Resident Permit

Residency | Immigration Antigua and Barbuda immigration department of antigua barbuda passports, extentions, residency, visa, appointments, citizenship Application for Resident Permit Any person who has been legally and ordinarily resident in Antigua and Barbuda for a period of no less than four years, or who has been married to an Antiguan Citizen for no less than one year, can make application to the Immigration Department for a resident permit. In addition, the person must not have entered the country illegally, intends to remain in Antigua and Barbuda permanently and has not been convicted of an offence. Documents Required The following documents must be submitted with the application are as follows: evidence of the payment of the prescribed fees a police certificate of character from Antigua and Barbuda and a place where the applicant has resided for over six months Health certificate issued by a medical practitioner as directed by the Immigration Department Letter from Statutory Boards to show that you have contributed to the necessary taxes. Copy of Bio Page of the applicant’s passport Birth and/or marriage certificate any other documentation that the Chief Immigration Officer requires to consider the application and to make a decision. Resident Permit Entitlement The Chief Immigration Officer will issue a Resident Certificate once the application has been approved which entitle the successful applicant: To accept employment and To have reside with him any dependents who were listed in his resident permit application and who were approved by the Chief Immigration Officer. The Certificate may also be varied subsequently to add or remove dependents or to change an occupation. Upon the death of, or divorce from a resident permit holder, the right of the surviving or former spouse to reside in Antigua and Barbuda may be revoked at the discretion of the Chief Immigration Officer; but the surviving or former spouse may, within a period of three months of any revocation, apply for the grant of a Resident Permit in their own right. The same eligibility requirements set out above must be satisfied. Where an application for a Resident Permit has been made within the three months from the date of the revocation, the applicant’s right to reside in Antigua and Barbuda shall continue upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Chief Immigration Officer until the determination of the application of. Press Release For Resident Permit Programme June 21, 2016 Official Government Website Citizenship Act Immigration and Passport Act 2014 Countries Exempt from Visas

Any person who has been legally and ordinarily resident in Antigua and Barbuda for a period of no less than four years, or who has been married to an Antiguan Citizen for no less than one year, can make application to the Immigration Department for a resident permit. In addition, the person must not have entered the country illegally, intends to remain in Antigua and Barbuda permanently and has not been convicted of an offence. **

## 40. Grant of residence permit (1) The Chief Immigration Officer may, upon consideration of an application under subsection (1), grant a residence permit to the applicant if the Chief Immigration Officer is satisfied that the applicant— *(a)* has demonstrated an intent to permanently reside in Antigua and Barbuda; *(b)* has been lawfully resident in Antigua and Barbuda for a period of not less than 4 years, immediately preceding the date of the application; *(c)* has, for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of the application, been married to a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda; and *(d)* meets the other requirements for the grant of a residence permit.

4. Amendment of section 40-Grant of residence permit The principal Act is amended in section 40 (1) (b) by inserting the word “ordinarily” between the words “lawfully” and “resident”.

(3) In calculating the period of residence in Antigua and Barbuda for the purposes of this section, account shall not be taken— --- (a) subject to subsection (4), of any period during which a person was not, or was not deemed to be, lawfully resident in Antigua and Barbuda; (b) of any period spent by a person as an inmate in a prison serving a duly authorized sentence, under the provisions of any enactment in force in Antigua and Barbuda; (c) of any period for which a person remains in Antigua and Barbuda after a deportation order has been made against him; or (d) of any period of absence by a person from Antigua and Barbuda for a period of 6 months or more with the consent of— (i) the Chief Medical Officer for the purpose of medical care; or (ii) the Director of Education for the purpose of education.

5. Insertion of section 70A-Change of status The principal Act is amended by inserting immediately after section 70 the following— “70A Change of status (1) A bona fide visitor who intends to lawfully ordinarily reside in Antigua and Barbuda for the purposes of— (a) work; (b) attending an educational institution (student); (c) marriage to an Antiguan and Barbudan national; shall apply for a change of status. (d) a retiree; (3) The status of the individual shall be determined by the categories outlined in Schedule 7. (4) On termination of any of the provisions set out in subsection (1), the Chief Immigration Officer may deem the change of status void and the individual shall no longer be lawfully ordinarily resident.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), in calculating the period of residence in Antigua and Barbuda for the purposes of this section, a period of absence from Antigua and Barbuda by the applicant shall be treated as residence in Antigua and Barbuda if that period of absence is— *(a)* for less than 6 months in any one year; *(b)* for the purpose of tertiary education and so long as the applicant remains enrolled in the tertiary educational institution as certified by the Director of Education before the commencement of studies; or *(c)* for reasons of health as certified by the Chief Medical Officer. (3) In calculating the period of residence in Antigua and Barbuda for the purposes of this section, account shall not be taken— --- (a) subject to subsection (4), of any period during which a person was not, or was not deemed to be, lawfully resident in Antigua and Barbuda; (b) of any period spent by a person as an inmate in a prison serving a duly authorized sentence, under the provisions of any enactment in force in Antigua and Barbuda; (c) of any period for which a person remains in Antigua and Barbuda after a deportation order has been made against him; or (d) of any period of absence by a person from Antigua and Barbuda for a period of 6 months or more with the consent of— (i) the Chief Medical Officer for the purpose of medical care; or (ii) the Director of Education for the purpose of education.

Is the applicant not allowed to leave Antigua and Barbuda for four years prior to the application for a Resident Permit?_** A         There may be no breaks of less than six (6) months continuously between the periods of lawful continuous residency. Furthermore, when applying for a residence permit, the applicant must have a valid work permit. The applicant must show their intention to permanently reside in Antigua and Barbuda and must reside in Antigua and Barbuda for at least half of the time during which the residence permit is valid. **_

Documents Required** The following documents must be submitted with the application are as follows: 1. evidence of the payment of the prescribed fees 2. a police certificate of character from Antigua and Barbuda and a place where the applicant has resided for over six months 3. Health certificate issued by a medical practitioner as directed by the Immigration Department 4. Letter from Statutory Boards to show that you have contributed to the necessary taxes. 5. Copy of Bio Page of the applicant’s passport 6. Birth and/or marriage certificate 7. any other documentation that the Chief Immigration Officer requires to consider the application and to make a decision. **Resident Permit Entitlement** The Chief Immigration Officer will issue a Resident Certificate once the application has been approved which entitle the successful applicant: 1. To accept employment and 2. To have reside with him any dependents who were listed in his resident permit application and who were approved by the Chief Immigration Officer. The Certificate may also be varied subsequently to add or remove dependents or to change an occupation.

(6) A residence permit— (a) is valid for 3 years from the date of grant unless revoked earlier under section 45; and (b) may, on application in the prescribed form, be renewed by the Chief Immigration Officer upon payment of the prescribed fee.