Launched in 2020, the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa was one of the earliest available to globetrotting remote workers. The independent Commonwealth country, comprised of the two namesake islands (and several smaller islands) at the meeting point of the Caribbean and the Atlantic, Antigua & Barbuda has opted to offer a digital nomad visa to global remote workers in the wake of the global pandemic. The drop in tourism left the reef-lined beaches, rainforests, and resorts void of visitors, and the offer to remote workers was extended. With digital nomads able to live and work from the island paradise for up to two years, it’ll come as no surprise that travelers with their laptops in tow flocked to the country. 

Interested in flying out and exploring the islands of Antigua & Barbuda? Find out everything you need to know, from the minimum income requirements to the application process, about the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa, in our guide to remote working in the country. 

What is the Antigua & Barbuda Digital Nomad Visa?

The Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa, known as the Nomad Digital Residence Visa is a long-stay visa designed with remote workers in mind. Remote workers are offered a stay of up to two years in the country and are able to bring both family members and dependents with them under the visa. 

Why is the Antigua & Barbuda Digital Nomad Visa Better Than a Tourist Visa?

For the majority of visitors, a tourist visa is not required when visiting Antigua & Barbuda, although a maximum 30-day stay is enforced. A visa on arrival (VOA) can be issued to nationals outside of the visa-exempt countries providing that they hold a visa or Permanent Resident Card from either the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom or are a holder of a Schengen Visa. All visitors must have at least six months of passport validity to qualify for the VOA. The VOA is only valid for a total of 30 days with the sole purpose of either tourist or casual visits. A fee of $100 USD per person must be paid for this short-term visa.

The main benefit of the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa is, therefore, the length of time that can be spent on the islands. With a two-year stint offered to remote workers, a huge period of time to live, work, and explore paradise is a huge positive of the visa. 

Antigua & Barbuda Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 

Living and working in the Caribbean may sound too good to be true, but not everybody will qualify for the all-important remote working visa. There is a short list of requirements that all applicants must satisfy to be considered for the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa: 

• Valid Passport: The applicant's passport must be valid for the entire visa duration.
• $50,000 USD Minimum Annual Income: Applicants must prove a minimum income of at least $50,000 USD per year. This can be completed by providing bank statements. 
• Work Remotely: Applicants must be able to provide proof that their income is earned remotely from outside of Antigua & Barbuda.
• Health Insurance: Applicants must show proof of health insurance with coverage in Portugal. 
• Clean Criminal Record: All applicants must pass and provide a certified criminal record check.

How to Apply 

It’s quick and easy to apply for the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa with the entire process taking place online. The following step-by-guide can be used as a template when creating a successful visa application. 

Step 1: Collect all Necessary Documents

The first step when applying for the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa is to gather all of the necessary documents for a successful application. The following documentation is required from individual applicants:

• Copy of Passport (valid for the entire visa duration)
• Two Passport Photos (2×2 in/51×51 mm)
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Proof of Income (minimum of $50,000 USD annually) 
• Evidence of Remote Work 
• Proof of Health Insurance Policy (with coverage in Antigua & Barbuda)
• Certified Criminal Background Check

If an application is submitted with a remote worker including their spouse/dependents, the following documents will also be required:

• Copy of Passport (valid for the entire visa duration)
• Two Passport (2×2 in/51×51 mm)
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Proof of Health Insurance Policy (with coverage in Antigua & Barbuda)
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable) OR Notarized Proof of Relationship (if not married)
• Proof of Guardianship (if applicable)
• Certified Criminal Background Check (for all 18+ years of age)

Once all of the necessary documents have been collected, these should then be digitized (by scanning where possible) and organized ready for the visa application. 

Step 2: Complete the Visa Application Form 

After compiling and digitizing all necessary documents, applicants may now start the visa application form online. The entire form-filling process should take approximately 15-20 minutes with the required documents being uploaded as part of the process. Once complete, applicants must then make the non-refundable application processing payment. 

Step 3: Pay the Application Processing Fee

The application processing fee is a non-refundable sum with the amount dependent on the number of persons included under the visa: 

• Individual Application Fee: $1,500 USD
• Couple Application Fee: $2,000 USD 
• Family Application Fee: $3,000 USD

The fee can be paid online and applicants should save the receipt for their records as this may be requested when arriving in the country to collect the visa.  

Step 4: Await Digital Nomad Visa Approval

Once the application process is complete and the processing fee paid, digital nomads are then simply required to await the verdict of their application. Processing times are quick with an outcome typically emailed to the applicant within 5-7 business days. 

Why Choose Antigua & Barbuda for Your Next Remote Working Trip?

It doesn’t get better than working from the Caribbean and with the freshly launched remote working visa for Antigua & Barbuda, digital nomads can now do just that. The beach is just the beginning of a long-term stay in the twin-island country. Digital nomads are able to enjoy everything from traditional cuisine and local nightlife to outdoor activities, shopping, and sports. Water lovers can test out their sea legs with sailing and yachting a huge part of what makes the island so special and well-loved among the sailing community. Check out the islands from the water and explore the local areas in, we would argue, the best possible way. 

Remote Work Culture in Antigua & Barbuda

Similar to other Caribbean islands, Antigua & Barbuda offers minimal coworking spaces and cafes with limited infrastructure for digital nomad communities. However, with the launch of so many digital nomad visas in this part of the world, it’s not difficult to find expats, tourists, and other remote workers across the two islands. The majority of nomads choose to work in cafes, bars, and restaurants that offer reliable internet connections.  

Cost of Living and Quality of Life in Antigua & Barbuda 

The cost of living in Antigua & Barbuda is approximately 8.4% higher than in the United States with the average monthly expenses totaling an estimated $1,100 USD (without rent) for an individual digital nomad. This value increases to an approximate total of $3,950 per month (without rent) for a family of four living in the country. The rental prices in Antigua & Barbuda are, thankfully for remote workers, noted as being approximately 40.2% lower than in the United States. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center can be rented for approximately $1,000 with a three-bedroom apartment costing approximately $1,850. There is minimal data on the quality of life in Antigua & Barbuda in part due to the small population of the island with an estimated 100,000 residents.  

Healthcare in Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda is split into six distinct medical districts, each with a dedicated medical officer appointed to carry out all medical services. Primary healthcare is taken care of via health centers, each of which can be found within a three-kilometer radius of the major villages and towns. One of the primary requirements for the Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad visa is the coverage of health insurance for the entire visa duration. We would always recommend that remote workers invest in high-quality travel insurance not only for health coverage on a remote working trip but for coverage for delays, cancellations, lost luggage, etc. 

Conclusion 

The Antigua & Barbuda digital nomad is a fantastic option for remote workers looking to live and work in the Caribbean. With white sand beaches, tropical weather, and all of the water activities you can dream of, Antigua & Barbuda is a true work-from-home paradise. The remote working visa is available to digital nomads for an initial two-year period, providing that the $50,000 USD per annum minimal income threshold is met. 

Other requirements include health insurance with coverage in the Commonwealth country and a clean criminal record. The application process is simple and easy to complete with the entire process taking place online. The application fee to apply for the visa is on the steep side with a $1,500 USD fee for individuals, $2,000 USD for couples, and $3,000 USD for families. But it’s the cost of living on the islands that may make remote workers wince. With the average nomad expecting to pay out monthly living expenses 8% higher than in the US, Antigua & Barbuda is not an inexpensive place to spend time as a digital nomad.