Immigration
Entry Requirements
North Americans and nationals from 75 other countries are not required to have a visa to move to Belize. You will need a passport that is valid for at least 90 days after your arrival and evidence of onward travel. However, if your aim is to move to Belize and obtain residency, you should have a passport good for a year or more. Upon arrival you will be issued a 30-day visitor permit, which can be easily renewed on a monthly basis provided you prove that you have the financial resources to live (US$60 per day) in Belize without working. The cost for renewal each month is US$25 for the first six months. After six months, you are required to complete an Alien Registration, which will cost US$50 per month to renew. By using monthly renewals, you can rent or buy property in the country, but cannot work for pay.
Permanent Residency
If you are planning to live and work in Belize, applying for Permanent Residency has many advantages over living in Belize as a perpetual tourist, although many Americans are content to do just that. After living in Belize continuously for one year without having left the country for longer than 14 days at any one time, you can apply for Permanent Residency. The one-time fee is US$1,000 plus some minor administrative costs. The fee for dependents is US$100 per year, but is waived if they are enrolled in a Belize school.
Work Permits
With high unemployment in Belize, the government enforces immigration and labor laws to protect the domestic job market. However, if you have a needed skill and the Belizean employer cannot find a qualified Belizean, then a foreign national who has fulfilled all the requirements to obtain a Work Permit (posted below) can be hired to fill the open position. It is easier for self-employed expats, investors and business start-ups to obtain a Self-Employed Work Permit. Belize offers incentives to ventures that have the potential to employ Belizeans and contribute to the economy. One of the requirements for all Work Permits is a recent Belize Police Record, which generally can only be obtained if you have lived in Belize for six months. However, in some instances a report from your home state’s police department may be accepted. Work Permits are good for one year and fees are assessed according to job classification. For example, fees are US$1,000 for the Professional and Self-Employed classification, while the Technical classification (no degree) is US$500, plus some minor administrative costs. Once you have obtained Permanent Residency status, a Work Permit is no longer required. Please see our Disclaimers about information on this site.