Arrival in Antigua and Barbuda

Before travel, carry a valid passport or other accepted travel document, with validity extending beyond the return-ticket date, a paid return or onward ticket, accommodation confirmation and, if requested, proof of sufficient funds. Visa requirements depend on nationality and travel purpose and should be checked against the current Immigration visa list or eVisa system. A visa-required traveler applies separately for each traveler, including children, and needs a passport valid for at least six months from the intended entry date. Keep the eVisa in both digital and paper form because entry remains subject to the immigration officer’s decision. Visa on arrival is a narrow tourist pathway. It requires a valid visa or residence card from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or the Schengen area, a passport valid for at least six months, no residence or occupation in Antigua and Barbuda, a return ticket and sufficient funds. It allows one entry for up to 30 days, costs US$100 per passenger and cannot be extended or converted. Most air travelers arrive through V.C. Bird International Airport near St. John’s. Complete the ArriveAntigua electronic entry and departure form on a personal phone or tablet, add yourself first, and enter passport details, a document capture, selfie, personal and travel data, flight information, destination, customs details and health-screening answers. A spouse and dependent children under 18 can be added. The submission produces a QR code for Immigration. Current health questions include travel or contact history involving listed countries during the previous six weeks and symptoms such as fever or bleeding risk. At the airport, keep the passport, visa or permit, return or onward ticket, accommodation proof and local address or contact details ready for the Immigration Embarkation Card and officer interview. Declare all foreign-origin baggage and goods to Customs and answer officers truthfully. Advance declarations can speed clearance. The declaration can cover luggage quantity, goods remaining in the country, cash or monetary instruments over EC$10,000, firearms or ammunition, narcotics, restricted plants, animals, food and endangered species. Incorrect information can cause delays or penalties. Sea arrivals use operational Immigration stations at Nelson’s Dockyard, Jolly Harbour and Heritage Quay. Deep Water Harbour and Crabbs are mainly cargo facilities and require advance clearance coordination. Arrival outside operating hours needs a special arrangement. Antigua is the main gateway to Barbuda; Barbuda has no official port of entry, so carrier clearance from Antigua is required before onward air or sea travel. An illness or emergency during a sea arrival should be reported to Immigration and Port Health. For airport transfers, use V.C. Bird International Airport-approved ground transport. United Taxi Company and Mill Reef Taxi Association drivers wear uniforms and display a badge. Buses and minibus taxis operate on fixed services, but schedules can be unpredictable and commonly run around 05:30 to 18:00. A rental car requires a valid foreign licence and a temporary Antigua driving permit costing EC$50; vehicles drive on the left. Crossings on Antigua are generally short, while the ferry to Barbuda takes about 1.5 hours. For an emergency, call Emergency Medical Services at +1 268 562-2432 or +1 268 562-2433. In Barbuda, Hanna Thomas Hospital EMS can be reached at +1 268 736-5100. The Ministry Medical Division operates five main health centres, but services differ, so call ahead. Grays Farm and Clare Hall have extended hours from 08:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday from 13 April 2026. Public free ambulatory care is expressly stated for Antigua citizens; immediate eligibility and charges for non-nationals are not established here. Antigua and Barbuda has no evidenced single national newcomer-registration office or general address-registration deadline. Follow-up depends on status and purpose. A legally resident non-national generally needs 12 consecutive months of legal residence before registering with the Medical Benefits Scheme, plus at least six months of contributions before becoming eligible for benefits. Registration through the Medical Benefits Scheme Registration Department on Nevis Street requires a valid passport and Social Security Card, and a spouse or child needs separate beneficiary registration and a card. A publicly proposed National Health Insurance transition was still being developed in 2026, so current access rules require verification. Anyone taking employment must register with the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board before starting work. A non-national needs a passport and an employer-specific work permit, and the Social Security Card is used across employment. Immigration-law requirements for work authorization remain separate from arrival guidance. Employees, self-employed workers and businesses may also need the Inland Revenue Department’s individual taxpayer registration and Form F16 or TIN pathway; the exact trigger and fees depend on the situation. Keep the ArriveAntigua QR code, passport, permits, receipts and cards, follow the conditions of the granted stay or permit, and retain copies of entry, customs and registration documents.