Belize is now open to international tourism with no quarantine requirements and “99.99% of COVID-19 restrictions removed”. Due to diligent work by the government and health authorities, Belize’s COVID19 numbers are at record low numbers. Entry and travel requirements have been eased substantially. Industry projections indicate a growing return to normal travel.
As of Friday, 1 April 2022, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions within Belize are lifted as per the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Restrictions mandating facemask wearing and social distancing are lifted, and activities such as concerts and large gatherings are now be allowed. Night clubs and bars are now allowed to operate. The only restrictions that remain in place are the requirement for visitors/tourists ages five and above to present proof of immunization or a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival, and Belizeans planning to travel out of the country must be vaccinated. (Image above: Halfmoon Caye Belize, credit Otavio.kuhn)
According to Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard in a broadcast interview, the accepted testing for unvaccinated foreigners is rapid tests done within 48 hours or a PCR within 72 hours before travel to Belize. Tourists arriving in the country, either by air, land, or sea, who are not vaccinated and do not have the required test will be tested at the entry point at their own expense. Belizeans are allowed to travel into and out of the country with proof of vaccination and are not required to be tested. If they are unvaccinated, they will be allowed to leave the country only when a valid reason is produced, like for a medical condition. The new Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 61 of 2022 confirms lifting the COVID-19 restrictions. The following are the new COVID-19 protocols for Belize effective 1 April 2022:
✅Covid-19 testing will be limited to those who are not fully vaccinated or cannot show proof of vaccination.
✅All fully vaccinated persons will be able to enter via airport, land border, or sea port without testing.
✅Children under 5 years will not be required to present a negative Covid-19 test upon entry at the airport, land border or sea port.
✅All curfew mandates have been removed.
✅Mask wearing is not required for indoor or outdoor spaces.
Who can visit Belize?
Any traveller is permitted to visit Belize at this time.
- You are required to complete the Customs and Immigration Form that is provided to you on your flight to Belize.
- Bring along an Official Vaccine Card reflecting the receipt of the dual or single dose vaccine at least two weeks prior to arrival.
- Purchase Belize Travel Health Insurance
- Or, if you cannot provide proof of immunisation bring along a negative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 test taken within 96 hours of travel, OR Rapid Antigen, Sofia, SD Biosensor, ABBOTT (Panbio) test taken no more than 48 hours prior to travel. If neither is presented, you can take a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
- Children under the age of 5 are not required to present a negative COVID test; Children 5 years and older must present a negative COVID test.
Tourists to Belize can now travel freely to facilities which will include hotels, restaurants and tour operators that have achieved “Tourism Gold Standard” Recognition. The Gold Standard Recognition Program is a 9-point program that seeks to enhance the tourism industry’s health and safety standards by adapting new behaviors and procedures to ensure both employees and travelers are confident in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s tourism product. Businesses that meet the requirements of the Tourism Gold Standard Program are certified and promoted as having implemented these enhanced measures with a Gold Standard Seal of Approval. This seal certifies industry stakeholders who’ve embraced the safety protocols, and will be visible for all guests where practical, such as tour operator vehicles and vessels, hotel lobbies, primary doors of entry, etc.
Belize Gold Standard Accommodations
Belize now has a list of certified Gold Standard Tourism Facilities. These are tourist accommodations ranging from full hotels down to the budget level inns. However, this moniker appears to be on the way out as in practice, it is no longer being enforced. See here for the latest update from the Belize Hotel Association.