Are you planning to visit Belize for your next holidays? Are you interested in studying, working or investing in Belize? Whatever the reason for your visit, it is important to know which documents are needed to enter the country and enjoy the beauties Belize has to offer.
Do I need a Visa for Belize?
Nestled between Mexico, Guatemala and the sparkling Caribbean Sea, Belize occupies a slice of paradise made all the more flavorful by a strong presence of traditional culture, wildlife and a wonderful array of archaeological sites. It must be remembered that many of these ancient relics are found in the jungle. And it's easy to understand the excitement of discovering these ancient cities nestled in the iridescent green of the rainforest. A famous example, one of the first on the list of what to see in Belize is Caracol: its temples crumbled by time and the stone pyramids represent a powerful reminder of the greatness of the Mayan civilization that inhabited these lands that later, over the centuries, with colonial invasions, became known as British Honduras. The history is fascinating, we've said that. However, most travelers coming to Belize are in search of its natural wonders protected by, among other things, careful conservation work. The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was the first nature park dedicated, for example, to protecting the jaguar; the island of Half Moon Caye has been devoted entirely to bird conservation; and Belize's reef is home to an incredible catalog of colorful marine life. So visitors can swim with sharks or admire the expanses of multicolored coral without forgetting one of the top items on the long list of things to see in Belize: the Great Blue Hole, one of the most famous dive sites in the world is. So much so that it is a World Heritage Site.
Which documents do I need to visit the country?
Are you wondering how to get a Visa for Belize? Well, You may need a Belize entry visa if you are visiting or transiting through Belize. A visa enables you to access Belize and stay legal for up to 30 days from the date of entry. If you plan on staying in Belize for more than 30 days, you will need to visit an Immigration Office to extend your stay.
Belize Visa is required unless you come from one of the Visa-exempt countries.
There are some Belize visa free countries, though. For instance, a Belize visa for US citizens is not required. Visitors who have a U.S. Passport, U.S. Residency or have a Schengen area Passport do not require a Visa to travel to Belize.
Furthermore, the conditions of Belize Visa policy for citizens and passport holders of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Morocco traveling there have recently changed. If you are a resident of one of these countries and intend to visit Belize for less than 30 days, you do not need to apply for a visa. You can now fly to Belize without a visa.
Belize is also visa-free for many other nations: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, South Korea, Mexico, Israel, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Uruguay, Malaysia, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Honduras, Ireland, Venezuela, Republic of China (Taiwan), Guatemala.
If you want to verify if your country is part of the Belize visa-free countries, check at the following link if you need a Visa to enter Belize.
If your country is not on the Belize Visa free countries list, then you are required to apply for a Visa. Belize Visa policy applies to three different categories:
● Belize Tourist Visa
● Employment or Belize Work Visa
● Student Visa
If you are planning to travel to Belize to spend your holidays, you can apply for a Belize Tourist Visa. This type of Visa is also eligible for travellers who intend to carry a temporary business or trade or looking for settlement in Belize.
Belize Work Visa or Employment Visa is required if you have been officially hired in Belize, or if you are undertaking a consulting tour or a representative of an overseas company, a technical professional, or a foreign media staff.
You must apply for a Belize student visa if you are enrolled in a Belize primary, secondary, or tertiary institution.
Belize Visa application is simple and requires a few steps:
1. The applicant's signature must match the signature on the passport.
2. All required documents must be submitted in their original form as well as copies.
3. Documents written in languages other than English must be translated and signed by a qualified translator.
4. Document translations for Chinese and Taiwanese nationals must be authenticated at the University of Belize's Regional Language Centre.
You must have a valid passport with a six-month validity period
If you are visiting Belize, your flight itinerary must include your scheduled arrival date in Belize as well as your return date to your home country.
If you are transiting Belize, your flight itinerary must include the date of your scheduled arrival in Belize as well as the date of your departure from Belize.
A financial statement will also be needed during our adventure on how to get a Visa for Belize. If you are being sponsored, the sponsor must fill out the Letter of Financial Support and attach a $1.50 Belize postage stamp signed by a Justice of the Peace.
If your sponsor is a Belizean by birth or naturalization, he or she must present a valid Belizean passport, Belize Voter's Identification Card, or Social Security Card, or a passport with a permanent residence stamp if he or she is in possession of permanent residence.
Keep in mind that a person with a temporary employment permit or a visitor's extension permit who presents an immigration status passport of sponsor can qualify as a sponsor.
A parent, child, spouse, or sibling may be a sponsor. To establish kinship, you must present documents that establish a relationship between you and the sponsor. It may be a copy of a birth certificate or a copy of a marriage certificate.
Your sponsor must send you an invitation letter outlining the intent of your visit, the length of your stay in Belize, and your relationship.
You and your sponsor must have an employment letter released within the last six months if you move to Belize for work. The employer's information, monthly wage, and length of employment must all be clearly stated in the employment letter.
You and your sponsor must submit banking financials for the previous six months.
If you live outside of Belize and are not the lucky owner of a Belize visa for US citizens, you can apply at the Belizean diplomatic or consular mission closest to you. Your application can only be submitted at the Belmopan Headquarters Office if you or your sponsor are already in Belize.
A temporary importation permit must be obtained at the point of entry for visitors driving or boating into Belize from Guatemala or Mexico. Permits for vehicles and vessels are valid for thirty days. If you need a permit extension, you can order one from the Immigration and Nationality Department. For your boat or car, we suggest foreign insurance coverage. As mentioned, Belize Visa application is quite easy.
So, now you are ready to pick up your Belize Tourist Visa and visit the wonders of this country. What will be your first destination? Here are some tips for our travelers.
The best period to visit Belize is the dry season, between December and May, which coincides with the tourist season: in this period hotels are more expensive and almost always full. Therefore, if you want to save money, it is better to visit the country from July to November. Keep in mind that is a period in which, though, hurricanes occur more frequently.
Devote one day to visiting the Blue Hole and then spend the other three days on Caye Caulker or San Pedro on Ambergris Caye (depending on which you chose as your base). The range of outdoor activities is extensive. At Shark Ray Alley you can snorkel with nurse sharks and stingrays, while at Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, you can watch manatees. Take a golf cart through mangrove swamps to remote Secret Beach and kayak into the wild Caye Caulker Forest Reserve. Reach Turneffe Atoll, the largest atoll in the Americas, teeming with coral and fish, including large stingrays.
If you have more time, choose an island as your home base and take day trips to the mainland. Spend a day in the Belize District to visit the Belize Zoo, home to tapirs, pacas and pumas. Visit the striking Mayan ruins of Altun Ha. An easy drive takes you to the Cayo District, where you can go cave-tubing in the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve. Or head north to the sprawling Mayan ruins of Lamanai, nestled in the jungle, enjoying a leisurely crossing on the New River to get there.
