Antigua and Barbuda - Retiring and Pensions

Only those who have been resident on the island for many years and have made the minimum number of contributions to the social security system will be able to claim a pension from the Antigua and Barbuda social security system. Those who have not worked on the island previously will have to have their own private or state pension from their home country. If you have worked on the islands and made contributions you should contact the local security office in Antigua to obtain a pension forecast.

If you are in receipt of a private or state pension from your home country then you will need to check in advance if it can still be paid to you while you are living in Antigua and Barbuda. It may be that it can be sent to you in the form of monthly cheques, or paid to you in a bank account in your home country for you to transfer the funds yourself. It is a good idea to check with your local Pensions office or your private pension company to find out what procedures they have in place for paying pensions abroad.

There are no specific schemes for attracting retiring expats to the islands, although many expats that move there are looking to give up working. This is due to the excellent quality of life, low crime rate and warmer climate. The islands are attractive to those who are looking to live a more outdoors life, and there are many water sports and outdoor activities in which to take part.

Retiring to the Caribbean is not a cheap option. The Caribbean is one of the most expensive parts of the world in which to live. Property prices, both to purchase and rent, can be very high on the islands and the cost of purchasing groceries and household items can also be high due to the cost of having them imported.

Those who are new to the islands and who wish to obtain a long term residency permit will be expected to provide proof of an independent means of income. This could be either a statement from your bank which confirms a regular income or a statement from your pension company to confirm how much you can expect to receive each month. Unless you can support yourself you are unlikely to be given a residency permit as the state will not support you.

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