Yes, YOU CAN LIVE HERE! Whether for full-time or part-time living, we hear from people every day who want to know more about how they can actually move to Belize. While many of the considerations are entirely personal ones, we find that the following questions are asked over and over - (we encourage you to contact us directly for more details and for answers to your own unique queries - please call or e-mail!)

Question: Can I just come on down and live?
Answer: Pretty much. here is the scenario: For part -time living, just show up with your passport. When you arrive, you will get a stamp (your visitor's visa) in your passport allowing you to stay for a month. If you want to stay longer, just go down to the immigration office and the will give you another thirty-day stamp for a small fee.

"Full-timers" may want "Residency". After you've been here for one year you qualify to apply for 'Permanent Residency', which is the equivalent of having a 'Green Card' in the US, or of being a 'Landed Immigrant' in Canada. Application process is best done in person. Immigration officials like to meet you face to face, and if you do your own processing, you will find that you get your residency fast. Included in your application will be a recent medical evaluation and a local 'police report'. Here are the things that will disqualify you for residency - local criminal history, testing positive for HIV or having TB. Once you are a Permanent Resident you may seek gainful employment here. You will be eligible for naturalization after having resided in Belize for 5 years.

Question: What about special 'Residency' programs?
Answer: There is a RETIREMENT RESIDENCY program in Belize. To qualify you must have $2000 US per month per family in income generated from a pension, trust, or Social Security. The Belize dollar equivalent of $2000 US per month must be deposited into a Belizean financial institution. You will need the same health and legal evaluations as noted above, but can apply directly on line at http://www.belizeretirement.org This program does not entitle you to be employed in Belize.

Question: What about working in Belize?
Answer: If you are not a 'Permanent Resident' in Belize, you will need a 'Work Permit' to work for yourself or for someone else. The permits are good for one year and cost from $500 - 600 BZ. "Self-employment" permits are by far the easiest to obtain, as you are generally asking to begin a business that will in fact create jobs and employ local people. General Work Permits must be applied for by your prospective employer. That employer will have to prove that they have been unable to find a current local resident to fill the position before a permit will be issued. Don't even dream of trying to get one for bar-tending or tour-guiding!!

Question: How long do residency applications and work permits take to be processed?
Answer: Timing varies with workload of the department. When you submit your application ask how long it will take - most likely the answer will be 8-12 weeks. You generally get straight, helpful answers from the people doing the work.

Question: Can I bring my cats and dogs with me?
Answer: YES. With a current health certificate and recent inoculations, your pet will be able to move through immigration just as easily as you do - maybe easier! No quarantine, no visa. And yes, we have good vets here. American Airlines has particularly good and caring pet-travel programs.

Question: Will I pay duty on things I want to bring?
Answer: Duty charts fill a book about four inches thick - so do yourself a favor and call a good customs broker who knows the ropes. These fellows don't charge much for their services, and in the end will save you enormous amounts of time, energy and money. Ask us for recommendations of good brokers.

Question: What about insurance?
Answer: Good insurance is available here. Homes (all peril), boats, cars, business and personal liability, and health insurance are available at competitive rates. Most carriers are re-insured through companies in the US and England.

Question: How are the schools?
Answer: Public education in Belizestresses a solid English curriculum. In many areas the local schools are over-crowded, making individual attention difficult. In this case a motivated child will get a good education, but one with special needs may fall behind. There are alternative schools throughout the country that specialize in small classrooms and personalized programs. San Pedro has several of these private schools, and they are considered excellent. Costs for private schools are reasonable, and student-teacher ratios average 8:1.

Question: Tell me about medical care in San Pedro?
Answer: We have four physicians in San Pedro, one dentist, three pharmacies and a basic medical clinic. Additionally, we have a hyperbaric chamber for decompression sickness. Wings of Hope offers economical air-ambulance service from San Pedro. Good basic care is available throughout Belize at a very low cost. Typical charge for a office examination by a physician is $30 US. And, yes, they still make house calls here! Belize is a small country, having a limited number of specialists - sophisticated treatments (chemotherapy, organ transplants, etc.) are best tended to in the first-rate clinics in Merida, Mexico or in specialty facilities in the US. Dental care here is excellent. Costs are low. Eye care is also excellent and affordable. Glasses, surgeries and other treatments are routinely done in Belize.

Question: Where do you shop for groceries?
Answer: Local shops carry everything you need.

Question: How are the phones?
Answer: Excellent.

Question: Can I get on the Internet?
Answer: Definitely.

Question: What about moving all my "stuff"?
Answer: Personally, we recommend that you put your "stuff" in storage and come down traveling light. Live here just a little while and see what you really think you want and need from your old "stuff". Most likely you will end up with a much smaller list, an easier move, and a fresh new outlook on life. Check with your customs broker before shipping - there may be duty free status on yourgoods.

Question: Am I really welcome there?
Answer: Come see for yourself.. And of course the answer is YES.