Gov Fast – By Deslyn A Joseph
Gov Fast Tracks New
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced that Parliament will convene within the next two weeks to debate and pass critical changes to immigration law, establishing the legal foundation for a national amnesty programme. Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Merchant detailed the plan during a post-Cabinet briefing this week, noting that proposed amendments to the Immigration and Passport Act 2014 are slated for a final Cabinet review before being tabled.
The upcoming legislation aims to create a structured framework to regularize the status of undocumented migrants who have long-term ties to the country.
“Under the current proposal, the amnesty will be available to individuals who originally entered Antigua and Barbuda lawfully but have been living with undocumented status for a period of four years or more. Officials have designated a three-month application window, scheduled to run from April 1 to June 30, 2026,” Merchant explained.
Beyond addressing undocumented status, the bill is expected to provide a pathway for individuals who narrowly missed citizenship requirements due to minor breaks in their lawful residency. “The four-year threshold was determined based on assessments of the undocumented population, targeting those who are already close to the residency period required for citizenship,” he explained. However, he cautioned that these specific timelines remain subject to change during the final Cabinet review of the legislation next week.
“The government emphasized that the programme is a managed process intended to improve legal compliance and national security oversight rather than a blanket pardon. Strict exclusion criteria will be enforced to protect public safety. The amnesty will not be open to individuals deemed a threat to national security, those subject to international arrest warrants or active deportation orders, or any applicants found to be providing false information,” he added.
Merchant further described the initiative as a deliberate effort to bring residents into legal conformity and that the majority of non-nationals living in the country are already gainfully engaged and contributing to society.
Addressing the fate of those who may apply but fail to qualify for the amnesty, he said that such individuals would have to make choices regarding their future in the country. He indicated that productive individuals would be encouraged to bring their status up to date through standard channels. However, he warned that for those not contributing positively to the nation, the Immigration Department would retain the authority to request their return to their place of origin.
If the legislative changes are approved by Parliament as expected, the amnesty programme will commence shortly after the law is enacted.
