RETIREMENT OPTIONS (Updated June 2006, and Oct 2007)

Currently you have three or four options if you wish to retire in Belize.

Tourist.  This looks like a prolonged visit rather than retirement.  Basically, you don't fill out any paperwork.  You must renew your visa every thirty days.  For the first six months this will cost you $25 US and after that it will cost you $50 US. After you have been in country for three months, you may be required to get a work permit, whether you intend to work at all. Permits & renewals are issued at the discretion of custom officials.  Click here to see the fees for work permits. 

Permanent Residence.  This program has been in place for years.  It requires that you be in country for a year before you apply.  You must show that you have a regular income of $750US (for a single) or $1000US (for a couple) so that you "won't be a burden on the infrastructure of the country."  (We showed them a social security statement.)  For a while in the 90's the UDP cut the time requirement for people over 55, but that went away and it's one year, with no breaks of more than two weeks.  Click here to study the detailed requirements and benefits in this program.  Newer:  Click here to read Lan Sluder's assessment of the current situation. 

Economic Residence. New. Several years ago, there was an an unpublicized program where you could invest $25,000 US in Belize and the time requirements of Permanent residence were waived.  The investment could be property, a house, or a business. That program went away.  There is an alternate program where you establish a local company and use it to gain Permanent Residence.  I have a page which describes that program here. 

Qualified Retired Person.  Early in 1999, the new government passed an act designed to attract gringos to retire here.  Click here to see the itemized requirements and benefits for this program.  

Analysis:  Click here for an eye-opening analysis of these options

Reflections on the QRP Program (Feb 2004, comments Nov 2005)

New:  Lan Sluder's Complete Analysis of Residence Options. (2008)

This page and all pages on this website are Copyright, CASELab, Inc. 1989-1999, 2000, Sr_Ric 2001-2008. See Copyright Details.  All rights reserved.