Inside CIS26 — An Industry Update on Antigua & Barbuda's Evolving Citizenship by Investment Program

The Caribbean Investment Summit 2026 (CIS26), held in Saint Lucia from 6 to 9 May 2026, brought together the region's Heads of Government, Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) leaders, government officials, development bank representatives, and global investment migration stakeholders for what has become one of the most consequential industry gatherings of the year.

For Level Immigration, the summit was more than a calendar entry. Our CEO, Mr. Haitham Al-Ammari, attended CIS26 as part of the firm's ongoing engagement with the policymakers shaping the future of Caribbean CBI — including a series of direct meetings with the Head of the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit. The conversations that emerged from those meetings offer an early, on-the-ground view of where the program is heading.

A Regional Reset, Anchored in Saint Lucia

Under the theme "The Convergence Advantage in Global Capital and Mobility," CIS26 explored the intersection of capital, compliance, and competitiveness, including the harmonisation of regional frameworks and alignment with regulatory standards in major markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia anchored the dialogue, joined on a high-level panel by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis. The panel was moderated by the Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Dr. Didicus Jules.

The opening panel — titled "A New Era of Regulation: Teasing Out the Opportunities and Challenges for Caribbean CBI" — set the tone for three days of focused discussion on risk management, enforcement mechanisms, pricing floors, and the future of regional cooperation within the Citizenship by Investment framework.

For Level Immigration, the takeaway is clear: the region is no longer reacting to external regulatory pressure — it is actively shaping its own framework, and Antigua & Barbuda is one of the jurisdictions moving most deliberately within it.

The Antigua & Barbuda Conversation — A Broader Definition of Family

A central topic in Mr. Haitham Al-Amari discussions with the Head of the Antigua & Barbuda CIU was the program's evolving approach to family inclusion. According to conversations during the summit, the Antigua & Barbuda CBI program is moving toward a more accommodating definition of eligible dependents — one that reflects how high-net-worth families actually live across generations.

Three updates were discussed in particular:

• Married children under the age of 30. Several Caribbean programs currently restrict adult dependent eligibility to unmarried children. Under the framework discussed at CIS26, married children below the age of 30 would remain eligible for inclusion in their parents' application.
• Spouses and minor children of those married dependents. In line with the expanded definition, the spouses and children of these married adult dependents are also expected to be included in the same family application.
• Unmarried siblings of the main applicant. Siblings, historically excluded from most Caribbean CBI applications, are expected to qualify as dependents under the proposed framework.

If formally adopted, this expansion would meaningfully reshape how families approach Antigua & Barbuda as a second citizenship destination — particularly for clients with adult children who have started their own families but remain part of a tightly connected multigenerational household. That structure is common across Level Immigration's core markets in the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, and the wider GCC.

The direction reflects a wider regional understanding that emerged throughout the summit: investor families do not move alone, and modern CBI must accommodate the realities of contemporary family life without compromising the due diligence standards that protect program integrity.

Processing Timelines on the Agenda

Processing time was another area of focused discussion. Antigua & Barbuda applications are currently estimated at approximately six to nine months from submission to grant, depending on file complexity, due diligence outcomes, and applicant nationality.

During the summit, the topic of streamlining timelines — without weakening the enhanced due diligence framework now standard across the Eastern Caribbean — was approached as a shared priority among CBI jurisdictions. The conversations suggested measured improvements rather than dramatic changes, reflecting a clear regional consensus: processing speed must not come at the expense of the credibility that makes a Caribbean passport valuable in the first place.

For applicants currently weighing Antigua & Barbuda against alternative Caribbean options, the practical takeaway is constructive. The program is being actively reviewed, but expectations should remain anchored in the current six-to-nine-month window until any formal adjustments are announced.

The Bigger Picture — Due Diligence, Transparency, and Sustainability

Beyond the Antigua-specific updates, CIS26 dedicated significant attention to the architecture surrounding all Caribbean CBI programs:

• Due diligence enhancements, including the role of emerging technologies in due diligence and border security.
• Regional regulatory convergence, particularly alignment with standards expected in major destination markets.
• Transparency and sustainability, framed not as compliance burdens but as competitive advantages that protect the long-term value of these citizenships.
• The evolution of investment migration beyond single-passport transactions, with increased focus on integrated wealth management strategies, including estate planning, asset protection, and multi-jurisdictional portfolio structuring.

This is perhaps the most consequential shift for investors to understand. Caribbean CBI is no longer being positioned regionally as a fast-track product. It is being repositioned as a long-horizon planning tool, embedded within broader wealth and mobility strategies.

What This Means for Level Immigration's Clients

For families and investors considering Antigua & Barbuda — or any Caribbean CBI program — three practical points emerge from CIS26:

• The window for multigenerational planning may be widening. Discussions during the summit point toward more inclusive family structures within the Antigua & Barbuda program, which could allow more dependents to acquire citizenship within a single application.
• Processing remains realistic, not promotional. Plan around the current six-to-nine-month estimate. Any timeline improvements will be communicated officially before they affect applicant planning.
• Due diligence has become a competitive asset, not an obstacle. Applicants with well-prepared, transparent files will continue to move through Caribbean programs more smoothly than those who attempt to navigate the process informally.

Level Immigration's direct engagement with CIU leadership and senior regional stakeholders — including Mr. Haitham Al-Amari meetings during CIS26 — is how we ensure our clients are advised based on current policy direction, not last year's documentation.

Conclusion

CIS26 reinforced what experienced industry observers already sensed: Caribbean Citizenship by Investment is entering a more mature phase, and Antigua & Barbuda is positioning itself to remain a flagship within that evolution. For investors and families across our core markets, the practical implications — broader family inclusion, evolving processing dynamics, and a strengthened overall framework — will shape decisions well into 2026 and beyond.

If you are considering Antigua & Barbuda citizenship for yourself and your family, we invite you to reach out for an updated briefing reflecting the latest direction from the program. Speaking with one of our advisors at Level Immigration is the most reliable way to understand how these developments may apply to your specific situation.