Passports & Visas in Belize

Passports & Visas

Entering Belize

To enter Belize, only a valid passport is necessary for citizens of Australia, Canada, CARICOM member states, Great Britain, Hong Kong, European Union countries, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the United States, and Venezuela; no visa is required. Nationals of about 30 other countries require a visa, and nationals of about two dozen countries require both a visa and clearance by the immigration office. Visas for nationals of several Asian countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and the People's Republic of China, are very expensive, costing up to US$2,000. Check the Belize Tourist Board Web site at www.travelbelize.org for the latest updates on visas. You can also contact Belize Immigration and Nationality Department (Belmopan, Cayo District, Belize, 501/822-2423).

If, upon arrival, the customs official asks how long you expect to stay in Belize, give the longest period you might stay -- you may legally stay for up to 30 days on the tourist card you'll receive on entry -- otherwise, the official may endorse your passport with a shorter period. You can renew your entry permit at immigration offices for a fee of BZ$50 per month for the first six months; after six months, it costs BZ$100 a month for up to six more months, at which time you must leave the country for 72 hours to start the process over. (Note that renewals are not guaranteed.) If you're young and entering Belize by land from Mexico or Guatemala, you may be asked to prove you have enough money to cover your stay. You're supposed to have US$60 a day, though this requirement is rarely enforced.