AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize QRP: Carry On As Normal Government Tells Worried Expats

A recent move to renew papers held under the qualified retired persons program has triggered concerns for expats in Belize.

The government withdrew all licences under the scheme granting tax incentives to retired expats at the turn of the year.

Many feared that the qualified retired persons scheme would fold - but the government had decided to reissue residence documents under the program.

"The government is very supportive of the initiative to attract retirees to Belize and has no intention of discontinuing the programme," said a spokesman for the Belize Tourism Board, which runs the program.

Qualified Retired Persons program

The qualified retired persons program has run for almost two decades. In that time, around 20,000 expats from Britain, the USA and Canada have moved to the tiny Central American country.

Meeting qualification under the scheme is not too difficult for most expats.

They must simply show they are aged over 45 and have a monthly, independent income of $2,000 from a pension or annuity which must be paid into a bank in Belize.

Once a retiree has moved to Belize, the scheme allows them duty free imports of:

Household goods valued at up to $15,000
A boat
A light aircraft

The scheme also allows expats to take up permanent residency in Belize, start a business and to own property to live in or rent out.

SOURCE

Having been on the QRP for some 14 years, It would be appreciated if they treated those of us renewing our registration each year with more consideration and good will!!

They say 20 K people have moved here under QRP it would be interesting if they would say how many actually live in Belize or are still involved in the program

This article is inaccurate. Read it - they claim one of the three major pillars of our economy is exporting oil?! And that QRP allows for permanent residency (PM is a legal status not achieved through QRP). It also seems to present the idea you can work on QRP - which you cannot.

Diane is right.

Just a clarification on the residency issue. QRP gives the person a "permit to reside". That is different from legal residency. Just means they are exempt from the 30 day limit to remain in the country.

The term now is permanent visitor they dropped any reference to reside or residence

I am interested in getting together with other QRP people and comparing notes, making a list of our issues and seeking solutions. Who else is interested?