Caribbean · UN member
Antigua and Barbuda: Travel Guide & Requirements
Antigua and Barbuda is a country in Caribbean with its capital in Saint John's. It has a population of 94,209 (#194 in the world) and covers 443 km². The official language is English. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD, $).
Where is Antigua and Barbuda? Map of Antigua and Barbuda
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico.
- Region
- Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.05° N, 61.8° W
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 153 km
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Antigua and Barbuda
- Passport
The Immigration Department says a visitor's passport must be valid beyond the date of their return ticket.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 103 need no visa, 95 need an eVisa. Check yours or see Antigua and Barbuda entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The Immigration Department says visa-exempt visitors must have an onward or return ticket and confirmation of accommodation.
- Proof of funds
The Immigration Department says visa-exempt visitors must be able to produce evidence of their ability to maintain themselves in Antigua and Barbuda, alongside an onward or return ticket and confirmation of accommodatio…
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK government tells travellers to check before they travel that they have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.
- Vaccinations
WHO lists Antigua and Barbuda as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged one year and over arriving from countries determined by WHO to be at risk of yellow fever transmission, including travell…
- Arrival card
The UK Foreign Office says the Antiguan and Barbudan authorities advise travellers to use ArriveAntigua to speed up entry, though it is not mandatory, and that it can only be accessed on a mobile phone or tablet within …
- Customs allowance
Canada's travel advice says that upon arrival you must declare if you carry more than USD 10,000 or the equivalent in other currencies in cash, cheques or money orders.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Antigua and Barbuda
- Safety: Yes — Antigua and Barbuda is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Antigua and Barbuda Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: January to April — when daytime highs in Saint John's are around 26–27°C.
- Money: the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD) — 1 US dollar is about 2.7070 XCD.
- Plugs: type A and B, 230 V, 60 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 / 999, Ambulance 911 / 999, Fire 911 / 999.
- Language: English is official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 20 mph in built-up areas and 40 mph outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-4 in Saint John's.
- Capital: Saint John's. About 94,209 people live in Antigua and Barbuda.
- Outdoors: 1 national park.
Key facts
Antigua and Barbuda at a glance
Languages spoken: English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based creole)
Geography & history
About Antigua and Barbuda
The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was s…
Read the full history
The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Highest point
Mount Obama 402 m
Natural resources
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Natural hazards
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
National symbols
fallow deer
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Antigua and Barbuda
The default speed limits in Antigua and Barbuda are 20 mph in built-up areas and 40 mph outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- SPEED
LIMIT2020 mphBuilt-up areasTowns and cities - SPEED
LIMIT4040 mphOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Seat beltsNo national seat-belt law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Road deaths (2021)7.5 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Antigua and Barbuda safe to visit?
Yes — Antigua and Barbuda is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Antigua and Barbuda Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information that it is illegal to smoke in public places ('Safety and security' page).
Updated 13 Mar 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Antigua and Barbuda
The best time to visit Antigua and Barbuda is January to April, when daytime highs in Saint John's are around 26–27°C. May to June and December are also a good time to go. September is the warmest month (29°C by day), February the coldest (25°C at night), and October the wettest with about 176 mm of rain.
- Jan26°C25°C
- Feb26°C25°C
- Mar26°C25°C
- Apr27°C26°C
- May28°C27°C
- Jun28°C27°C
- Jul29°C28°C
- Aug29°C28°C
- Sep29°C28°C
- Oct29°C28°C
- Nov28°C27°C
- Dec27°C26°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Antigua and Barbuda
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 60 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
1 national park in Antigua and Barbuda
Largest: Nelson's Dockyard National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Eastern Caribbean dollar exchange rates today
Antigua and Barbuda uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD, $). One US dollar buys 2.7070 XCD; over the last 30 days the XCD has lost 0.2% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in XCD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Antigua and Barbuda ranks
How Antigua and Barbuda compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Antigua and Barbuda
5 airports and airfields — 1 large, 1 medium and 1 small, plus 2 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Antigua and Barbuda has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 153 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Saint John's (21,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Export partners
Suriname 29%, Poland 21%, USA 8%, Dominican Republic 7%, Australia 5% (2023)
Top exports
refined petroleum, ships, soybean meal, shellfish, paintings (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Antigua and Barbuda
Next public holiday
Independence Day — Monday, 2 November 2026. Then National Heroes' Day (9 Dec).
Antiguan, Barbudan passport
Ranked #56: 98 countries visa-free, 30 with visa on arrival, 5 with an eTA and 30 with an eVisa.
Antiguan, Barbudan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Antigua and Barbuda's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Antigua and Barbuda
Dial +1-268 before the local number. Internet domain .ag.
Climate footprint
0.7 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 7.09 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Antigua and Barbuda: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Antigua and Barbuda
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Frequently asked questions about Antigua and Barbuda
What do I need to travel to Antigua and Barbuda?
How long must my passport be valid for Antigua and Barbuda?
Where is Antigua and Barbuda?
What is Antigua and Barbuda known for?
What is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda?
What language is spoken in Antigua and Barbuda?
What currency does Antigua and Barbuda use?
What is the calling code of Antigua and Barbuda?
Does Antigua and Barbuda have land borders?
How strong is the Antiguan, Barbudan passport?
What is the speed limit in Antigua and Barbuda?
Is Antigua and Barbuda safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Antigua and Barbuda?
What plug type does Antigua and Barbuda use?
How many airports does Antigua and Barbuda have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.