Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda CARICOM free movement
First stay: 6 mo
CARICOM skilled nationals free movement (CSME Skills Certificate)
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
CARICOM free movement is a long-stay route for Antigua and Barbuda. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 6 mo
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Work rights are limited
- Only for passports from 11 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply5
- The person is a national of one of the 12 participating CSME states.
- Approved categories: graduates, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, media workers, CVQ artisans, associate degree holders and household domestics with CVQ.
- Antigua and Barbuda is not currently allowing free movement of professional nurses and teachers.
- Graduates need at least a bachelor degree from a university recognised by the receiving state.
- CARICOM nationals outside the approved categories must apply for a work permit.
Documents1
- Birth certificate, passport biodata and issue and expiry pages, marriage certificate if applicable, photographs and proof of qualification.
Steps3
- Apply to the Free Movement of Skills desk of the competent authority in a participating state for a Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification.
- With a certificate issued elsewhere, the person is granted a 6-month stay and submits it to the Antigua and Barbuda competent authority for acceptance; work is allowed meanwhile.
- After acceptance the person applies to Immigration for indefinite stay; certificate holders can report to Immigration for exemption from extension of stay.
After you arrive1
- The certificate is valid indefinitely; a spouse's status depends on the holder continuing to live in Antigua and Barbuda.
When you become tax resident
How Antigua and Barbuda decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
6 months at first
- Tax residence
The IRD home page still lists personal income tax among the taxes it administers.
- Foreign-source income
No personal income tax
Antigua and Barbuda abolished personal income tax in 2016 (2026 Budget Statement), so employment, investment and other foreign-source income of individuals is not subject to a personal income tax; self-employed and partnership business income is instead taxed under the Unincorporated Business Tax, with 0% on the first XCD 42,000 (≈ $15,600) for a sole trader, 8% from XCD 42,001 (≈ $15,600) to 186,000 and 25% above XCD 186,000 (≈ $68,900).
All tax rules for Antigua and Barbuda Tax records checked
Full official text
Nationals of 11 other CSME states in an approved skills category can work in Antigua and Barbuda without a work permit with a CARICOM Skills Certificate; the nurse and teacher categories are not currently accepted. 1 2 3 4 5
Requirements
- The person is a national of one of the 12 participating CSME states. 5 6
- Approved categories: graduates, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, media workers, CVQ artisans, associate degree holders and household domestics with CVQ. 1
- Antigua and Barbuda is not currently allowing free movement of professional nurses and teachers. 4
- Graduates need at least a bachelor degree from a university recognised by the receiving state. 1
- CARICOM nationals outside the approved categories must apply for a work permit. 1
- Birth certificate, passport biodata and issue and expiry pages, marriage certificate if applicable, photographs and proof of qualification. 1
- Apply to the Free Movement of Skills desk of the competent authority in a participating state for a Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification. 1
- With a certificate issued elsewhere, the person is granted a 6-month stay and submits it to the Antigua and Barbuda competent authority for acceptance; work is allowed meanwhile. 1
- After acceptance the person applies to Immigration for indefinite stay; certificate holders can report to Immigration for exemption from extension of stay. 1 2
- The certificate is valid indefinitely; a spouse's status depends on the holder continuing to live in Antigua and Barbuda. 1 2
Stay
- 6-month stay on arrival while the certificate is verified; then indefinite stay.
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
- On arrival up to 6 months: Certificate submitted to the competent authority for acceptance; work is allowed meanwhile.
- After acceptance: Indefinite stay granted by Immigration.
Nationality
Nationals of the CSME free movement states: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Work
No work permit needed in the approved categories; the holder can work during the verification period.
Family
Spouse, children under 16 and wholly dependent parents and grandparents are dependants who can join the holder; spouses may work without a work permit.
Official sources
- Single Market and Economy Free Movement - Travel and Work, 3rd Edition · CARICOM Secretariat, published by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2017-01-01
- Extensions FAQs · Immigration Department, Antigua and Barbuda · checked 2026-10-10
- The Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals (Amendment) Act, 2007 · Government of Antigua and Barbuda · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2007-01-17
- Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification Guidelines · Barbados Accreditation Council · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME - CARICOM Single Market and Economy · Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME Certificate Portal · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
CARICOM free movement and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARICOM free movement | – | 6 mo | Limited |
| Visa-free stay Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| Andean free movement Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Brazil | – | – | – |
| Mercosur residence Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the CARICOM free movement?
6-month stay on arrival while the certificate is verified; then indefinite stay.
Can I work on the CARICOM free movement?
Limited. No work permit needed in the approved categories; the holder can work during the verification period.
Can I bring my family on the CARICOM free movement?
Spouse, children under 16 and wholly dependent parents and grandparents are dependants who can join the holder; spouses may work without a work permit.
Who can apply for the CARICOM free movement?
Nationals of the CSME free movement states: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 6 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Single Market and Economy Free Movement - Travel and Work, 3rd Edition · CARICOM Secretariat, published by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda · checked 2026-10-10
- Extensions FAQs · Immigration Department, Antigua and Barbuda · checked 2026-10-10
- The Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals (Amendment) Act, 2007 · Government of Antigua and Barbuda · checked 2026-10-10
- Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification Guidelines · Barbados Accreditation Council · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME - CARICOM Single Market and Economy · Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME Certificate Portal · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.