The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved an Immigration Amnesty for eligible non-nationals residing in the country, Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Merchant announced during the government’s weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday.
The amnesty is intended to help address labour shortages in key economic sectors while allowing individuals who have fallen out of immigration status to regularize their residency.
Merchant said Cabinet determined that many non-nationals had become “out of time” primarily because of financial difficulties rather than deliberate breaches of the law.
“The amnesty will allow affected individuals to bring their status into good standing without facing penalties,” Merchant said. “By doing so, these residents will be able to live and work legally, contributing meaningfully to national development.”
He added that the initiative is also expected to support local employers by increasing the available labour pool during a period of heightened economic activity and demand for workers.
Merchant noted that Minister of Social and Urban Transformation Rawdon Turner recently facilitated the importation of workers from the Dominican Republic to supplement the local workforce, citing current labour shortages. He said the government believes many non-nationals already living in Antigua and Barbuda possess the necessary skills but have been unable to work legally due to job losses, family circumstances, or challenges in maintaining their immigration status.
“By providing this new start, the government aims to foster a society that complies with the law,” Merchant said. He added that regularizing immigration status reduces the need for individuals to avoid authorities and may lower the risk of involvement in unlawful activities.
Further details on the amnesty, including eligibility requirements, application procedures, the start date, and the duration of the programme, are expected to be finalized soon. According to Merchant, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Immigration, and Labour, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, along with officials from the Department of Immigration, are scheduled to present additional information to Cabinet this week.
