-shore businesses alike, who are completely exempted from all taxes.
This includes no income tax, no corporate tax, no capital gains tax, no withholding taxes, no stamp duties, and no estate taxes. Dividends paid to shareholders are also free of income taxes.
It is unclear, but unlikely, that there are any import taxes that Nomads would have to pay.
Home Country Taxes
The successful applicant and their dependents (if any) will be expected to pay Income Taxes in the countries in which they are normally resident. Tax documents that prove this, are not a requirement but can be submitted as a supporting document for proof of funds.
Other Benefits
Employers of remote workers are not required to register or have a local payroll. What that means is that it’s safer for the employer to let their employees work remotely from Antigua which in turn makes it easier for aspiring digital nomads to negotiate remote work arrangements with their employers.
However, it’s worth remembering that nomad visas don’t erase all of the risks for employers (such as permanent establishment, the duty of care, etc). These can only be assessed by your employer’s legal/tax teams.
Requirements
The following are the required documents:
- A passport photo of each applicant: 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm);
- A copy of the passport page (passport doesn’t need to be valid for the whole 24 months);
- A certificate indicating medical insurance coverage for the period of the intended stay in Antigua.
- Police clearance for each applicant over the age of 16
- Proof of relationship to dependent(s) for whom the application is made by the main applicant
- Evidence of employment, including self-employment such as job letter or contract agreement/business registration and most recent payslip.
- Proof of funds required documents
- bank statements and/or any other proof of source of income and sufficient funds.
- a declaration by the main applicant, certifying both of the following:
- expected income of no less than US$50,000 or the equivalent in other currencies, for each year of the 2 years in Antigua,
- and that they have the means to support themselves and the dependants during their stay in Antigua and Barbuda.
No return ticket is required. Full info and the government brochure can be found here NDR-Brochure (pdf).
Apply
1
Gather All the Documents & Pay the Fee
2
Fill out Online Application
3
Provide Additional Info & make payments
4
Receive Email Approval
5
Arive & Show Your Visa
A credit card receipt will be issued after the payment and should be included with the application. Applicant(s) will be informed via email of the successful application. Visa is valid from the date of arrival and for two years thereafter.
Fees
For those who want to proceed with the application, a non-refundable NDR visa fee is payable with the application. The fees below are for the whole 2 years, so essentially the annual costs work out lower but you need to pay:
- US$1,500.00 – single applicant;
- US$2,000.00 – a couple;
- US$3,000.00 – a family of 3 and over.
How
All the details of the program, including How to apply are available on the government website:
Facilities
Medical
Visa holders and their dependents will have access to the medical facilities but only the private ones or they will have to pay the fees in public clinics and hospitals that are applicable to any non-residents. That said the overall health care standards are fairly low so you might want to secure good medical insurance, especially that it is required as part of the application process.
Traveling
Visa holders will be able to travel into and out of the country as they wish for the whole duration of their visa, but they will have to maintain accommodation in the country unless they advise the Chief Immigration Officer that they are ending their stay and no longer require the NDR visa.
Schools
Children of the NDR visa holders can attend the local school for the duration of the visa, but only the private schools (from Nursery to secondary) or the Five Islands campus of the University of the West Indies where the normal fees paid by local persons would apply.
Homeschooling is possible but would have to be arranged separately.
Assistance
Tel : +1 (268) 562-8755
Email: ndrprogrammeanu@ab.gov.ag
Country Info
Internet
Generally speaking, broadband speeds aren’t that great, with average Download Speeds being about 9 Mbps. On the bright side, 73% of the population has access to the Internet which is fairly high. This means that most accommodations should have a wifi speed that is ok for everyday browsing, but not so much for streaming or working.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda is considered more expensive than in the majority of the Caribbean countries but it is still about 20% cheaper than in the US and the UK. There is a lack of recent data on the actual Cost of Living Index but in 2017 Antigua was in the 23rd position out of 167 countries, right after Belgium, or France.
According to our ☕ Cappuccino Index, which uses Numbeo’s average price for a regular cappuccino in Antigua and Barbuda is US$ 4.81. For comparison avg. US price is $4.30 and avg. UK price is $3.83.
FAQs
What do you mean by medical insurance?
This could be either a Travel Insurance or Private Health Care Plan, either one is ok. Annually renewable Travel Insurance policies will be accepted. This is a mandatory requirement and must cover everyone included in the application.
What are the processing times?
Visa applications are processed within 5-7 business days once all document submission requirements have been satisfied.
Do I need to prove being resident/paying tax in home country?
No, you don’t. Confirmation of employment/self-employment is enough. Tax documents are not a requirement but can be submitted as a supporting document for proof of funds.
Videos
Disclaimer: Our aim is to provide an overview of Digital Nomad Visas & Taxes that should not be considered as a legal opinion or tax advice. You should always seek expert advice. If you want to receive a legal opinion or tax advice please contact us and we will refer you to a legal practitioner.
Learn about the data sources & how is the score calculated. Last updated November 20, 2022.
