Retiring in Antigua and Barbuda as a French Citizen: Residence, Taxation and Healthcare

France Diplomatie (the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs travel advice service) states that a French national stays without a visa for less than six months, with a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry (the national identity card is not sufficient), a return ticket and, if requested, proof of sufficient resources. Beyond six months, a residence permit must be requested. The pages consulted present no visa specific to retirees with a pension threshold.

The Immigration Department does describe the residence permit: issued for a period of up to three years, renewable by filing the application three months before expiry, it requires the intention to reside permanently and a presence in the country for at least half of the period of validity. Its category table mentions retired property owners and residents (class E) with a condition of two years of residence; the same website refers to people of independent means with durations that vary from one passage to another (two years in one, five years in the other). This inconsistency is a reason to confirm the duration by telephone on +1 268 562 1387 before filing an application.

• Documents for people of independent means: passport, proof of property ownership, proof of lasting financial capacity, tax receipts, police record, medical certificate and proof of insurance.
• Keeping the permit: it can be withdrawn in the event of permanent departure, false declaration, certain convictions, becoming a burden on the community or an absence from the country of six months or more.
• Right to work: a residence permit holder can live, work or study in the country; a retiree who wishes to take up activity again should confirm their status with the department and see the page on working in Antigua and Barbuda.

The amounts of income or assets required are not shown on the pages consulted; neither are the permit fees. The Immigration Department (Long and Thames Streets, St. John’s; immigrationanu@candw.ag) is the contact.

The list of tax treaties published by the BOFiP (the official French tax doctrine bulletin), which records agreements in force, does not mention Antigua and Barbuda. No treaty rule therefore divides the taxation of pensions between the two states: French domestic law applies, according to tax residence. Service-public.fr (the French government information portal) uses four criteria, only one of which is enough to be resident in France: home or main place of stay, a stay of at least 183 days in the year, main professional activity, or centre of economic interests in France. A retiree who settles in Antigua and Barbuda but keeps their home or economic interests in France may remain a French tax resident.

A retiree who is not a French tax resident remains taxed on their French-source pension by withholding tax. After a 10% allowance, the scale has three rates (0%, 12% and 20%) whose thresholds are revised each year; the 0% and 12% bands are final, whereas the 20% withholding is set against the tax due in France.

On the Antiguan side, the Inland Revenue Department presents the sales tax, corporation tax, tax on unincorporated businesses, property tax and entertainment tax; the page consulted mentions no personal income tax. The exact tax status should be confirmed with the tax office for non-resident individuals and with the Inland Revenue Department. The guide to receiving your pension abroad explains how pensions are paid outside France.

The form S1, which maintains French cover for a retiree in the European Union or the European Economic Area, does not apply to Antigua and Barbuda. According to the Assurance Maladie (the French public health insurance), French cover ends for a retiree who settles outside these areas, unless an agreement applies; they can join the CFE or take out private insurance. The CLEISS (the French centre for international social security links) records no agreement with Antigua and Barbuda.

• Local scheme: the Medical Benefits Scheme requires a non-national to have twelve consecutive months of legal residence, then 26 weeks of contributions. The employee contribution is 2.5% from 60 to 69 and then 0% from age 70; consultations are reimbursed only for eleven illnesses. The waiting period is covered by other means.
• CFE: the retirees’ offer has a contribution that depends on age and the plan chosen; it is aimed at holders of a pension from the French basic scheme, with no age limit and no health questionnaire. It covers care abroad; care in France comes under the CPAM (local health insurance fund) of Seine-et-Marne. The waiting period is nil if membership takes place before departure or within three months of settling.
• International insurance: direct access to the private sector and evacuation; age, medical history and limits are decisive.

During temporary stays in France, a retiree with 15 years of contributions in France may come under the Cnarefe; their spouse is covered only if a bilateral agreement provides for it, otherwise through the CFE or private insurance (Assurance Maladie). See the guide to a retiree’s health insurance abroad and the page on healthcare reimbursement in Antigua and Barbuda.

Price indicators are in the “Economic indicators” block above. The island imports most of its goods, which weighs on the food budget and on repair costs after a weather event. No local administration consulted publishes a typical budget for a retiree: a trial stay of several weeks, with a short lease, lets you measure your actual spending before committing.

• Towns: St. John’s concentrates the administrations, the reference hospital and the French consular agency; English Harbour is a marina on the island of Antigua. For a retiree, proximity to care and to the administrations is a major criterion.
• Climate and risks: France Diplomatie points to hurricanes from June to the end of November, which can disrupt essential services, and the seismic risk specific to the Caribbean; it recommends protecting yourself from heat and sun.
• Safety: heightened vigilance for the whole country; avoid isolated places, especially at night, and check the security of a home before renting it.

See the page on living in Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda country page. Active retirees should also see the guide to retiring abroad.

A retiree returning permanently to France comes under the universal health protection, whose opening requires, without employment, stable residence in France; a CFE member keeps their rights for up to three months under conditions (service-public.fr), and the Assurance Maladie advises contacting the CPAM of the place of residence. The guide to reducing the waiting period and the page on returning to France detail the steps.