BelizeProtection

Belize asylum: applying for refugee status

Refugee status

In short

People in Belize who need international protection can apply for refugee status under the Refugees Act. Applications are made in person at the Refugees Department in Belmopan; immigration officers at entry points and police officers at checkpoints refer people who ask for protection to the Department. Irregular entry does not prevent a claim. While the application is pending, applicants may not work or leave Belize, children may attend school, and there is no fixed processing time.

Apply on Belize Immigration – Refugees Department checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Processing time: No fixed time; each case differs
Work: No, not while the application is pending
Where to apply: In person at the Refugees Department, Belmopan

Who is a refugee

Under the Belize Refugees Act (Chapter 165), a refugee is a person with a well-founded fear of persecution for race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion who is outside their country and unable or unwilling to seek its protection, or a person compelled to leave their country because of external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order. Non-citizens in need of international protection, including unaccompanied children, may apply.

A serious crime may make a person ineligible for refugee status.

Irregular entry

The Refugees Department confirms that people who entered Belize irregularly can still apply for asylum. Present yourself to the authorities as soon as possible and ask to be referred to the Department.

Where and how to apply

You must be in Belize. Present yourself directly to the Refugees Department in Belmopan, or to an immigration officer at an entry point or a police officer at a checkpoint, who will refer you to the Department. The application itself is made in person at the Refugees Department. The Department lists its address as 14 Orchid Garden Street, Belmopan, with telephone 822-3212, 822-3118 and 828-7855.

If available, bring identification such as a passport or national identity card, a birth certificate and evidence supporting your claim. These documents are not mandatory but are highly recommended. Information is kept strictly confidential and used only to assess the claim.

Present yourself to the Refugees Department, an immigration officer or a police officer in Belize.
Apply in person at the Refugees Department in Belmopan.
Provide any identification and supporting evidence you have.
Stay in Belize and do not work until a decision is made.

Forms

Refugee Status Application Form

While the claim is pending

Applicants are not allowed to work while their refugee status application is being processed, and they may not leave Belize, including to visit their own country. Their children have the right to attend school. The Department states there is no defined processing time because each case is different.

Contacting the Refugees Department

The Refugees Department in Belmopan can be reached by telephone on 822-3212, 822-3118 and 828-7855, by WhatsApp on +501 610-5173 and by email at refugees.department@immigration.gov.bz. Information is also published in Spanish on the Department's page.

Documents

Required documents

Other

Refugee Status Application Form

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Identity

Passport, national ID card or other photo identification

Other

Birth certificate
Evidence supporting the claim

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for asylum in Belize?

In person at the Refugees Department in Belmopan; immigration and police officers refer applicants there.

Can I work while my claim is pending?

No. Applicants may not work while the application is being processed.

Can I apply if I entered irregularly?

Yes. Irregular entry does not prevent an asylum claim.

Can I visit my home country while my claim is pending?

No. Applicants are not allowed to leave Belize while the application is in process.

Can my children go to school?

Yes. Children of applicants have the right to attend school while the family waits for a decision.

How long does the decision take?

There is no defined time, because each case is assessed individually.

Is my information kept confidential?

Yes. It is kept strictly confidential under Belizean law and used only to evaluate the application.

Can an unaccompanied child apply?

Yes. Non-citizens in need of international protection, including children who are not accompanied by a family member, may apply for refugee status.

Official sources

Belize Immigration – Refugees Department: refugees service · checked 24 October 2026
Belize Immigration – Refugees · checked 24 October 2026

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.