Ports of Entry Operations
Approximately 800,000 citizens, residents, and visitors enter Antigua & Barbuda each year. Immigration officers are stationed at every approved port of entry to interview travellers, verify eligibility, and deter persons of interest while keeping legitimate movement flowing. Electronic entry and exit systems help officers balance strong security controls with fast, customer-friendly processing.
Antigua & Barbuda maintains five designated ports of entry. Carriers bound for Barbuda must first obtain clearance in Antigua, as Barbuda does not have an official port of entry.
Arrival and departure by air
Every arriving passenger who intends to stay must complete an Immigration embarkation card and present it to the interviewing officer. Travellers are advised to complete the card before landing to avoid delays. Officers may ask about the purpose of travel, length of stay, and home residence before endorsing the passport. Visitors should always verify the class and period of admission recorded in their passport so that any discrepancies can be corrected immediately.
Departing passengers must also clear Immigration by presenting a completed embarkation card, boarding pass, and passport, and then proceed to the security checkpoint before their gate.
Arrival and departure by sea
Seaport operating hours generally fall between 06:00 and 21:00. If a vessel arrives after the posted hours and a crew member or passenger must travel by air, special arrangements can be made for clearance. Departures are not facilitated until the vessel itself has been cleared, and immigration officers must review passports/ID alongside supporting documents.
Four seaports currently provide full clearance services:
Nelson’s Dockyard Immigration Station
Situated within the UNESCO World Heritage site at English Harbour, this pleasure and cruise port clears vessels arriving and departing Antigua & Barbuda. Hours are Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00 and weekends 08:00–16:00 (08:00–16:00 during the off season from mid-May to mid-November).
Jolly Harbour
Handles yachts and fishing vessels on Antigua’s west coast. Open Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00 and weekends 08:00–16:00.
Heritage Quay Station
Processes cruise ships and other small commercial craft in St. John’s. Open daily 06:00–21:00.
Deep Water Harbour
Caters to commercial cargo vessels. Clearance must be coordinated in advance so officers can be transported to the site.
Crabbs Station
Supports industrial and cargo traffic on the north-east coast. As with Deep Water Harbour, clearance requires advance notice to deploy officers.
Headquarters Operations
The Immigration Headquarters at Long and Thames Streets, St. John’s, delivers services not provided at the ports, including extensions, residency, enforcement, and administrative support.
Extensions Unit
Located on the ground floor, this unit grants extensions under the Immigration and Passport Act, 2014 for purposes such as study, employment, or extended family visits. Applicants must complete the prescribed form, provide biometrics, show return or onward travel, and pay the required fees. Officers may request additional documentation as needed.
Residency Unit
Based on the second floor, the unit provides:
- Temporary resident issuance and renewal
- Processing for lost or stolen passports
- Research support for citizenship applications
- Interviews for citizenship applicants
Officers verify identities, authenticate documents, and gather information to assess eligibility for grants of citizenship or residence.
Visa & eVisa Unit
Processes online visa applications, ensuring documents and payments are submitted correctly. Applicants are notified by email when decisions are made.
Enforcement & Prosecution Unit
Enforces Antigua & Barbuda immigration laws by identifying, apprehending, prosecuting, and removing individuals in breach of the regulations.
Human Resource, Finance & Administration
Provides vital back-office support including staffing, training, budgeting, procurement, and overall administration that keeps frontline services operating smoothly.