Visa exemption
Holders of passports and refugee travel documents issued by the following 97 jurisdictions do not require a visa to visit Belize.
All European Union citizens, including all classes of British nationality Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia Bahamas Barbados Botswana Brazil Brunei Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Fiji Gambia Ghana Grenada Guatemala Guyana |
Israel Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Iceland Jamaica Japan Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Malaysia Maldives Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Monaco Namibia New Zealand Nicaragua Norway Palau Panama Paraguay Papua New Guinea Peru Samoa |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa South Korea Suriname Swaziland Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Tuvalu Uganda United States Uruguay Vanuatu Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe |
Clearance required
Citizens of the following countries require clearance in addition to visa:
Afghanistan Algeria Bangladesh Bolivia China Cuba Eritrea Haiti Iran |
India Iraq Kenya North Korea Lebanon Libya Myanmar Nepal Nigeria |
Pakistan Palestine Sri Lanka Somalia Sudan Syria Thailand |
Substitute visa
Permanent residents and holders of multiple entry visa of the United States may obtain a visa on arrival for a fee of US$50.
Passengers with a valid visa issued by a Schengen Member State (such as Liechtenstein) are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days.
If you don’t see your country here please consult with your embassy.
If you need to apply for a visa, visit www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/consular-services
For additional support or information please contact Consular Services at:
Telephone: (202) 332-9636 Ext. 221
Email: [email protected]
Permanent Residence Fees (as of 2003)
All applicants for permanent residence, except nationals of the People's Republic of China, will be charged the following flat fees which will be non-refundable:
Border Permit Fee
There shall be a flat fee of $20 per annum for a border permit.
Work Permit Fees
Work permits will generally not be issued for waitresses, vendors, domestic and farm hands save in exceptional circumstances.
Student's and Dependent's Permits
There will be no fee for a student's visa provided a letter of admission from an accredited institution is produced. The fee for a Dependant's permit will be $75 per annum.
Visitor's and Tourist's Visa
Up to six months - $250 per month.
After six month's stay - $50 per month.
A work permit will not be issued to a visitor or tourist who resides in Belize for a period of less than six months.
Applications to be made in person
Application to the Immigration and Nationality Departments shall be made in person if the applicant is in Belize. Likewise, applicants themselves, upon proof of identity, must personally claim approved documents.
Time for processing applications
All applications to the Immigration and Nationality Service shall, as far as practicable, be processed and completed within a period of four (4) weeks. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Nationality Fees
The new fees will be as follows:
Refugees
The applications of refugees and other displaced persons for nationality will be considered in accordance with the Refugees Act and the U.N. Convention on the Status of Refugees. Refugees will not be treated less favorably than other applicants for granting of nationality. Section 29 (3) of the Constitution.
In considering applications for nationality, regard will be had to section 29 (3) of the Constitution which states that Ñno person shall be entitled under the provisions of the Chapter to be a citizen of Belize or be granted citizenship of Belize if such person shows any allegiance to or is a citizen of a country which does not recognize the independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity of Belize. Provided that the Minister may, in his discretion, grant Belizean Citizenship to persons falling under this subsection who would otherwise be entitled to such citizenship under the provision of sections 23 and 25 of the Constitution.É Basic Knowledge of Belize Constitution.
All applicants for Belizean nationality will be expected to have or acquire a basic knowledge of the Belize Constitution and the system of government in Belize, starting August 1999.
Pending Applications
In an effort to clear the backlog of pending applications for nationality and permanent residence, applicants are invited to visit the Immigration and Nationality Department and to inquire personally on the status of their application. To assist the Department to locate the relevant files, applicants should take the necessary receipts and any other identifying number given to them by the Department.
New Oath of Allegiance
All persons who are granted Belizean Nationality will be required to subscribe to a new Oath of Allegiance as set out below.
I, _______________do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize and will uphold the Constitution and the Law of Belize and that I will faithfully and conscientiously contribute to the development of Belize and discharge my duties and responsibilities as a Belizean citizen.I will further respect the history and culture of Belize and refrain from any anti-social or criminal activities and devote myself to the service and well-being of the Belizean people. I pledge that I will do everything in my power to promote and strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Belize and will do everything to promote the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize.
So Help Me God.
For more information, contact:
The Immigration and Nationality Department
Tel: 501-8-22611 (Belmopan)
Tel: 501-2-24620 (Belize City)
New Economic Citizenship Programme
In January 1995, the Government of Belize introduced a new Belize Economic Citizenship Investment Programme (BECIP).
It is designed to attract foreign investment and entrepreneurial skills to the country. Many countries, both large and small, operate similar programs, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.
To qualify for citizenship under this Programme, applications are made through Licensed Immigration Consultants, and presented to the Director of the BECIP unit, within the Ministry of Finance in Belmopan, Belize.
Registration fees for applicants (amended February 1996) are as follows:
A list of current Licensed Immigration Consultants in good standing, may be obtained from the BECIP Unit by contacting:
Director, BECIP Unit
Ministry of Finance
Belmopan, Belize
Tel: 501-8-22362
Further information can also be obtained from any Belizean embassy or consulate abroad.
Immigration & Permanent Residency Requirements
Special allowances made for investors and retirees
All visitors to Belize, regardless of the purpose of their visit, are issued a 30-day visa upon arrival. This is renewable, for up to six months, at any immigration office in the country (at borders and principal cities/towns) by paying US$12.50 per month. You must be prepared to present proof of sustenance for the period in question. If you intend to stay more than six months, you have to apply for a work permit.
Normally, any individual seeking permanent residency must have legally resided here continuously for one year. This requirement is waived for retirees and investors, who can apply immediately upon arrival for a permanent residency card. This application can be made only at Immigration headquarters in Belmopan, and usually takes two to three months to process. During this time, you will need to renew your visa as detailed above, AND obtain a "Temporary Self-Employment" work permit. Proof of financial independence or pension income is required.
Any individual who will be working on projects within Belize, or conducting business of any kind, whether or not they are generating an income here, must have a "Temporary Self-Employment" work permit. Once permanent residency status is granted, a work permit is no longer required, and residents are permitted to move freely in and out of the country. All work permits are valid for one year; the cost ranges from US$5 (for missionary workers) to US$300 (for investors).
Belizean nationality may be acquired following a minimum of five years' permanent residency. Currently, there is no requirement for permanent residents to spend a specific amount of time in the country during this five years. However, it has been suggested that this should be taken into consideration when application for citizenship is being made; therefore, residents should keep themselves abreast of changes in the laws to avoid future problems.
RETIRED PERSONS ACT FINALLY IMPLEMENTED
The Retired Persons Act, which gives tax and residency breaks to those retiring in Belize, passed by the Belize legislature earlier this year, has at last been implemented. Key features of the act include:
For further information and an application for the program, contact Anthony Mahler of the Belize Tourist Board, e-mail [email protected].
Please remember... Residency cannot be applied for from outside the country; you must be legally in Belize to make these applications. For information contact the Immigration and Nationality Department: 501-8-22611.
Director
Immigration & Nationality Service
Belmopan, Belize