GoAntigua and Barbuda Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

The agreement between the government of the People's Republic of China and the government of Antigua and Barbuda on mutual visa exemption has come into effect. Chinese citizens holding valid diplomatic, official, and regular passports of the People's Republic of China who enter, exit, or transit through Antigua and Barbuda (hereinafter referred to as "Antigua and Barbuda"), with a single stay not exceeding 30 days (check the departure ticket within 30 days upon entry), and a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days per 180 days, are exempt from visa application.

If you wish to stay in Amba for more than 30 days, or engage in activities such as work, study, settlement, or news reporting that require prior approval from the Amba authorities, you should apply for an electronic visa through the following website before entering Amba: https://evisa.immigration.gov.ag/agEvisa-app/ .

When entering the country, an immigration/customs registration card must be filled out. The immigration registration card is divided into two parts, with the upper part containing entry information, which should be handed over to the immigration officer upon entry; The lower part contains departure information, which should be returned upon departure. After the immigration bureau verifies that the valid passport and visa are correct, Anbar Customs will collect the customs registration card and conduct random checks on the passenger's luggage. Passengers must pay departure tax when leaving the island. All passengers over 12 years old who leave the island by air flight include departure tax in their ticket and do not need to pay it on-site.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Anbar implements internationally recognized entry and exit quarantine policies, and requires customs declaration and tax payment for goods brought into the country. Adult passengers aged 18 and above are allowed to carry 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 0.5 pounds of tobacco per person, and may also carry alcoholic beverages not exceeding 1 imperial quart (1.136 liters). Individuals under the age of 18 are not allowed to carry the above-mentioned items.

Carrying over 10000 US dollars in cash or other equivalent currency into or out of the country requires declaration. Failure to declare will result in imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of $5000, or both.

Anbar prohibits carrying or wearing camouflage clothing, and violators' clothing will be confiscated.

Bringing pets into the country requires prior application for permission from VETERINARY AND LIVESTOCK DIVISION, and corresponding materials should be provided based on the type and origin of the pet. Specific requirements can be inquired by calling the quarantine office at (1-268) 460-1759.

Residency and Naturalization

Amba issues a one-year work visa, which can be extended upon expiration. Those who have worked in Amba for more than 4 years can apply for a residence permit. The implementation of the Amba residency policy is relatively strict. Those without a work visa will be required to leave the country within a specified period of time. Violators will not be able to apply for a work visa within one year and will be held legally responsible by their employer or guarantor.

You can apply for local citizenship after residing in Amba for more than 7 years, and you can also apply for Amba citizenship after being married to an Amba for at least 3 years. For specific matters, please consult the Amba Immigration Bureau at 1-268-5621387.

Antigua and Barbuda risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

The overall social security in Amba is good, with a low crime rate. But drug trafficking and other smuggling activities are rampant in the Caribbean region, with incidents of burglary and robbery occurring from time to time.

Chinese tourists should pay attention to keeping their passports and valuables safe when traveling, avoid carrying or keeping large amounts of cash, and try to minimize single person travel at night. In case of emergency, you can call the police, fire and emergency hotline 911 and notify the Chinese Embassy in Amba at 1-268-7831079/7831071.

natural disaster

Amba experiences hurricane season from July to November each year, during which flights are often delayed or cancelled. Local governments and media are generally able to issue hurricane warnings in a timely manner. Attention should be paid to listening to weather forecasts and stocking up on sufficient daily necessities such as fuel, food, and water in advance. When a hurricane approaches, keep your valuables safe, close your doors and do not go out.

FDA

Most of Amba's food is imported from the United States and other Caribbean countries, and the food safety situation is relatively good.

Municipal water supply is mostly accumulated rainwater or desalinated seawater, which can be used for washing and daily life, and is not suitable for drinking. It is recommended to drink bottled water.

Urgent Help

Alarm/First Aid: 911.

Fire alarm: 1-268-4620044.

Sea and air rescue: 1-268-4623062.

Phone inquiry: 1-268-411.

Embassy emergency hotline: 1-268-7831079/7831071.

air traffic

Amba is an aviation hub in the Eastern Caribbean, with many flights between North America and Europe. There are no direct flights from Amba to China. There are fixed flights with major cities such as New York in the United States (4-hour flight), Miami (3-hour flight), London in the United Kingdom (8-hour flight), and Toronto in Canada (6-hour flight). Please keep an eye on the announcements from the Amba government and relevant airlines for flight information.

Due to the number of tourists and the impact of hurricanes, there have been occasional increases or temporary cancellations of flights in Amba. Please consult the travel agency in advance and go to the airport to check in two hours before boarding.

Antigua Island has an international airport (V. C. Bird International Airport) that can take off and land large aircraft such as Boeing 747. There are taxis available from various hotels and ports to and from the airport, with a one-way travel time of approximately 20-30 minutes. There is a small airport on the island of Barbuda that was temporarily suspended after a hurricane in 2017 and is currently under construction.

land transport

Amba has no highways or railways, and public transportation is underdeveloped. There are many car rental companies, usually located at airports, hotels, and tourist attractions. Renting a car requires providing a valid domestic or international driver's license to the rental company. A Chinese driver's license can be used as a driving certificate, and the rental company will charge a fee of $20 to apply for a temporary driver's license valid for 6 months on behalf of the tourist. With the temporary driver's license, the tourist can drive on their own. The rental fee is usually 45-50 US dollars per day. Due to poor road conditions, it is recommended that tourists who enjoy self driving choose to rent off-road vehicles. The traffic rules are different from those in China, where motor vehicles drive on the left side.

Amba taxis have fixed fees for transporting guests between airports, ports, multiple hotels, and tourist attractions, such as approximately $100 from the airport to Sherry Heights or Nelson Dock, and $20 from the airport to downtown St. John. Taxi drivers can serve as tour guides, and related fees can be consulted with hotels.

water communication

The Amba Cruise Terminal is located in the center of the capital city, St. John's Harbor, and can accommodate 10000 ton cruise ships. About 600000 cruise ship passengers visit Amba every year. There are also private charter companies in St. John's Port, English Harbor in the southeast of Antigua Island, and Crab Marina in the northeast. The Barbuda Express cruise company mainly operates round-trip routes between Antigua and Barbuda, with a capacity of approximately 35 passengers per trip, and provides charter services.

Urban transportation

The capital city of St. John has a small area and narrow streets. Tourists can walk for sightseeing, and self driving tourists should pay attention to one-way roads. Parking is prohibited in the yellow line area on the roadside. Amba maps can be obtained for free at airports and hotels.

major city

The capital city of St. John's is the economic and trade center of Amba, with a permanent population of approximately 30000. There is a duty-free port and multiple large banks. There are immigration, customs, post office, tax bureau, police station and other institutions built around St. John's Port in the city center. The streets in the city are mainly arranged in a north-south and east-west direction. The roads in the city are relatively narrow and mostly one-way. Due to the high traffic volume, self driving tourists should pay attention to safety.

Commodity prices

Amba is a tourist country with a small amount of light industry, and agriculture only produces a small amount of agricultural products such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, mangoes, etc., which cannot be self-sufficient. The basic necessities of life rely on imports, and the price level is relatively high. Except for a few basic foods such as bread and milk, all goods are subject to an additional 15% consumption tax.

The local currency in Amba, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, adopts a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar, with 1 US dollar exchanged for 2.70 Eastern Canadian dollars. Most shops and hotels accept payment in US dollars. Cash and checks are the main forms of payment, and international credit cards can be used by tourists in high-end hotels and supermarkets.

At present, there are First Caribbean International Bank, Antigua Commercial Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, and other banks in Antigua.

Insurance Medical

Amba occasionally suffers from tropical infectious diseases such as dengue fever. There is a large public hospital with good conditions that can perform complex surgeries such as kidney transplantation, but advance appointments are required for medical treatment. Amba has no mandatory requirement for foreign tourists to purchase medical insurance.

Customs taboos

Amba is a Commonwealth country. Due to long-term colonial rule in history, the social system, customs, and religious beliefs of Amba were deeply influenced by Europe, with the majority of people adhering to Christianity. Amba friends often greet each other with a handshake, while women often perform a face to face ceremony. In social occasions and church services, men wear suits, while women wear formal dresses, suits, and top hats. Women attending the dinner party wear evening gowns. Both men and women wear dark suits and formal attire during the funeral ceremony.

Main holidays: New Year's Day (January 1st), Easter, Labor Day (first Monday in May), Carnival (first Monday and Tuesday in August), Independence Day (November 1st), Heroes' Day (December 9th), and Christmas Day (December 25th).

Communications Power

The voltage inside the hotel is usually dual voltage, 110 volts and 220 volts. Please check the label carefully before use.

The international telephone area code for Amba is 1-268. Digicel or FLOW, two telecommunications service providers, operate mobile and international telephone services.

Chinese mobile phones can generally be used directly after card replacement in Amba. Local mobile phone calls to China cost approximately 2.34 Eastern Canadian dollars (about 0.87 US dollars/minute) per minute.

The Internet is relatively developed. There are several network operators on the island who can install the network after the phone line is connected.

contact information

Amba government website:

https://ab.gov.ag/

Amba Immigration Bureau website:

http://www.immigration.gov.ag/

Amba Customs website:

https://customs.gov.ag