Belize tourist visa and visitor extensions

The visa table of the Immigration and Nationality Department has a yes-or-no column and a threshold column. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and Spain are marked as not requiring a visa; Mexico, Colombia and Switzerland need one beyond 30 days; Brazil, Chile, Japan, Israel and Turkey beyond 90 days; and the United States beyond 180 days. Countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Ukraine are marked as visa-required. Separately, holders of a valid multiple-entry visa or permanent residence card of the United States or Canada, or of a multiple-entry Schengen visa, are exempt from the Belize entry visa for visits not exceeding 30 days.

A visa allows a stay of up to 30 days from entry, and any stay beyond 30, 60, 90 and 180 days requires the corresponding visa and extensions. For a national whose threshold is 90 days, for example, the first 90 days can be covered by entry plus extensions, and a visa must be obtained before an extension takes the stay beyond 90 days.

A Belize visa application includes the completed visa form, a passport valid for more than six months and a flight itinerary showing arrival and return or onward departure. Self-sponsored applicants add an employment letter issued within six months stating employer, monthly salary and period of employment, and bank records of the last six months. Sponsored applicants add a letter of financial support signed before a Justice of the Peace with a BZ$1.50 stamp, the sponsor's identification and status, proof of kinship, an invitation letter and the sponsor's employment letter and bank records.

A single-entry visa, valid six months, costs BZ$200 for most nationals, and a multiple-entry visa, valid twelve months, BZ$300. If you are already in Belize, the application can be submitted only at the Belmopan headquarters office. Documents not in English must be translated by a proper authority.

Visitors cannot work. Those who will work apply for a Temporary Employment Permit through the Labour Department while residing in Belize, and students obtain a Student Permit before the school year or semester starts. Both are covered on separate pages of this guide.

The Visitor's Permit Extension lets you stay for an additional 30 days, on condition that you do not take paid or unpaid employment or engage in any business or profession without the Director of Immigration's consent and that you leave before it expires. It suits people extending a holiday or investigating the possibility of settling in Belize. The fee, in force since 1 May 2020, is BZ$200 for all nationals. Visit your nearest Immigration Office to apply.

Persons who need a visa after a set number of days in Belize must obtain that visa before the extension is issued; holders of a Belize visa may also qualify for extensions.