Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than those in the United States. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

Persons violating Antiguan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Antigua and Barbuda are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.  You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country:  While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Although there is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Antigua and Barbuda, there is a consular agent that can assist in providing U.S. citizen services. Refer to the section entitled “Registration/Embassy Location” for the contact information.

All Caribbean countries can be affected by hurricanes. The hurricane season normally runs from early June to the end of November, but there have been hurricanes in December in recent years. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Information on hurricane preparedness abroad is provided at, Hurricane Season: Know Before You Go.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their citizenship documents with them at all times so, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available.

If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Societal attitudes remain conflicted on the issue of LGBT rights. While some government officials have admitted to “open homophobia,” others assert that the country is mostly tolerant of LGBT persons, noting that the indecency law is rarely used except when some other crime has also been committed.  Same-sex marriage is not allowed under local law, and even the impression that a same-sex marriage is taking place can be construed as a violation of the law. Visitors are warned against holding any type of ceremony or event that could appear to be a same-sex marriage.  U.S. citizens have been arrested by the Antiguan police for this type of activity.  Anecdotal reports of discrimination based on sexual orientation, especially by the police, suggest these were mostly verbal attacks.

For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Antigua and Barbuda, travelers should review the 2013 Human Rights Report and the LGBT Travel Information Page.

The justice system moves slowly in Antigua and Barbuda. Victims of crime have experienced delays in obtaining police reports and updates on criminal cases. At present, the police continue to be negligent in providing timely notification to the embassy of the arrest of an U.S. citizen and access to U.S. citizens post-arrest has on occasion been restricted.

Antigua and Barbuda use eminent domain laws that allow the government to legally expropriate private property for the betterment of the public. The concept of eminent domain and the expropriation of private property is typically governed by laws that require governments to adequately compensate owners of the expropriated property at the time of its expropriation or soon thereafter. The government of Antigua and Barbuda uses eminent domain to acquire private property, and the law in Antigua and Barbuda requires the government to compensate owners. However, in practice, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has not done this, and in one case involving a U.S. citizen, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has yet to provide compensation for a private property expropriated under its eminent domain laws. This case has been under litigation for a number of years and is yet to be resolved, despite a favorable court ruling for the property owner. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown therefore recommends caution when investing in real estate in Antigua and Barbuda.