Any employed or self-employed worker who is not a national of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), nor a legal resident of Antigua & Barbuda, requires a work permit to be employed or to manage a business in Antigua and Barbuda.

A CARICOM national, who is not an OECS national, does not require a work permit if they have tertiary level qualification in specified areas. In this case, one can obtain a CARICOM Skilled National Certificate from the Department of Labour, either before or after entering the country, although preferably before. This certificate does not have an expiry date.

Work permits are approved primarily by the Department of Labour.