Do I need a Visa to Visit Belize?
If you are coming to Belize from North America, the UK, the EU, or a number of other countries, you do not need a Visa to visit Belize. To see the complete list of countries for which travel does not require a Belize Visa, check out the Belize Ministry of Immigration website
How long can I stay in Belize on a Tourist Visa?
When you arrive in Belize, a Tourist Visa will be stamped in your passport, and visitors are given 30 days on their initial Tourist Visa. One thing to note is that some airlines are now requiring proof of a return or ongoing ticket when you board for Belize, and the Immigration officers in Belize also have the right to ask you for proof on onward travel, and for information regarding where you are staying in Belize.
It is a good idea to take a look at the stamp in your passport as soon as you leave the airport, as there are times when Immigration Officers have been known to stamp for 28 or 29 days, so you have to remember that you need to either depart the country or renew your Belize Visa by the date that is actually stamped, not just according to the 30-day rule.
How do I extend a Tourist Visa?
While commonly known as a Tourist Visa, Belize Immigration refers to this visa as a Visitor’s Permit, and you can renew your Visitor’s Permit in increments of 30 days. In order to renew your Visitor’s Permit, you need to go to the Immigration office closest to where you are staying, fill out an application to extend your permit, and pay a fee of $200 BZD ($100 USD) in order to renew for 30 days.
It is possible to ask for a Visitor’s Permit Renewal of 60 or 90 days, and if granted, you will pay $200 BZD ($100 USD) for each 30-day increment; however, granting a longer permit extension is at the discretion of the Immigration officer, and it seems that some offices never offer more than 30 days at a time.
I have read many reports of differing requirements for renewing a Visitor’s Permit in different Immigration offices throughout Belize. In some offices, one is required to show proof of the ability to financially support yourself (copies of bank statements with account numbers redacted will serve this purpose), and in some Immigration offices, they also ask for information about your accommodations, sometimes asking for a lease or other documentation about the property at which you are staying.
Can I work in Belize on a Tourist Visa?
One is not permitted to work in Belize while on a Visitor’s Permit. According to the Belize Immigration website:
The visitor’s permit extension allows you to remain on condition that the holder does not enter into employment paid or unpaid and does not engage in any business or profession without the consent of the Director of Immigration and does not remain in Belize further that the expiration of permit.
Belize Immigration Website, Visitor’s Permit Extension Section
If one desires to work in Belize for a business in the country, this requires a Work Permit, which can only be issued to a foreign national if a Belizean employer can prove that they are unable to find a Belizean national to fill a specific role. In other words, the Work Permit is generally reserved for those who have special skills which are not available in Belize.
One can also start a business in Belize and then apply for a Work Permit to work in the business. Creating a business entity and applying for the Work Permit can both be time consuming. To read more about the Work Permit process, check out our article on Working in Belize.
Belize Visa information summary
- No Belize Visa is required for visitors from North America, Europe, or the UK.
- A Tourist Visa is good for 30 days
- One may extend the Tourist Visa in 30-day increments at a cost of $200 BZD ($100 USD).
- One can not legally work in Belize on a Tourist Visa
Final thoughts on Belize Visa Questions
Belize Visas are not a complicated matter for most visitor’s who come to Belize, and even if you intend to stay for longer than the original 30-day period, it is not difficult to renew a Visitor’s Permit.
Of course, if on your first trip to Immigration to renew your Visitor’s Permit, you are organized and prepared to show both information pertaining to your accommodations in Belize and documents indicating that you can support yourself, things will go more smoothly than if you have to leave and return with this information.
With all Belizean bureaucracy, it is always best to carry hard copies of any document you think might be needed. And, it goes without saying that smiling and being polite will also go a very long way anytime that you deal with government officials here.
For more general information about Belize, check out our Introduction to Belize article. If you are interested in moving to Belize, you may want to read our article on Permanent Residency in Belize.
Finally, if you are considering a move to Belize, you might want to check out our book: Belize FAQs: A detailed guide for those interested in moving to Belize. In the book, there are more than 150 pages of Belize FAQs at your fingertips. And Belize FAQs is available in both paperback and Kindle formats.