(ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA) The United States 🇺🇸 has imposed partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda after President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation on December 16, 2025. Antiguan officials say the move is already reshaping the country’s “golden passport” business and complicating travel plans for citizens and newly naturalized investors.
The restrictions take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on January 1, 2026, and the White House said they were driven by concerns that Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program did not perform sufficient screening and, historically, did not require enough real ties to the country.
What the proclamation restricts
Under the proclamation, Antigua and Barbuda faces partial restrictions, meaning the United States will:
- Stop issuing new immigrant visas to Antiguan and Barbudan nationals.
- Stop issuing key nonimmigrant visas, including:
- B-1/B-2 visitor visas
- F and M student visas
- J exchange visas
Other nonimmigrant visas may still be issued, but their validity will often be sharply reduced—commonly to 3 months / single entry, according to the material provided.
For Antiguans who regularly travel to the U.S. for business, family visits, study, or sports, the practical change is that even when a visa is granted, it may no longer function like the longer, multi-entry visas many travelers expect.
Why the U.S. took this step
The administration’s stated concerns include:
- Some CBI programs can make it easier for people to hide their identity or avoid checks, including people from countries under U.S. sanctions.
- A historical lack of residency requirements in some programs means passports can be obtained with little or no physical presence in the issuing country.
- When a passport doesn’t clearly show where someone has lived or worked, it can “enable identity concealment and evasion of US sanctions,” and increase the screening burden on U.S. consular officers.
“The fear is not only about a single traveler, but about the screening burden on U.S. consular officers when a passport does not clearly show where someone has lived, worked, or built a life.”
Other countries affected
The proclamation added Antigua and Barbuda to a list of countries facing partial limits. According to the provided material, the list includes:
- Angola, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
The proclamation also stated that “full bans apply to 17 high-risk nations,” though the source material did not name those 17.
The broader effect is simultaneous new barriers across regions, with consulates and immigration agencies expected to apply tighter scrutiny and narrower visa validity.
Exceptions and carve-outs
The proclamation sets out several exceptions that will affect many Antiguans already connected to the U.S. The carve-outs include:
- Lawful permanent residents
- Existing visa holders whose visas are valid as of January 1, 2026
- Diplomats
- Athletes
- People whose entry is found to be in the U.S. national interest
The material also notes “narrowed family immigrant carve-outs with case-by-case waivers,” signaling some family-based cases may still proceed but only after extra review and discretionary decisions.
Important warning: Plans cannot be based on “maybe.” For many families, the uncertainty of case-by-case waivers is particularly disruptive.
Timing and implementation details
The timing rules are strict:
- The restrictions apply only to nationals outside the United States who do not have a valid visa on January 1, 2026.
- A person already in the United States on that date could remain and could seek to extend or change status under normal rules.
- Future travel and visa issuance for affected nationals will be tightened.
The material also says USCIS may pause or hold immigration benefits for affected nationals, including applications to adjust status through Form I-485 and naturalization filings through Form N-400.
Readers can confirm filing basics and official updates directly with U.S. government sources:
– State Department’s visa portal: State Department’s visa portal
– USCIS Form I-485 page: USCIS Form I-485 page
– USCIS Form N-400 page: USCIS Form N-400 page
Antigua’s diplomatic and policy response
Antigua’s government says it has been working to limit the damage while rejecting parts of the U.S. reasoning.
- Antigua secured a diplomatic deal to ensure no revocation of existing U.S. visas for its nationals until December 31, 2025.
- Future applicants will need to provide biometrics so their data can match U.S. systems—confirmed by Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders.
For travelers holding valid visas, this offers short-term reassurance. For others, it signals that the door is closing and the paperwork is about to get heavier.
Changes to Antigua’s CBI program
Antigua moved rapidly to tighten CBI rules, aligning with a regional trend that accelerated since September and October 2025. Key reforms in the source material:
- Residency requirement raised to 30 days in Antigua over five years, up from 5 days.
- Fingerprints and photos now mandatory, either at interviews or passport renewal.
- Transition to e-passports that embed data to match U.S. and EU standards.
- New passports will first be issued for 5 years, and can be upgraded to 10 years after compliance.
- Mandatory interviews and tougher due diligence checks added.
- Antigua is aligning with the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, formed in September 2025 with U.S. input.
These changes make the program less attractive to buyers seeking a passport without travel, interviews, or ongoing obligations.
Political reaction in Antigua
Prime Minister Gaston Browne publicly pushed back on the White House’s reasoning while pursuing reforms that address the same concerns. He called the U.S. rationale “factually incorrect,” pointing to Parliament’s earlier residency law changes.
This tension—rejecting the framing while changing the system—illustrates the bind small states face when a major destination country links mobility to domestic policy.
Practical effects on people and investors
Population and impact:
– Antigua and Barbuda is described in the material as having 100,000+ nationals and new citizens.
– The US Visa Ban affects students with admission letters, relatives planning events, and business owners who rely on short U.S. trips.
For CBI investors:
– Antigua’s program remains open but is now less attractive to those wanting a passport with minimal obligations.
– The material says pending applications will be processed under old rules with a gradual transition, while new applicants must meet the full set of new requirements.
– It also states that 2025 updates brought “30% faster processing,” a claim likely to matter to investors concerned about wait times.
Other Caribbean CBI nations—St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and Grenada—were reportedly “spared bans,” which may encourage applicants to consider alternative programs in the region.
What travelers should expect
U.S.-bound travelers from Antigua should anticipate:
- More vetting, including re-interviews and social media checks.
- Shorter visa validity (often single-entry, ~3 months).
- Additional costs and delays: repeat fees, new appointments, and time off work.
People already in the U.S. on January 1 may be able to extend stays or apply for new visas, but those who do not qualify for carve-outs—particularly new CBI citizens—may find their passports harder to use for U.S. travel than they expected.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combination of shorter visa validity and added screening can create recurring costs and logistical burdens for travelers who previously relied on multi-year approvals.
Broader significance and next phase
Antigua officials argue the reforms aim to protect the country’s credibility, not restrict tourism. The tightening targets who can become Antiguan and how that person is checked and tracked, rather than people visiting Antigua.
The U.S. proclamation demonstrates how quickly external pressure can turn into rules that affect ordinary people—and how the value of a passport can change overnight. With biometrics, longer residency requirements, and region-wide oversight moving from policy into practice, Antigua’s CBI business is entering a new phase: the promise of smooth global travel is no longer guaranteed, and the next U.S. visa appointment may be shorter, harder, and far less certain than before.
President Trump signed a proclamation restricting visas for Antigua and Barbuda nationals starting January 2026. The move addresses security concerns surrounding the nation’s Citizenship by Investment program. While current visa holders are exempt, new applicants for visitor and student visas face significant barriers. Antigua has reacted by tightening its internal regulations, introducing biometric checks and longer residency periods to improve program credibility and satisfy international security standards.
