How to Enter Belize

Do I need a passport or visa to enter?

All U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid beyond their planned departure date, proof of an onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds (a minimum of U.S. $60 per day) to cover the cost of the length of stay. No visas are required for citizens of the United States for tourist visits. Visitors planning to stay more than 30 days must have their passport re-stamped by a local immigration office and pay a fee of approximately U.S. $25 for every month before the 6-month mark; for stays longer than 6 months, extension stamps are U.S. $50 per month and you may need to provide further documentation to the local immigration office to explain the reason for a longer stay. Travelers that stay in Belize longer and do not keep their immigration stamps up to date may face immigration fines (a minimum of U.S. $500 per fine) and imprisonment of up to 6 months. All tourists and non-Belizean citizens are required to pay an exit fee of U.S. $39.25. This fee is included in the price of all U.S. airline tickets.

Cruise ship passengers are charged U.S. $7 whether they leave the ship or remain on board, and this charge is included in the price of the cruise ticket.

At the land borders, U.S. citizens are charged U.S. $15 if their stay was less than 24 hours and U.S. $18.75 if the stay was more than 24 hours. No specific immunizations are required for visitors to Belize. Visit the Embassy of Belize to the United States website for the most current visa information.

U.S. citizens traveling with their children may be asked by immigration officials to show U.S. birth certificates for each child. When children are not traveling with both parents, immigration officials often request signed documentation to establish the children are traveling with the permission of both parents. Such documentation may include notarized letters from the parent(s), custody or adoption papers, and death certificates in situations where one or both parents are deceased.

Persons who are citizens of both the U.S. and Belize are able to enter Belize with only a Belizean passport. Such dual nationals should be aware, however, that a valid U.S. passport will be required in order to board a U.S.-bound flight from Belize. The average processing time to obtain a full-validity U.S. passport at the Embassy is approximately 10 working days.

Cruise ship passengers: U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (i.e., cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) will be permitted to depart or enter the U.S. with a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID. However, the U.S. Embassy recommends that passengers carry a passport in case an emergency occurs. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documentation. U.S. citizen passengers leaving their cruise ship and returning, for any reason, by air to the U.S. will be required to present their valid U.S. passports to airline officials before being permitted to board the aircraft.

Embassy of Belize: Belize maintains the following diplomatic and consular posts in the United States:

Embassy of Belize

2535 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: (202) 332-9636

Facsimile: (202) 332-6888

Website: http://www.embassyofbelize.org

Consulate General of Belize

4801 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 250

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Telephone: (323) 634-9900

Facsimile: (323) 634-9903

Website: http://www.consulateofbelizelosangeles.org

Belize maintains 13 other consulates general/consulates/consular agents in the U.S.; please see www.embassypages.com for their contact information.

Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations

675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 986-1240

Facsimile: (212) 593-0932

Email: blzun@belizemission.com

Visitors entering Belize must make a customs declaration of any currency or financial instruments exceeding a total value of U.S. $10,000.

With regard to business investments and contractual relationships, U.S. citizens should always conduct their own due diligence before entering into business ventures or other commercial arrangements. There have been recent cases where investors have disputed commercial agreements with the Government of Belize through formal commercial dispute resolution procedures and the cases are not yet resolved. There have been several cases of fraud involving land titles in recent years that affected U.S. citizens in Belize. The Embassy cannot intervene to settle business disputes, though local business and trade associations, including the American Chamber of Commerce and Belize Chamber of Commerce, as well as government offices, may be able to provide information regarding Belize's commercial requirements, the validity of businesses, and reputable vendors and business agents.

You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, and health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Information provided is subject to change without notice. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Information published on this website may contain errors. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us.