Arrival in Belize

The official visa checker is the first point to consult because Belize distinguishes entry requirements by nationality, length of stay and purpose of travel. A Belize entry visa permits a stay of no more than 30 days. Holders of a multiple-entry visa for the United States, Canada or the Schengen Area, as well as people with a Permanent Residence Card, may be exempt from the visa requirement for visits of up to 30 days, provided that the applicable country list and long-stay limits confirm this. A visa application generally requires a form, passport and flight itinerary; at the time of application, the passport must still be valid for more than six months. If an invitation or funding is provided by a sponsor, additional financial, identity, relationship, invitation, employment and bank documents may be required. Before travelling, you can complete the online immigration and customs declaration (Online Immigration and Customs Declaration) through ideclare.gov.bz. It records, among other things, passport details, means of transport, place of stay, purpose of travel, as well as plants, fruit, vegetables, meat, live animals, weapons, ammunition and cash over BZ$10,000 or the equivalent. One joint customs declaration is sufficient per family. False information may have legal consequences. For air entry, the central international airport is the Philip Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. Land and sea entries must take place through official border or port facilities. Since 1 August 2022, private yachts and other pleasure craft have had to use the SailClear procedure (SailClear) in accordance with the requirements of the Belize Tourism Board; the maritime authority (Belize Port Authority) is responsible for maritime clearance. The regular visitor permit (Visitor’s Permit) or entry status generally applies for no more than 30 days, although nationality and specific entry conditions may differ. Before it expires, you must clarify an extension with an Immigration Office. A 30-day visitor-permit extension (Visitor’s Permit Extension) extends the stay by 30 days and costs BZ$200; some nationalities already need a visa before the extension. Visitor status permits neither paid nor unpaid work nor any business or professional activity without the consent of the Director of Immigration. There is no general registration-office procedure for directly registering your arrival for longer-term residence. The formal route runs through the relevant immigration status. Permanent residence (Permanent Residence) generally requires at least one year of lawful residence; during the reference year, total absences may not exceed 14 days. Financial stability and a clear criminal record are also assessed. Temporary residence (Temporary Residence) is valid for one year and can be extended; this route requires an investment of at least BZ$500,000. For permanent residence, the application includes, among other things, a passport with an Arrival Stamp valid for at least one year, a medical examination with HIV, VDRL and TB tests, a Belize police record (Belize Police Record) issued no more than six months earlier, proof of finances, two 2x2 photographs and family documents. After submission, an immigration interview follows within up to two weeks and an interview with the police special branch (Police Special Branch) within up to three months. After the decision, the fee and, where applicable, a security bond are paid; the residence card is collected in Belmopan about five weeks later. Immigration Offices are located, among other places, in Belmopan, Belize City, Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, Big Creek and Punta Gorda. The published fee table has a base date of 1.5.2020 and lists BZ$1,000 to BZ$6,000 for permanent residence, depending on nationality; minors pay 50 percent, and temporary residence costs one fifth of the applicable permanent-residence fee. The fee must be updated before payment. A temporary employment permit (Temporary Employment Permit) is required before starting work. Employees apply through their employer at the labour authority (Labour Department), while self-employed people submit the application themselves. The application requires, among other things, a valid passport and a valid Belize visa. After approval, the process continues through the Immigration Office, payment of the fee and an Income Tax Letter for issuing the permit; the card is then applied for at the Social Security Office. Anyone wishing to study in Belize needs a student permit (Student Permit) before the school year or semester begins. Typical documents include a letter from the institution, proof of funding, photographs, birth certificate, Authority Letter, passport, sponsor or Belize ID, bank statement and a return ticket valid for one year. For primary and secondary schools, the permit is valid for one school year; for tertiary education, it is valid for one semester. For other nationalities, the fee is BZ$200 but may be higher depending on nationality. Pets and plants require additional import documents. For a dog or cat, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) requires an Import Permit and a Veterinary Certificate issued no more than two weeks earlier, as well as a current rabies vaccination. Dogs also require vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus; cats require an FVRCP vaccination. Treatment against endoparasites may be no more than 30 days old. BAHA inspects animals on arrival. If there is a quarantine risk, the arrival must be reported at least two working days in advance, and the importer bears the quarantine costs. Plants and plant products may require a BAHA Import Permit and a Phytosanitary Certificate; one permit applies to no more than ten species or products from one origin. Automatic permission to bring them in therefore does not apply. After entry, domestic flights, buses, rental cars, taxis, private transfers and water taxis connect the main places. The Philip Goldson International Airport and Belize City are central transfer points; islands are regularly reached by water taxi. Timetables and connections depend on the respective provider. Temporary accommodation and a local contact address make later applications easier, but they relate to the living situation and do not replace immigration permission. Hospitals and private clinics are located mainly in urban areas, while rural regions depend more heavily on clinics and nurse practitioners. For emergencies, the official travel information lists 911 for police and 90 for fire and medical assistance. Health, entry and insurance rules should be checked again with the responsible Belizean authorities before departure.