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Pathway

Antigua and Barbuda Long-Stay Residence

Antigua and Barbuda Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

If you have lived lawfully in Antigua and Barbuda as your usual home for at least the four continuous years immediately before applying, you may qualify for a residence permit. This route is for established residents who intend to keep living there. Immigration must check that your residence history meets the legal requirements.

Requirements
Four continuous years of lawful ordinary residence immediately before applying
Visitor time
Does not by itself establish ordinary residence
Absences
Immigration must assess time outside the country

Summary

Antigua and Barbuda’s four-year residence route is for people who have already made the country their lawful, usual home throughout that period. Your permits, changes of status, and trips abroad matter; visitor time alone does not establish this kind of residence.

An approved permit generally lasts three years and can be renewed by application. Keep your immigration status and any required work permission valid while the application is being considered.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

The 2021 amendment specifies four continuous years, and the 2023 amendment added the word “ordinarily” to the requirement. Document both permission to live there and evidence that it was your usual home for the required period. Four years of visits or home ownership alone does not establish that history.

Ask Immigration to assess absences, earlier status, and any change-of-status date. Keep passports, endorsements, permits, and records showing where you actually lived. You also need to satisfy the applicable identity, character, health, and support checks.

The Immigration Department describes the four-year route separately from the citizen-spouse route. A qualifying spouse should use that route's marriage and household requirements.

Review the immediately preceding four-year residence history
  1. Build the lawful ordinary-residence record Collect permits, endorsements, registration, and evidence of where you actually lived.
  2. Resolve absences and status changes Ask Immigration to assess the complete qualifying period.
  3. Apply while maintaining permission Prepare the current checklist and keep residence and any work authorization valid.

Visits or home ownership alone do not establish four continuous years of lawful ordinary residence.

What This Route Allows

The ordinary residence permit generally lasts three years and can be renewed by application. The permit and governing conditions determine continued residence; renewal is not automatic.

Employment remains subject to the applicable work and professional requirements. Accompanying relatives should confirm whether they need separate applications or another family basis.

What This Route Is Not

It is not an initial visa for someone who has never lived in the country, and it is separate from the statutory permanent-residence scheme. It does not grant citizenship.

A retiree's change from visitor status can establish ordinary residence, but does not waive the later four-year requirement.

Next Steps

  1. Obtain a review of your status history and absences against the four years immediately before applying.
  2. Request the current residence-permit checklist and prepare the supporting records.
  3. Apply while maintaining lawful immigration status and any required work permission.
  4. Check when the permit expires and arrange renewal in time.

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Other routes in Antigua and Barbuda.

Sources