Investment Citizenship in Antigua Focus on Antigua Living Guide: Located in the northern part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. The vast majority of the population are descendants of Africans, and most residents are Christian. The capital is St. John's, with a population of 29,000 (1993). Area: Antigua Island is 280 square kilometers, and Barbuda Island is 160 square kilometers. It has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27°C. The average annual precipitation is about 1020 mm. Antigua and Barbuda does not have a complete national economic production system. Currently, the national income of Antigua and Barbuda is mainly derived from tourism, construction, offshore finance, manufacturing, and agriculture. As its primary source of income, the tourism industry has faced significant difficulties locally since the Great Recession began in 2000. Agriculture is mainly self-sufficient. In addition, there are a few industries, mainly producing export products.
Local Language: English
Local Life
The country provides free medical care and pensions, which can guarantee basic medical and health services. In 2010, the average life expectancy in Antigua and Barbuda was 75.2 years, and the annual population growth rate was 1.289%. The telecommunications industry is developing rapidly, with all communication trunk lines being fiber-optic. In 2010, there were 41,700 telephones and 163,900 mobile phones.
The housing of residents in Antigua and Barbuda is of brick or wood structure, generally consisting of two rooms and a living room. With the development of tourism, high-end luxury hotels have sprung up in some tourist resorts. The country has a tropical climate, and residents wear summer clothes all year round. Suits are worn on important occasions. Residents like to eat spicy food, and curry powder is an indispensable seasoning for their dishes. Beef, mutton, pork, chicken, fish, and potatoes are the foods residents love most. A popular drink is their homemade rum.
Medical Care
There are no tropical infectious diseases in Antigua and Barbuda. There is one large public hospital and one private clinic. The public hospital has better conditions and can perform complex surgeries, but medical treatment requires an appointment in advance. Antigua and Barbuda has no mandatory requirement for foreign tourists to purchase medical insurance.
History
In 1493, Columbus arrived on the island during his second voyage to the Americas and named it after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville, Spain. Between 1520 and 1629, it was invaded by Spanish and French colonists. It was occupied by the British in 1632. In 1667, it officially became a British colony under the Treaty of Breda. In 1967, it became an associated state of the United Kingdom and established an internal self-governing government. It declared independence on November 1, 1981, and is a member of the Commonwealth.
Culture
Due to long-term colonial rule by Britain, France, and others, the social system, customs, and religious beliefs of Antigua and Barbuda are deeply influenced by Europe, and most people believe in Christianity. Antiguans often shake hands when meeting friends, and women often perform the cheek-kissing greeting. In social occasions and church services, men wear suits, and women wear dresses, suits, and hats. Women wear evening gowns to attend dinner parties. For funeral ceremonies, both men and women wear black suits or dresses, and women wear black hats.
The people of Antigua and Barbuda live simple lives, have cheerful personalities, are reasonable in their conduct, and are very polite. In diplomatic occasions, titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Miss are commonly used. Handshakes are common. Most people believe in Christianity, and every Sunday and holiday, people flock to church to pray.
Environment
Antigua and Barbuda is located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, between 61°39′–61°54′ W and 17°02′–17°40′ N. It faces Guadeloupe to the south and is adjacent to Saint Kitts and Nevis to the west. It consists of three islands: Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda.
Antigua is a limestone island with an area of 280 square kilometers. The southwest of the island is volcanic hills with an average altitude of 300 meters. Mount Obama (formerly known as Boggy Peak before 2009[1]), the highest point on the island, is only 405 meters (some say 396 meters[1]) above sea level; the northeast is low limestone hills with an average altitude of 100 meters; the central part is a narrow alluvial plain, generally not exceeding 15 meters above sea level. Rivers are rare on the island, and trees are scarce. The coastline is tortuous, with many bays and capes. The climate is dry, with an average annual precipitation of 1,000 mm. The average annual temperature is 27°C, and May to October is the hottest season, with temperatures reaching 33°C. Located in the hurricane belt, it is often hit by hurricanes.
Barbuda is a coral island located about 40 kilometers north of Antigua, with an area of 160.6 square kilometers. The terrain is flat, the forest is dense, and there are many wild animals. Codrington is the only village on the island, with about 1,300 residents.
Redonda is an uninhabited barren reef located about 40 kilometers southwest of Antigua, with an area of only 1.3 square kilometers.
Visa Overview
Chinese citizens must obtain a visa in advance for travel or visits to Antigua and Barbuda (hereinafter referred to as Antigua). Antigua has not yet opened an embassy in China, and its consular visa business in China is handled by the United Kingdom. Applicants must apply for an entry visa to Antigua at the UK Visa Application Center in China. For specific procedures, please call the visa center for consultation at 400-821-1182 (from mainland China) or 86-21-28939105 (from Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas).
Local Festivals
Major festivals: New Year's Day (January 1), Easter, Labor Day (first Monday in May), Thanksgiving, Constitution Day (May 3), CARICOM Day (July 7), Carnival (first Monday and Tuesday in August), Independence Day (November 1), Heroes' Day (December 9), and Christmas (December 25).
Practical Information
Telephone
The international area code for Antigua and Barbuda is 1-268. The Antigua Public Utilities Authority is responsible for installing and laying fixed telephone lines and does not provide long-distance telephone services. Digicel or Lime, two telecommunications service providers, operate mobile phone and international telephone services, with charges generally ranging from 0.8 to 1.1 East Caribbean dollars per minute (approximately 0.3-0.4 USD/minute). Chinese mobile phones can generally be used directly in Antigua after changing the SIM card.
Internet
The Internet is relatively developed, and there are several network operators on the island. You can install the network after connecting the telephone line.
Transportation
Upon entry, you must fill out an immigration/customs registration card. The immigration registration card is divided into two parts: the upper part is entry information, which is handed to the immigration officer upon entry; the lower part is departure information, which is handed back upon departure. After the immigration office verifies the valid passport and visa, the customs will collect the customs registration card and conduct spot checks on the passenger's luggage. Passengers must pay a departure tax of 70 East Caribbean dollars (or 28 USD) when leaving the country. Transit passengers who do not leave the airport and children under 16 are exempt from departure tax.
Antigua and Barbuda implements internationally accepted entry and exit quarantine policies, and goods brought into the country must be declared and taxed. Adult passengers over 18 years old can carry 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 0.5 pounds of tobacco per person, and can carry no more than 1 imperial quart (1.136 liters) of alcoholic beverages. Persons under 18 are not allowed to carry the above items. Carrying more than 10,000 USD in cash or other equivalent currency upon entry or exit must be declared. Those who fail to declare will be subject to imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of 5,000 USD, or both. Antigua and Barbuda prohibits carrying or wearing camouflage clothing; violators will have their clothing confiscated. To bring pets into the country, you must apply for a permit from the VETERINARY AND LIVESTOCK DIVISION of Antigua and Barbuda in advance and provide corresponding materials according to the type and origin of the pet.