All visitors to Belize must present a valid passport before entering the country. The exception is for cruise ship passengers. They do not require an entry visa or a passport for that matter. Belize being small British Commonwealth country in North America with easy access to the U.S.A. and Canada, is well aware of potential illegal migrants from Asia and Africa trying to get into the country with the intention of using it as a stepping stone to head up north. As such, it has in place specif protocols to deter this activity.
Entry Requirements
Driver’s licenses and birth certificates are not approved travel documents and cannot be used to enter the country. Visitors must be in possession of a passport valid for at least 3 months after the date of arrival and a return ticket with sufficient funds to cover their stay.If you decide you really like Belize and would like to stay longer, you can request a one-month extension from the Immigration and Nationality Department. Prospective immigrants renew every month or eventually decide to apply for Belize Permanent Residency.Visas for Belize Citizens of most countries do not require a visa to enter Belize. (See below. If your country of nationality is not listed, you need to apply for a visa.)
Effective 1st December 2024, electronic Immigration and Customs departure and arrival forms were introduced alongside paper forms for all travellers entering and departing through the Philip Goldson International Airport. The use of electronic forms to all ports of entry is effective end of January 2025, and complete phase-out of paper forms March 31, 2025.
Can US permanent residents travel to Belize without a visa?
Yes. Belize has exemptions for Belize Entry Visa for visits not exceeding 30 days if you hold a valid multiple entry visa or Permanent Residence Card from the United States of America, if you hold a valid multiple entry Schengen visa or if you hold a valid multiple entry visa or Permanent Residence Card from Canada
As of 2018, individuals with valid U.S.A. or Schengen Treaty Visas in their passports, as well as individuals with valid U.S. residency, do not require a visa to travel to Belize. Related Article: Is Belize A Good Place For Americans To Retire?
Visas for those who require them, should be obtained prior to coming to Belize and this can usually be facilitated by your travel agent or the hotel or resort that you have booked for your visit to Belize. For Inquiries or questions within Belize:Belize Immigration and Nationality Department Belmopan, Cayo District Belize, Central America Telephone ++ 501-822-2423 Fax: ++ 501-822-2662In the United States: The Belize Embassy 2535 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest Washington, D.C 20008 USA Telephone: ++ 1-202-332-9636 Fax:++ 1-202-332-6741
Motor Vehicles and Boats Entering The Country
For visitors driving / boating into Belize from Guatemala or Mexico, a temporary importation permit must be secured at the point of entry. Vehicle / vessel permits are valid for thirty days. If an extension of your permit is required, this can be requested from the Immigration and Nationality Department. See our Belize Entry Requirements For Pleasure Craft Page. We recommend international insurance coverage for your boat / vehicle. Click Here To Download Belize Visa Application Form.
Long Term Visa
Long Term Visa: This visa option is extended to foreign nationals intending to reside in the country, typically for purposes such as business establishment, investment, or employment. This visa is promoted under other names such as the Digital Nomad Visa and Work Where You Vacation Visa. The Long Term Visa is offered to nationals from developed countries with proof of income from outside Belize that would like to live here alone or with their families for more than 90 days.
Nationalities That Do Not Need Belize Visa
List of Countries Not Requiring Belize Visa to Enter Belize COUNTRY Antigua & Barbuda, Austria SI# 134 of 2002 no visas for holders of Diplomatic & Official passports, Australia • Norfolk Island • Andorra Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria Member of EU on 1/1/07, Canada, Chile SI #45 of 1992, Colombia, Costa Rica SI# 153 of 1991, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark , Greenland, Dominica, El Salvador SI # 121 of 1997 & SI # 18 of 2001, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, • Antilles • French Guiana • French Polynesia • Guadeloupe -La Deserada -Marie Galante -Isle de Saintes – St. Barthelemy – St. Martin • Martinique • Mayotte • Reunion, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala SI# 153 of 1991, Guyana, Honduras SI # 121 of 1997 & SI # 57 of 2007, Hong Kong (SAR China) Special Agreement with China (1997), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg. Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico SI# 31 of 1998 No visas for holders of diplomatic & official passports. Continues.Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands – Aruba – Netherland Antilles, New Zealand – Cook Island – Nive – Tokelau – Ross Dependency, Nicaragua SI#121 of 1997 & SI# 57 of 2007, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation as of 12 January 2022 for up to 90 days for both Belize and Russia, Republic of China (Taiwan), Romania – became member of EU on 1/1/07, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey SI# 81 of 2001. Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom – Anguilla – Bermuda – British Antarctic Territory – British Indian Ocean Territory – British Virgin Islands – Cayman Islands – Falkland Islands – Gibraltar – Montserrat – Pitcairn Islands – St. Helena & Dependencies (Ascencion, Tristan da Cunha) – South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands – Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia – Turks & Caicos Islands, United States of America, Permanent Residents of the United States of America – American Samoa – Guam (Northern Mariana Islands) – Puerto Rico – Marshall Islands – Federated States of Micronesia – Palau – U.S. Virgin Islands, Uruguay Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Belize Visa Updates
Note: As of 27 January 2022, the visa free privileges for Venezuela, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic have been rescinded. “Cabinet gave its approval for the Ministry of Immigration to impose visa requirements for nationals of Venezuela, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.”
2023 Update: Visa restrictions were put in place on March 2023 against Jamaicans and Haitians. This follows increasing immigration and police busts indicating Belize is being used as a conduit for mass human smuggling to the United States of America and Canada: “After a thorough discussion on the increasing number of visitors who are using Belize as a transit country to reach the United States, Cabinet determined that Belize will invoke Article 226 (a) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which will allow for the Minister of Immigration to immediately impose a visa requirement for Haitians wishing to visit Belize and to require Jamaican nationals to provide evidence of fully paid non-refundable hotel reservations prior to boarding flights to Belize. In addition, a ministerial task force was set up to address the rampant smuggling occurring in this regard.” – Belize Government Cabinet Brief 30 March 2023.
Download Easy To Print PDF File List Of Countries Not Requiring Visa For Travel To Belize
Belize List of Visa Free Countries Compilation Copyright 2023 Belize.com Ltd. Article by M.A. Romero Chief Information Officer (RET) to the Government of Belize. Information on How To Get A Belize Passport is here.