Another alternative for your Belize retirement? Become a Belizean citizen. Citizenship is available after 5 years of residency or by marrying a Belizean, but you must prove (somehow) that it is not a marriage of convenience.
Belize is a country located in Central America and just south of Mexico and north of Guatemala. The country offers Caribbean shorelines to the east and lush forest, jungles, and access to smaller islands and marine life.
The official language is English, though many Belizeans are multilingual and speak Kriol, Spanish, and other local Mayan languages.
Initially a colony of British Honduras, Belize achieved independence in 1964 with its self-government.
One question is central to your Belize retirement… how can you legally stay in the country for more than just a few months?
Belize’s “Qualified Retired Person Program” (QRP) is probably your best bet, but there are other options too. Let’s look at them.
To the average Westerner the rules and regs of Belize will seem a little, well, off the wall.
This is especially true when it comes to visas and residency. Lots of departments are involved in the process.
Most small cities in the western world have a bigger population than the whole country of Belize but nowhere near as much bureaucracy!
Tourist Card
Most people first come to Belize on a Tourist Card visa. It’s not necessary to apply for it if you are a citizen of these 95 countries (e.g. USA, Canada, European Union, Australia, New Zealand and many others).
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months from the date of arrival.
The tourist card is valid for 30 days and can be renewed at any immigration office. Many people stay indefinitely on this basis, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re serious about your Belize retirement. Cost of renewal is $25 USD per month for up to 6 months, and $50 for every month thereafter.
Good to Know
Bring your passport; the tourist card is often just a stamp in your passport.
Security issues the number you’ll need to reserve your place in line and they arrive at 7 am. So plan to arrive early at the immigration office. Most numbers are issued by 8:30 am and if you don’t have one you’ll have to wait until 2 pm and then hope for a place in line.
Bring a book; you can wait off-property or go for breakfast and lunch depending on your number priority.
Related: Is Belize Safe?
Temporary Visa
If you are not a national from one of the countries mentioned above, you will have to apply for a temporary visa in advance of your arrival in Belize.
Ask your travel agency or the hotel if they can do this for you. The consulate will review the visa application; they decide about your admissibility and the number of times you can renew.
The temporary visa is good for 30 days and can be renewed as many times as permitted with the acceptance of your original application. The fee is $25 per renewal and is also performed at the immigration office.
Bring your passport; the visa is a sticker in your passport.
Belize Retirement: Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) Program
Inaugurated in 1999 with some fanfare, this program showed a great deal of promise. In reality this promise hasn’t materialized and the granting of the status has been very limited; the process is currently under review in an attempt to make it more efficient.
The Belize Tourist Board administers the program, with input from the police department, immigration authorities and the Ministry of National Security. The process typically takes a few months to complete.
Once your residency card is granted, you’ll basically be considered a long-term visitor. You will still pay exit taxes when leaving the country.
Here’s the essence of the Qualified Retired Persons Program:
- You must be at least 45 years of age.
- You must have a verifiable income of $2000/month USD from a pension or other regular source. If married, the requirement is still $2000 as the spouse is considered a dependent. Same goes for children under the age of 18. If your children are still enrolled in a college or university, they can be up to 23 years of age.
- If you don’t have a regular income of $2000 per month, but can demonstrate that you have adequate savings to transfer $24,000 USD annually to Belize, you may also qualify.
- Within the first year you can import household goods, boats, cars and planes duty free.
- You can come and go as you wish, but must maintain residence for a minimum of one month per year.
- You cannot be employed in Belize, but can make money in an online or offshore business which is not taxable.
- You must submit proof of income every year to renew your residency unless you leave the required funds of $24,000 USD are left on deposit.
Resources
Ready to apply? Download the official QRP Form, provided by the Belize Tourism Board.
These are the documents you will need…
- Background check, conducted by the Ministry of National Security.
- Police report from your current place of residence, which will be verified through the Belize Police.
- The income must be substantiated by a CPA; you’ll also need bank letters from the bank of pension providers, unless the provider is a Fortune 500 company or a government.
- Certified copy of your birth certificate for the applicant and all dependents.
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate.
- Color copy of your passport (and of dependents’ passports), including every page whether blank or not. These copies must be authenticated by a notary public.
- Results of a complete medical examination of the applicant and all dependents.
- 4 front and 4 side view recent photographs for the applicant and each dependent.
The application fee is $1350 per individual and $750 for each dependent (spouse or children).
Related: Risks Associated with Buying Property in Belize
Belize Retirement Alternative: Official Permanent Resident
The documentation to apply for this status is the same, but some of the conditions are different. For example, you must have lived in Belize for one full year, without leaving the country for more than 14 days during that year. A one hour visit to Chetumal is considered a day, but the ministry is looking for 14 consecutive days so that shouldn’t matter.
The application fees vary from $125 to $2000 USD depending on the country of origin. If you come from the USA the fee is $1000 USD.
If you are working in Belize you’ll also need a working permit from the Ministry of Labor, which has to be submitted with the rest of your documentation.
Resources
Ready to apply? Download the official application forms, provided by the Department of Immigration and Nationality Services.
Residency cards cost $150 per person although there are no longer cards; it’s just a stamp in your passport.
This form of residency will allow you to vote in local elections, to work in Belize and to avoid paying exit taxes by land and by sea.
Contrary to the Qualified Retired Person Program, which is handled by the Belize Tourist Board, your application to become a permanent resident must go to the Belize Immigration and Nationality Department in Belmopan.
How Do I Become a Resident of Belize?
An application for permanent residence is available to individuals living in Belize for a minimum of one year. You’ll need to provide the required documentation to support your residence. Before you consider applying for residency, it’s essential to review all the requirements, documents, and information you’ll need to provide.
If you’re interested in pursuing a permanent residency in Belize, you’ll need to submit the following documents for review:
- Marriage certificate, if applicable, and your spouse’s birth certificate.
- Your spouse must provide an assured declaration of support if applicable.
- Proof of living in Belize for one year – this includes a passport and documents to show your location and residence.
- An immigration fee for processing your application.
- Income tax statement, recent local banking statements.
- A temporary permit for employment if you intend to seek employment.
- Any documents confirming land ownership in Belize.
- A health certificate that indicates recent VDRL and HIV tests for you (the applicant) and all members of your family.
- A police record of you (the applicant) and all family members who are 16 years of age or older.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be requested to provide additional information for your residency application.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Citizen of Belize?
There are several routes to becoming a citizen of Belize. Birth and descent are the easiest ways to citizenship; birth offers automatic permanent citizenship. If you apply through family descent, you must have at least one parent or grandparent with Belize citizenship. A specific application form is applied based on a person’s descent, and the application is available at a Belize consulate or embassy.
Once the Application for Registration is made, you must present it at the Immigration and Nationality Department in Belmopan, Belize, in person. The time frame is quicker than citizenship through marriage or residency. If you marry a Belize citizen, you must live in the country for one year. Citizenship through marriage is another option. After five years of residency, you may apply for citizenship.
Does Belize Allow Dual Citizenship?
Belize allows dual citizenship. The country’s constitution allows citizens of Belize to obtain citizenship through descent or birth. You can acquire citizenship of another country, provided the other country doesn’t restrict dual citizenship, including that of Belize.
Belize Residency Cost?
There is a fee for the residency, which varies depending on your country of origin or nationality. The cost ranges from $187.00 to $1,562.00 in US dollars. There are additional fees for immigration, which may cost up to $1,500.
What is Belize Residency by Investment?
Residency by investment refers to a program where individuals can secure their application for residency through financial investment in the country. This option is attractive for individuals or families with significant income or wealth.
Private consultants make all the arrangements for applicants who consider this option. Residency by investment is subject to specific requirements, including the following:
- The applicant must have no criminal record.
- Proof of funding and documents to show where the income or assets were legally acquired. This information will determine if an applicant has a high net worth, also a requirement.
- All applications must be at least 18 years of age.
What are the Benefits of Being a Citizen of Belize?
There are many advantages to becoming a permanent resident or citizen of Belize. Once you have citizenship, you may work, retire, or live anywhere in the country without restrictions. You can also obtain a Belize passport and travel to countries throughout Central and South America without a visa entry stamp or additional requirements.
Once you become a citizen, you can vote in municipal elections and enjoy all the country’s sights and attractions. You are also free to marry, start your own business, and you have one year to move all your personal effects into the country without duty charges on a one-time basis.
There are various ways to become a citizen, which is also an attractive option, especially for retirees eligible to apply through the Qualified Retired Person status program.
Retirees applying under the QRP or Qualified Retired Person program do not have to be a minimum age and may seek employment once they have citizenship.
Where do you get Belize Immigration Forms?
Immigration forms for residency and citizenship are available at Belize consulates and embassies. If you’re uncertain of which form(s) you’ll need for the application process, contact your nearest consulate to obtain the details needed before you begin.
Related: Cost of Living in Belize
