If you're looking to get an Antigua and Barbuda passport through the Citizenship by Investment program, there's a new step: a mandatory interview.
We know interviews can be a bit stressful if you're not sure what's coming. To help you out, we've put together 15 common questions people often have about the interview process itself, helping to clear some doubts and ensuring you’re prepared.
Interviews were introduced back in December 2023 by the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).
Interviews are part of the due diligence process, scheduled to take place virtually after the completion of the due diligence investigative phase.
The interviews are carried out by independent service providers, capable of conducting them in the applicant's preferred or native language. Consequently, there is no requirement for Licensed Agents or other external representatives to participate in this process.
Applicants will be informed of the interview date and time by the Unit via the Local Licensed Agent. Any requests for additional information or documentation, as part of the due diligence process, will be communicated after the due diligence is concluded.
Interviews will be held in a single session for all family members aged 16 and older unless otherwise specified by the Unit. Applicants are encouraged to choose the earliest possible date and time to avoid scheduling issues and delays in application processing.
The Unit will coordinate with the applicant through their Licensed Agent to set the most convenient interview date and time, offering a minimum of three options to choose from.
Applicants will be offered the earliest available dates to choose from, with a minimum of three date and time options provided by the Unit.
All application members must be present for the interview, but only those aged 16 and above will be interviewed directly. The principal applicant can present identification for members under 16. Where family members are in different locations, links for the virtual interview will be provided.
All members aged 16 and over will be interviewed, and they must present their identification documents, including all passports. Identification for those under 16 can be presented by the principal applicant.
Applicants should have all submitted identification documents ready for the interview, including passports, government-issued IDs, and birth certificates.
Originals of all submitted identification documents are required at the interview, though certified copies may be accepted under exceptional circumstances.
An interview fee of US$1,500 per application is required at the time of the initial application submission.
No penalty is imposed for rescheduling an interview, but applicants are encouraged to keep their original appointment to prevent scheduling issues and delays.
Post-interview, the decision will be communicated as per the usual procedures outlined in Section 5 (14) of the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act, 2016.
As interviews are part of the due diligence process, neither reports nor transcripts are available to applicants or third parties.
We hope this article has helped clarify any doubts you might have had about the Antigua and Barbuda passport interview process. If you have additional questions, the High Net Worth Immigration team is here to assist you.
Not only are we ready to answer your questions, but we are also equipped to help you secure your Antigua and Barbuda passport through the Citizenship by Investment route.