In this section, we tell stories about people who dared to make their dreams come true. Usually, we talk about clients or friends that are living in the country in question and have established residency, citizenship, or any financial structure.

We change their names and a few details to keep their privacy, but the intention is to show what you can expect if you choose Antigua and Barbuda as your place of residency. 

This section is especially targeted to business people and investors who want to expand their options and achieve more freedom by moving to another country. 

Antigua and Barbuda offers all financial services and citizenship by investment options. This, in combination with its tax advantages, can be a terrific environment for your plan B strategy. 

Let’s hear the opinion of Igor, a Russian citizen that dared to make his dreams come true in Antigua and Barbuda. 

Mundo was created by perpetual travelers and nomad capitalists. They have traveled the world offering financial services and establishing structures. When choosing a new place of residency, our experts recommend considering certain factors. So, ask yourself the following questions:

-How safe is the country?

-What can you do there with a child?

-What’s the quality of the food?

-What’s the quality and availability of medical services?

-What schools are available? 

-Is the country well connected?

-What are the costs of living?

We asked Igor these questions to help us write this section. 

Why Would a Business Person Want to Move to Antigua and Barbuda?

Igor moved to this country in 2005. He is a real estate broker from Saint Petersburg, Russia. He and his wife met at a philharmonic concert when they were young and really enjoyed the cultural environment of Russian’s northern capital for many years.

However, when they were reaching their 40th birthday they felt they needed a change. Although they love their country, they were tired of the long winters, slippery sidewalks, and lack of sunshine. 

One day, Igor was invited to a summit on Citizenship by Investment in the Caribbean. He went and traveled across the islands. The minute he got off the plane he understood that this was what he and his wife were looking for. 

They deeply researched the five programs and chose Antigua and Barbuda. 

Why Choose Antigua as Your New Home?

Igor and his wife Natalia fell in love with this island country. Here they found many beaches, clean water, great diving, good fishing, and a friendly community. 

They picked Antigua over the other Caribbean islands for many reasons. They say that Antigua has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. While this may sound like a marketing catchphrase, Antigua indeed has hundreds of fantastic beaches. 

Igor and Natalia jump on their boat every weekend and sail down the coast. Their favorite beach is about 150 meters long. It’s a true paradise with fantastic sea life, turquoise tranquil waters, and white sand. 

They love to enjoy nature in a secluded area away from people and civilization. If there are other visitors on that island, they go to another one. There are so many beaches that it’s not hard to find a dessert one where they can enjoy the peace that they long for. It’s like having a private beach all for themselves. 

Interesting Facts about Antigua 

There are some aspects of a country that you cannot know as a tourist. Only by living there for a certain period, you can deeply know a country and its culture. Igor and Natalia were surprised to notice that there is a car in every yard in Antigua. 

They usually lack a tire, the engine, windows, etc. The thing is that the island is so small that people rarely need a car. Hence, when they break they leave it in their front yards. This can be particularly seen in neighborhoods where local people live. If you see a house without such a car, then is fair to assume that something weird is going on. 

This picturesque landscape is typical of Antigua and Barbuda and amazes ex-pats and tourists. 

What to Do in Antigua and Barbuda with Children? 

Igor and Natalia’s children are grown up, but they usually visit with their kids. Many of our clients have reported that their children have no problems socializing at school. 

Their grandchildren are 8 and 14, and they have made friends without problems. They visit twice a year and spend all summer in Antigua. The youngest goes to playgrounds, birthday parties, and parks. The 14-year old goes to the cinema or a café with friends. 

There are many advantages for children growing up or spending time in the Caribbean. Thanks to the fantastic weather, there is an active outdoor life. While in cities like London, New York, or Moscow, kids tend to spend more time online or on their mobile devices, in Antigua the taste for other activities is not yet lost. 

There are plenty of entertainment options to enjoy like hiking, diving, snorkeling, jogging, swimming, sailing, waterskiing, or practicing sports. 

Education and healthcare 

Also, the education level is excellent and there is an international school where expats’ children feel at home. Kindergarten starts from age two and continues to age five. Then, they have access to one of the best primary and secondary education until they are 18. 

The American University of Antigua is one of the best in the Caribbean. It has a renowned medical school associated with some of the best hospitals on the east coast (US). Thus, students can apply to residency programs in the US after graduation. 

Although it’s relatively new, this university is developing rapidly and looking to establish more departments. It was founded in 2004 and started with a class of 9 students. 

Antigua and Barbuda offers excellent healthcare services. Igor hurt his hand on one of his boat trips and he was able to get medical attention within a few hours. This is a paid service, yet fast and reliable.

In Moscow, for example, Igor would have had two options. He could go to the hospital to get free healthcare and wait for hours or schedule a private appointment which is usually given within 2 or days at least. 

In Antigua, Igor called his doctor and went to see him right away. He got a consultation, x-ray, and diagnosis in only 25 minutes. 

Igor and Natalia recommend having private health insurance to cover all medical services and emergencies. In Antigua and Barbuda, you can cover all your basic medical needs. However, for operations and advanced procedures, you may need to visit a larger medical facility. 

Travel and Accessibility in Antigua and Barbuda 

Igor and Natalia don’t travel much, but they do receive a lot of visitors from abroad. They were able to find a great deal and purchased a 2-bedroom beachfront house for only 200,000USD. The extra bedroom serves well to accommodate guests and they have a bed sofa in their large living room. 

Antigua and barbuda has great accesibiltiy. It has a modern airport that opened its gates in 2015. It has regular flights from New York, Miami, Toronto, and London and it’s easy to fly to any neighboring Caribbean island. 

Their Russian friends usually travel to London and then catch a direct flight to Antigua. Their daughter and grandchildren live in New York, which means they can travel back and forward in just a few hours. 

Is Antigua and Barbuda Safe for Ex-Pats? 

The Caribbean has a reputation for being an unsafe region. But let us remember that this region includes many countries.

It’s not really fair to compare Jamaica, which has very dangerous areas, with Antigua. It would be the same as comparing Miami to Boston.

Being a very small country (only 10 miles long), its GDP depends mostly on tourism (60%). Also, the financial industry of the country thrives thanks to the foreigners and their investments. 

The Antiguan people know that they need to take care of their visitors as one unfortunate incident can cause big trouble for the industry. It’s incorporated into people’s culture to look after tourists. Although not everyone thinks like this, people usually tend to give good advice to foreigners on where to go and at what times. 

Although there are almost no violent crimes, pickpocketing and bag-snatching may occur eventually.

Igor and his wife recommend the same as our Mundo experts: watch your belongings in public areas, don’t walk alone at night, don’t go to secluded beaches alone unless you know the area, and safeguard your valuable items like cameras, tablets, smartphones, etc. 

Since this is a delicate issue, we asked our clients about it. Both Igor and Natalia haven’t witnessed any crimes personally. They even acknowledge that they are more safety-conscious when they visit Moscow than here. 

Igor always leaves his bag in the car with two laptops inside and it was never taken. Through his real estate business, he manages over 60 properties and never encountered any serious security issues. 

In the past ten years, he doesn't remember having a break-in in any of his properties, and he is sure that they never had a burglary reported. The only time one of Igor’s clients had stuff missing, they were proven to be taken by a member of the help hired by the owners.

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Business Environment and Economy in Antigua and Barbuda 

The cost of living is affordable, especially if you have investments or income coming from abroad. When compared to other countries, Antigua and Barbuda is more expensive as they have to import almost all products. 

When he first heard about Antigua and Barbuda, Igor thought that it was like Cuba, having two different prices for locals and tourists. However, during his first visit, he realized that this wasn’t the case. 

Doing business in Antigua is quite straightforward. The legal and political system is based on the UK’s common law. There are different structures available and you can also buy shell companies. 

When Igor opened his real estate management business, he contacted a lawyer and had his company opened in a little over a month. Since he has citizenship and a company, he was able to open a bank account easily. Bank accounts for IBCs are a bit trickier, but Mundo experts can help you find solutions in other jurisdictions if needed. The working permit can be acquired in 6 to 8 weeks and costs a yearly fee of 1,000USD. 

Since the country survives on tourism and legal services, the government makes the processes as simple as possible. 

The banking system is highly reliable and depends on the United States. Although the funds are safe, the transactions can be slow. Once, Igor waited over a month to receive a transfer and he had to open several inquiries at the bank before receiving an answer. This is an important aspect to consider when doing business in this country. 

What Are the Disadvantages of Living in Antigua

No place is perfect and, in Mundo, we want to give you a realistic view of the Antiguan lifestyle. Therefore, we asked Igor and Natalia to tell us what they don’t like about this place. 

The roads have many potholes. Although they got used to it, they must drive carefully to avoid damaging their car. 

While the weather is fantastic for vacationing and outdoor activities, the high temperatures all year round are hard to endure. Especially when he is working, Igor has to wear formal suits that are not always appropriate for the temperature. Born and raised in Russia, this married couple finds it hard to adapt to this type of weather. The best part, though, is that they get to wear the same clothes all year long. 

Finally, products in Antigua and Barbuda are expensive. Since it’s an island, everything has to be imported therefore, they have to pay import duties. This is why the living costs are high: food is 25-50% more expensive than in Europe, and 50% more expensive than in the US.

Who We Are and What We Can Do for You 

Mundo is a financial portal dedicated to human freedom, perpetual traveler lifestyle, and asset protection. We have versions in four of the most important languages: Chinese, English, Spanish, and Russian.

Thanks to our wide variety of contacts, we can offer financial services in many countries including the US, Panama, the Caribbean, Cyprus, Montenegro, Portugal, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Seychelles, Hong Kong, etc. Thanks to our wide experience working with CBI programs in the Caribbean, we can make your relocation process smoother for you and your family. 

We are proud to have some of the best financial firms as partners. Our main partner and sponsor is a fiduciary service firm. Combining our experts' 30-year experience and Mundo’s wide reach, we can offer excellent solutions in Antigua and Barbuda and the world. Contact us now for a consultation. 

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