Your first 90 days in Antigua and Barbuda: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
No income tax does not mean no tax residency questions back home — the US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless, and several other countries apply their own tie-breaker tests. Get the home-country position advised before you restructure anything around the zero-tax headline.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Register with the Immigration Department in St John's for the residence permit, or activate a Nomad Digital Residence approval
Before the entry stamp expires — visitors are normally admitted for up to 3 months, extendable at the department
Citizenship-by-investment approvals are handled by the CIU on a separate track, and a CBI passport does not remove the residence formalities for family members arriving on other documents. The NDR nomad permit is granted for two years and is the simplest route for remote workers.
Get your TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the Inland Revenue Department
Antigua abolished personal income tax in 2016, so the TIN matters mostly for property, business activity and bank onboarding rather than a salary return.
Registered at the Inland Revenue Department with your permit and passport; social security registration is separate and handled through the Social Security Board when you take up employment.
Open a bank account
ACB Caribbean, CIBC Caribbean and the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank open accounts on a permit, reference letters and source-of-funds evidence. The EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar at 2.70, which removes exchange risk, but international wires are slow and expensive — keep a multi-currency account for anything cross-border.
Enrol in healthcare
The Medical Benefits Scheme covers contributors for a defined list of conditions and medicines, with Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre as the main hospital. Complex care means flying to Miami or Barbados, so international insurance with evacuation cover is the practical baseline for foreign residents.
Sort your driver's license
A temporary local licence is issued on presentation of a valid foreign licence and a fee, and is the standard route for arrivals and visitors. Residents convert to a full Antiguan licence through the Transport Board. Driving is on the left.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Antigua and Barbuda: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Antigua and Barbuda?
Register with the Immigration Department in St John's for the residence permit, or activate a Nomad Digital Residence approval — Before the entry stamp expires — visitors are normally admitted for up to 3 months, extendable at the department. Citizenship-by-investment approvals are handled by the CIU on a separate track, and a CBI passport does not remove the residence formalities for family members arriving on other documents. The NDR nomad permit is granted for two years and is the simplest route for remote workers. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the Inland Revenue Department is Antigua and Barbuda's personal tax/ID number. Antigua abolished personal income tax in 2016, so the TIN matters mostly for property, business activity and bank onboarding rather than a salary return. Registered at the Inland Revenue Department with your permit and passport; social security registration is separate and handled through the Social Security Board when you take up employment.
Can I drive in Antigua and Barbuda on a US license?
A temporary local licence is issued on presentation of a valid foreign licence and a fee, and is the standard route for arrivals and visitors. Residents convert to a full Antiguan licence through the Transport Board. Driving is on the left. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Antigua and Barbuda?
The Medical Benefits Scheme covers contributors for a defined list of conditions and medicines, with Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre as the main hospital. Complex care means flying to Miami or Barbados, so international insurance with evacuation cover is the practical baseline for foreign residents. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Antigua and Barbuda's system treats foreign residents.