Antigua makes big waves

Antigua and Barbuda may only have a population of 100,000, but it is making a huge impact on the global stage. In May, it hosted the fourth United Nations Summit on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). Then, in June, the nation welcomed cricket fans from across the world for the T20 World Cup. It’s attracting nomadic workers in significant numbers as well.

“SIDS4 was a resounding success,” said Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda’s extrovert Prime Minister. Held only once a decade, the fourth summit attracted over 5,000 delegates and featured 230 side events. It culminated in a new 10-year action plan, the ‘Antiguan and Barbudan Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity’.

SIDS4 saw the launch of the Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE) - a collaboration between the government of Antigua and Barbuda, the University of the West Indies, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. COBE will provide education and vocational training and produce research on marine renewable energy, coral reef restoration, and maritime policy and law. Marine jobs and employment is at the forefront of the COBE agenda.

Antigua and Barbuda has also become one of the most desirable places in the world to be a digital nomad – people who can use technology to work from anywhere on the planet. 

Tourism Review has presented a list of such countries, ranking them by the length of their digital nomad visa. The twin island’s visa programme allows remote workers to live and work in the country for up to two years.

A digital nomad visa, also known as a remote work visa, is a special permit that allows individuals to live in a foreign country while working remotely for their employers or clients in other countries. These visas have gained popularity as more people embrace remote work opportunities, especially in the wake of the global pandemic.

Antigua and Barbuda’s digital nomad visa offers other attractive features, including a quick processing time of just two weeks, no savings requirement, family-friendly provisions, and a reasonable annual minimum income requirement of US$50,000 for applicants.

The ranking showcases various countries’ offerings, with Thailand topping the list with a 10-year visa validity period. Other countries mentioned include Taiwan (one to three years), South Africa (three years), and El Salvador (two years, potentially extendable for another two years).