At the 2011 census, there were 25,549 immigrants in Antigua and Barbuda, or 30% of the population.[1] Immigrants usually originate from other Caribbean countries and places that have large Antiguan and Barbudan populations.
Immigration policy
Immigration to Antigua and Barbuda is regulated by the Immigration and Passport Act, most recently amended in 2023.[2][3] For those wishing to become an Antiguan and Barbudan citizen or resident, one must first apply to the immigration department for an extension to their visa. In addition to standard documentation, one must also prove that they will be able to sustain themselves in the country.[4]
Antigua and Barbuda does receive a large amount of illegal immigration. In 2022 and in certain occasions after, immigration amnesties have been held through a 2022 amendment to the immigration law. An illegal immigrant may apply for a grant of amnesty for a fee of EC$200.[5] In the first April 2022 drive, about 2,000 illegal immigrants took advantage of the program, mostly from Jamaica, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and Syria.[6]Paul Chet Greene, immigration minister in the right-wing Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, justified this by stating that many of these illegal immigrants had contributed significantly to Antiguan and Barbudan society, and that many of these people had no criminal record and were just trying to support their families.[7] By June 2022, there were 4,000 applications.[8]
Statistics
In 2011, about 68% of people living in Antigua and Barbuda were born in that country. Most immigrants to Antigua and Barbuda come from various Caribbean countries, such as Dominica, Jamaica, and Guyana. Additionally, there is a sizable minority of immigrants from the Dominican Republic and the United States. Most immigrants usually come from English-speaking countries that have large Antiguan and Barbudan populations or have low human development indexes.[1]