# Antigua and Barbuda: adult naturalisation

Ordinary alien naturalisation combines a final residence year with five aggregate years in the preceding seven-year window. Good character, future residence and ministerial discretion remain separate requirements; Commonwealth registration and investment citizenship are different routes.

Scope: Adult alien naturalisation under section 6 and Second Schedule paragraph 1, read with the enacted 2021 residence-counting amendment; not descent, marriage, Commonwealth registration or investment citizenship.

Jurisdiction: Antigua and Barbuda. Sources reviewed 2026-09-22; review due 2026-12-21.

General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying.

## Final year plus five in the earlier seven

The ordinary alien route requires twelve months' residence immediately before application and five aggregate years within the seven years preceding that final year. In special circumstances, the Minister can accept a final twelve-month period ending up to six months earlier.

Evidence: conditional. [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act, Chapter 22](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-22.pdf). Source location: Second Schedule paragraphs 1(a)–(b) and 2, PDF page 16.

## Permitted absences and amended exclusions

Short absences under six months and approved education, health or prescribed absences can count. The 2021 amendment excludes unlawful-residence periods totalling six months or more; it does not establish automatic credit for every shorter unlawful stay. Temporary permission requires ministerial consent to count; custody is excluded except mental-hospital detention.

Evidence: conditional. [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act, Chapter 22](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-22.pdf); [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Citizenship Amendment Act 5 of 2021](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/No.-5-of-2021-Antigua-and-Barbuda-Citizenship-Amendment-Act-2021.pdf). Source location: Act section 2(7)–(8); Act 5 of 2021 section 2 replacing section 2(8)(a).

## Adult capacity, character and intention

Applicants must be at least eighteen and of full capacity, satisfy the Minister as to good character, and intend to reside in Antigua and Barbuda if naturalised.

Evidence: documented. [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act, Chapter 22](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-22.pdf). Source location: Sections 2(3), 6; Second Schedule paragraph 1(c)–(d).

## A discretionary grant and allegiance oath

The Minister may grant a certificate after the statutory qualifications are satisfied. Citizenship follows the certificate and required allegiance oath; residence eligibility alone is not approval.

Evidence: conditional. [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act, Chapter 22](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-22.pdf). Source location: Section 6 and Third Schedule.

## No inferred language exemption

The collected naturalisation provisions do not establish a named language level, accepted test evidence or exemptions. Their silence is not a verified exemption from an interview or assessment.

Evidence: not established. [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act, Chapter 22](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-22.pdf). Source location: Section 6 and Second Schedule.

## Renunciation and dual-nationality scope

Voluntary renunciation has a safeguard against remaining without another nationality. The Constitution's express dual-nationality protection concerns its specified independence-era citizens and registration cohort; ordinary naturalisation retention conditions are not fully established here.

Evidence: conditional. [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Act, Chapter 22](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-22.pdf); [Government of Antigua and Barbuda: Constitution, Chapter 23 — citizenship provisions](https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-23.pdf). Source location: Citizenship Act section 7; Constitution section 115(1)–(2), tied to 1 November 1981.

## Scope and limitations

- The government's base Act is read with Act 5 of 2021, published 13 May 2021; its older residence-exclusion wording must not be used alone. Commonwealth and British-protected-person routes have different residence rules.
- The immigration FAQ could not be independently retrieved beyond search previews and is not cited. Language/testing and complete ordinary-route foreign-nationality retention conditions remain unresolved, not waived.

## Explore this passport

- [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/antigua-and-barbuda)
- [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/antigua-and-barbuda/taxes)
- [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/AG)
- [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries)

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