Work Permit

Q: As a work permit holder, does my immigration status change? A: No. The holder of a work permit is a bona fide visitor who has been granted a permit to work by the Labour Department.

Q: I have obtained a work permit certificate from the Labour Department that allows me to work in Antigua and Barbuda, do I still need to come into the Immigration Department? A: Yes. The official identification document for all non-citizens who are bona fide visitors is their passport and this is the document that will be checked by the Labour Department during their visits to work places. The Immigration Department shall endorse a permit in the passport where the applicant is qualified for such a permit.

07. The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda received a comprehensive presentation from the Labour Commissioner and the Manager of the One Stop Employment Centre (OSEC) on the state of employment in Antigua and Barbuda, labour market trends, and the administration of work permit applications. Cabinet was informed that the One Stop Employment Centre continues to serve as the primary mechanism for matching job seekers with employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. The Centre maintains a database of thousands of job seekers and works closely with employers to advertise vacancies and identify suitably qualified Antiguans and Barbudans for available positions. During the discussion, Cabinet examined the existing procedures governing work permit applications and emphasized the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Antiguans and Barbudans are given every reasonable opportunity to secure employment before permits are granted to non-nationals. The Labour Commissioner advised Cabinet that employers seeking work permits are currently required to advertise vacancies and provide evidence that efforts were made to recruit locally. Cabinet, however, expressed concern that employment opportunities may not always be reaching the widest possible audience and stressed the importance of ensuring greater transparency and broader public access to vacancy announcements. As a result, Cabinet agreed that stronger measures must be implemented to ensure that all vacancies associated with work permit applications are adequately advertised across multiple platforms. Going forward, employers will be required to provide evidence that vacancies have been advertised through recognized media outlets, including print, digital, and other approved channels, in addition to the **One Stop Employment Centre’s** established recruitment process. Cabinet also encouraged the expansion of the One Stop Employment Centre’s outreach efforts through social media, digital platforms, WhatsApp distribution channels, and other modern communication tools to ensure that job opportunities are more readily accessible to job seekers throughout Antigua and Barbuda. The discussion further highlighted the need for closer collaboration between the One Stop Employment Centre and government employment initiatives to ensure that individuals enrolled in employment and skills development programmes are made aware of opportunities available within the private sector. Cabinet acknowledged that while there remains a demand for specialized skills in certain sectors, employers must continue to demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit qualified nationals before seeking approval to employ foreign workers. Cabinet reaffirmed that the work permit system must strike an appropriate balance between supporting economic growth and protecting employment opportunities for Antiguans and Barbudans. The Labour Commissioner also advised Cabinet that additional scrutiny is being applied to certain categories of work permit applications, including domestic worker requests, to ensure that applications are justified and that employers possess the financial capacity to meet their obligations. Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to reducing unemployment, expanding workforce participation, improving access to employment opportunities, and ensuring that the labour market operates in a fair, transparent, and equitable manner for all citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda. * * *

Q: Can I work on an entry visa/permit or an extension of stay? A: Ordinarily NO. All non-citizens are generally required to have a work permit to be able to work lawfully in Antigua and Barbuda.

Q: I am a holder of a work permit, can I bring my children or spouse to Antigua and Barbuda to live with me? A: Ordinarily No. The bona fide visitor status does not grant such persons a right of residence/abode and therefore such persons would not be ordinarily permitted to bring their children to live with them in Antigua and Barbuda. However some categories of persons will be permitted to bring their children to live with them, having first made an application and had it approved by the Office of the Chief Immigration Officer.

A: NO. A work permit means that the holder is a bona fide visitor with conditional permission to work in Antigua and Barbuda.

A: No. A bona fide visitor has no legal right of abode and therefore has no legal right to an extension of their stay.

You may be granted a Residence Permit (A permit) after you have resided lawfully in Antigua and Barbuda for four years without interruption. Your work permit must be valid when you apply for a Residence Permit.

If you have had at least four (4) work permits, your work permits must have followed each other without interruption.