How to Move to Belize – A Complete Guide for Expats

Belize is a beautiful country filled with many warm and welcoming people. You will find beachfront, rainforest, mountains, and farmland, all in an area about the size of New Hampshire. The climate is always warm, with well-defined dry and rainy seasons. Combine all of this with English being the official language and an exchange rate fixed to the US Dollar, and you will understand why more and more expats are considering Belize a great place to live.

Moving to Belize is a straightforward process. At its simplest, you can pack up your things, fly to Belize, and settle in. Most expats live year-round on their “tourist visa,” which can be renewed for 30, 60, or 90 days with a visit to a local immigration office. For those seeking a more permanent stay, visas are available for retirees and those who prove they have made Belize their permanent home.

Why Move to Belize?

Relax and unwind at a charming beachfront café in Belize.|©Ann Kuffner

Many who choose to move to Belize are drawn to its simpler, more laid-back lifestyle. While Belize is a Central American country, it is considered a Caribbean nation. This distinction brings with it the “island time” way of life. Heavy traffic and the hustle and bustle are confined to the larger towns and cities, and getting off the beaten path is as easy as turning left or right off of any paved road.

Want to live at the Beach? Belize has that. Rather live in the Mountains? Belize has that, too. Add in Belize’s rainforest and savannas, which will remind you of the US Midwest, and no matter what type of living you are looking for, Belize probably has it.

Belize is known for its beauty and easy accessibility. Multiple direct flights from the US and Canada each week make travel to Belize an easy, one-day affair. Thanks to English being the official language, navigating the country is easy. Money is even simpler to deal with since 1 US dollar always gets you 2 Belize Dollars. Most vendors will take US or Belize Dollars.

Steps to Moving to Belize

Colorful beach huts and swaying palm trees in Placencia, Belize.|©Jason Holland.

The first step in considering a move to Belize is to get to know the country a bit. Research common expat areas. Places like Placencia, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Corozal, and San Ignacio are common expat settlements. Start with online research to learn the pros and cons of each area you are considering, and then plan a trip to spend time in each location to get your feet on the ground.

Once you have settled on a location, look for a long-term rental property. For Belize, the best options for finding rental properties are Facebook groups and local realtors. A realtor is probably the best option as they will have local knowledge of what is available and what you should be willing to pay in their area.

As you prepare to make your move, start collecting original documents to have with you. Belize government offices have often wanted to see the original, and a copy may not be accepted. At a minimum, have originals of the following documents:

• Birth Certificate

• Marriage License (if applicable)

Many expats live in Belize year-round on a tourist visa. You will automatically be given a 30-day tourist visa when you arrive in Belize. At the end of your 30 days, you can visit a local immigration office to renew your tourist visa for 30-, 60-, or 90 days. The documentation needed to renew changes frequently and may differ between immigration offices. Check around with other local expats to find out what the latest renewal requirements are.

Belize also offers other long-term visa options:

Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) - This program, managed by the Belize Tourism Board, grants holders an annual visa. To qualify, you must be over 40 years of age, be able to demonstrate at least $2,000 per month in income from a qualified retirement program, and live in Belize for at least 30 consecutive days each year.

Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) - If you plan to work or manage your own business in Belize, you will need a TEP. This can be applied for online and grants the holder an annual work visa to work in a specific business doing a specific job.

Permanent Residency (PR) - Once you have lived in Belize for 50 of 52 consecutive weeks, you can apply to become a permanent resident. The process is paperwork-heavy and can take a year or longer to complete. Having residency makes dealing with the banks and government offices much easier.

Citizenship—After being a permanent resident for at least five years, you can apply for naturalization and be granted a Belize Passport. Belize allows dual citizenship, so there is no need to renounce your home country's citizenship.

One thing you do not have to worry about before moving to Belize is learning a new language. Since English is the official language, you will be able to get along just fine in most areas of the country. However, in some of the country's more rural and northern areas, Spanish is also heavily spoken. Knowing some Spanish will be a plus if you plan to settle in an area with a heavy Hispanic population.

Like most countries, the cost of living in Belize will vary by location and how you live. Being willing to live near the beach rather than on it and learning to shop like a local will allow you to live much more cheaply. In popular expat locations, such as Placencia, expect to pay $800 to $1,500 per month for a small one- or two-bedroom house. One way to think about the cost of living in Belize is that it is not the most affordable Central American country to live in, but it will be the most affordable Caribbean country to live in.

If you plan to work in Belize, be aware that there are protections in place to protect Belizean jobs. Basically, this means that working in a job that could be done by a Belizean is frowned upon, and illegal, if you do not have a Temporary Work Permit. Working a remote job not based in Belize is acceptable and a great way to supplement any retirement income you may have.

When it comes to healthcare, Belize is a work in progress. If you have a chronic illness that requires frequent visits to specialist doctors or you need specific medications, Belize may not be the best place for you. Healthcare is improving, but there is still a long way to go. Many locals choose to seek medical treatment in Mexico or Guatemala.

Overall, Belize is a safe country. Like many countries, there are places that you will learn to avoid. For instance, the south side of Belize City is well-known for its gang activity. The good news is that there is nothing there that you will need anyway. The typical expat destinations are safe as long as you continue to use your common sense. Crimes, such as petty theft, are the most common crimes in these areas.

Moving Your Pets to Belize

If you plan to bring a cat or dog with you to Belize, you will need a permit for them to enter the country. These permits are issued by BAHA. Check their website for the latest information. The application fee is $25, and the permit, when issued, is $12.50. Also, be aware that if you plan to take your pet back to the US, there may be restrictions. Check the CDC website for the latest rules on importing your pet back into the US.

Expat Locations in Belize

Stroll through the vibrant streets of Caye Caulker, Belize.|©Laura Diffendall

The most popular areas for expats are also the most popular amongst tourists and tend to be beach locations. Placencia, San Pedro, and Caye Caulker are the most popular destinations for beach living. Corozal, which has been growing in popularity, is also on the water but not really a beach destination. San Ignacio and Spanish Lookout are more inland and will remind you of the Midwest of the US. It is not recommended to seek out remote living in Belize until you have lived there for a while.

Things I Wish I’d Known Before Moving to Belize

©iStock/prill

The biggest piece of advice we can give if you are thinking of moving to Belize is to bring your patience. Belize is a small country, so things usually take much more time than you would expect. Many government offices still work from mostly paper systems, and online application processes and payment systems are just now starting to be utilized. If you have business at multiple government offices, plan on completing one per day and celebrating the days when you complete multiple things in a single day.

Another great piece of advice is that life in Belize is simple but not easy. Over time, you will likely come to enjoy the “island time” way of life and the speed at which things get accomplished. However, you will need to work a bit harder at life in Belize. You may need to visit several local stores to find a particular item or order it from Amazon and wait 3 to 4 weeks for it to arrive. Over time, even the hard things get easier, but there is an adjustment period that you need to have the patience to work through.

Final Word on Moving to Belize

Belize is a beautiful country with many advantages over other Central American countries. Do your research, visit each location you may be interested in, and come with the mindset that you will learn to do things the local way, and very quickly, you will find that Belize starts to feel more like home than where you came from.