By Val Matthias. Updated 10:14 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that Antigua and Barbuda will seek urgent clarification from Washington following a proclamation by the United States Government suspending visa issuance to Antiguan and Barbudan nationals effective January 1, 2026.
The suspension, according to the proclamation, was linked to concerns that Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) operates without a residency requirement. Prime Minister Browne rejected that assertion, stating that recent legislative reforms have introduced a mandatory 30‑day physical residency condition for applicants.
“Over the past year, Antigua and Barbuda has worked closely and constructively with several departments of the United States Government to strengthen safeguards within our Citizenship by Investment Programme,” Browne said. He added that Parliament had enacted comprehensive legislation covering due diligence, transparency, information‑sharing, and enforcement.
Immediately after the proclamation was issued, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, contacted the State Department. Sanders reported that officials there were surprised by the announcement and had received no prior notice. He has since arranged high‑level meetings with the State Department and the White House to present Antigua and Barbuda’s position and seek resolution.
Prime Minister Browne confirmed that he is writing directly to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to offer full cooperation in addressing US concerns and restoring visa access.
Browne emphasized the importance of bilateral ties, noting that the United States remains Antigua and Barbuda’s largest trading partner and enjoys a consistent trade surplus with the country. He pledged that his government will act to preserve relations “on the basis of mutual respect, cooperation, and accurate understanding.”
The proclamation suspending visa issuance to Antigua and Barbuda is part of a wider US policy targeting countries with citizenship programmes deemed to pose potential security risks. Similar restrictions have previously been applied to other Caribbean states with Citizenship by Investment schemes. The measure affects all visa categories, including tourist, business, and student visas, and is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2026. The decision has raised concerns across the region about its impact on travel, trade, and diaspora connections, with Antigua and Barbuda now pressing for urgent dialogue to reverse the suspension.
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