Moving to Belize from the US: which visa or residence route fits

Belize has no single "retirement visa" or "digital nomad visa" in the sense many Americans expect. Instead there are four building blocks: the visitor stay with monthly extensions, the Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) program run by the Belize Tourism Board, Permanent Residence handled by the Immigration Department after a year of legal residence, and the Temporary Employment Permit for people who will work. A fifth status, Temporary Residence, is reserved for substantial investors. This guide sets out who each route is for, what the official pages require, and which steps happen in the US before you go.

All figures below come from the Belize Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour (immigration.gov.bz) and the Belize Tourism Board (belizetourismboard.org), checked on the date shown at the top of this page. Belize dollar fees are written as BZ$.

Route 1: arrive as a visitor and extend month by month

The Immigration Department's visa page explains that a visa or visa exemption lets a visitor remain legally in Belize for a maximum of 30 days from the date of entry. To stay longer you go to an Immigration Office and apply for a Visitor's Permit Extension.

What the official page says about the extension:

• It adds 30 days to your stay each time it is granted.
• The fee is BZ$200.00 for all nationals (fees in effect from 1 May 2020).
• It is meant for people extending a holiday or "investigating the possibilities of settlement".
• The holder may not take employment, paid or unpaid, or engage in any business or profession without the consent of the Director of Immigration.

This route matters even if you plan to apply for residence later, because Permanent Residence requires a year of legal residence in Belize first. Many applicants build that year on successive visitor extensions or on a permit such as a Temporary Employment Permit. Keep every receipt and make sure each passport stamp is legible, since the residence application relies on your passport entry stamps.

Route 2: the Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) program

The QRP program is set up under the Retired Persons (Incentives) Act and administered by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), not by the Immigration Department. Its main draw is a package of customs incentives for retirees. The BTB program page lists these eligibility conditions:

• The principal applicant must be 40 years or older.
• Dependents can be a spouse and children under 18.
• The applicant must receive retirement income of at least US$2,000 a month or US$24,000 a year from a source outside Belize, in an approved currency (US dollar, pound sterling, euro or Canadian dollar).
• Qualifying income includes pensions, annuities, Social Security benefits, investment accounts, inheritance, reverse mortgages, personal savings and retirement contribution plans.
• The applicant gives a written undertaking to deposit the required amount in a bank, credit union or licensed financial institution in Belize.
• The applicant must pass a security clearance check by the Ministry of National Security.
• The applicant must remain in Belize for at least 30 consecutive days each year.
• The United States is on the list of qualifying countries.

The undertaking letter template published by BTB spells out the deposit choice: either US$2,000 by the 15th of each month, or US$24,000 by 1 April of each year.

Fees listed by BTB: an application program fee of US$150 per application, then an applicant fee of US$1,000, a dependent fee of US$750, a QRP ID card fee of US$200 per card and an annual card renewal fee of US$25. BTB states all fees are paid in US currency and are non-refundable.

Documents BTB asks for include the application form for each person, notarized or certified birth and marriage certificates, a police record no older than six months from your last place of residence, a notarized or certified copy of every passport page including blank pages, proof of the retirement income, bank statements showing that income being deposited, the signed deposit undertaking, a medical certificate including HIV test results no older than three months, and two 2x2 inch passport photos.

Limits to know. The BTB application form states that Qualified Retired Persons may not be engaged in gainful employment or hold an investment that generates income in Belize, must submit a yearly local bank statement showing they meet the financial requirement, and must tell BTB before leaving the country indefinitely. QRP status is a separate program from Permanent Residence; it does not by itself count as the year of residence the Immigration Department requires.

Route 3: Permanent Residence after one year

Permanent Residence is the Immigration Department's status for "persons who want to make Belize their home". According to the department's eligibility page, you must:

• have been legally residing in Belize for at least one year when you submit the application;
• not have left the country for more than 14 days in total during that year;
• show that you have been, and will continue to be, financially stable;
• have no conviction for an offence that could carry a prison sentence of 12 months or more, unless pardoned.

Documents. Originals plus copies of: your passport with an arrival stamp at least one year old (earlier passports if needed), copies of the biographic page and every visa page including blank pages, a Residence Medical Examination Form completed by a licensed doctor in Belize, HIV, VDRL and TB test results, a police record from Belize (valid six months), proof of financial stability such as bank statements, and two 2x2 inch photos on a white background taken within the last six months. A legally married spouse can be included on the same application; common-law partners apply separately.

Financial stability can be shown through employment in Belize, income from outside Belize, self-employment, volunteer or missionary work, retirement income, or sponsorship by a relative with legal status in Belize.

Process. The department lists these steps: submit the application at an Immigration Office authorized to accept residence applications; an interview with Immigration, usually within two weeks, which you, your spouse and your referees attend; a home interview by the Police Department Special Branch within three months of the immigration interview; vetting by the Nationality Department; payment and submission of a security bond with sureties who hold a Belize passport or voter ID; and collection of the residence card at the Belmopan Immigration Office five weeks after payment. You must stay in legal status while the application is pending.

Fees. Permanent Residence fees depend on nationality, in Belize dollars, effective 1 May 2020: BZ$1,000 for CARICOM nationals, BZ$1,500 for Central American countries, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, BZ$3,000 for Commonwealth countries, BZ$6,000 for European countries and BZ$4,000 for "other countries". Minors pay 50 percent of the adult fee. Look up "United States" in the nationality table on the fees page before you budget. Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged residence card costs BZ$300.

Route 4: the Temporary Employment Permit

If you intend to work in Belize, including self-employment, the Immigration Department says you need a Temporary Employment Permit and you must be residing in Belize. The application goes to a Labour Department office, not to Immigration:

1. Your employer submits the application on your behalf, or you submit it yourself if self-employed.
2. The Labour Department contacts you about the decision within 30 days.
3. With the approval letter you go to the Immigration Office, pay the permit fee stated on the approval and get an Income Tax letter from the Belize Tax Service.
4. You present your passport, the Income Tax and Social Security letters and two 2x2 inch photos; the permit is issued once payment is confirmed. You then register with the Social Security Office for your card.

The permit fee is not listed on the immigration page; it is stated on your approval letter.

Temporary Residence for investors

Temporary Residence lasts one year and is renewable. It is for people who have made, or are making, an investment in Belize worth at least BZ$500,000 but cannot meet the Permanent Residence presence rules. Evidence includes real estate titles, bank statements, company registration showing a controlling interest, trade licence and tax filings, plus a police record from your last country of residence and a letter to the Director of Nationality and Passports. The fee is one fifth of the Permanent Residence fee for your nationality.

What you do in the US before you travel

None of the routes above is applied for at a Belize consulate in the US. Residence and work permits are filed inside Belize, and QRP applications go to the Belize Tourism Board. The preparation that has to happen in the US is paperwork:

• A US police record. QRP asks for one from your last place of residence, no older than six months. Plan the timing so it is still valid when you file.
• Certified vital records. Birth and marriage certificates, notarized or certified, for QRP.
• Proof of income. A Social Security benefit letter, pension statement or annuity contract showing the monthly amount, plus bank statements.
• A passport with room in it. Every Belize route copies all passport pages, and Permanent Residence depends on legible entry stamps.

The US Embassy in Belmopan (bz.usembassy.gov) handles US passport renewals and other services for Americans living in Belize, and lists alerts for US citizens.

Which route fits

• Retired, with steady US income, and want customs incentives: QRP, keeping in mind the no-work condition and the annual deposit.
• Planning to live in Belize indefinitely and able to spend a year there first: visitor extensions or a permit for the first year, then Permanent Residence.
• Taking a job or running a business: Temporary Employment Permit through the Labour Department.
• Investing at least BZ$500,000 but not living there full time: Temporary Residence.
• Exploring before deciding: visitor extensions, 30 days at a time.

Common questions

How long can a US citizen stay in Belize without a permit? The Belize Immigration Department says a visa or visa exemption allows a stay of up to 30 days from entry. After that you apply at an Immigration Office for a Visitor's Permit Extension, which adds 30 days and costs BZ$200.

What is the minimum age and income for the Belize QRP program? The Belize Tourism Board lists a minimum age of 40 and retirement income of at least US$2,000 a month or US$24,000 a year from outside Belize, which you undertake to deposit in a Belize financial institution.

Can I work in Belize under the QRP program? No. The BTB application form states that Qualified Retired Persons may not engage in gainful employment or hold an income-generating investment in Belize.

When can I apply for Permanent Residence in Belize? After at least one year of legal residence in Belize, during which you have not been out of the country for more than 14 days in total. You apply inside Belize at an authorized Immigration Office.

Do I need to apply at a Belize consulate in the US first? No. Permanent Residence and work permits are filed in Belize, and QRP applications go to the Belize Tourism Board. What you prepare in the US is documents: a recent police record, certified vital records and proof of income.