Belize digital nomad visa (2026)

Who can apply

Only citizens or permanent residents of the EU, UK, US and Canada.

• Employed or working remotely for sources outside Belize
• Annual income of US$75,000 (US$100,000 for families)
• Clean criminal record
• Travel insurance with at least US$50,000 cover

Income requirement

You need to show at least US$75,000 per year (US$100,000 for couples or families). Income must come from employment outside Belize; couples and families need US$100,000 a year.

Documents you need

• Valid passport
• Proof of employment outside Belize
• Notarized bank reference and statement of account
• Criminal record no older than six months
• Travel insurance certificate

How to apply, step by step

1. Apply online through the Immigration Department portal
2. Wait for approval
3. Travel to Belize and pay the programme fee at the airport

Where and how to apply

The Long Stay Permit was handled entirely by Belize's Immigration Department (Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour) through its online IIS Connect portal, so there is no consulate stage. The Belize Tourism Board's 'Work Where You Vacation' page promotes the scheme and links to that portal, but the decision rests with Immigration. Be aware that the programme's status is unclear in late 2026: the Immigration Department's Long Stay Permit page was online until at least July 2026 (archived copy), but since September 2026 it returns 'page not found', the portal link no longer works, and the permits menu now lists only the temporary employment, student, visitor's and dependent permits. The tourism board page (last modified February 2026) still invites applications. Before preparing documents, email visas@immigration.gov.bz or call +501 822-3860 to confirm that applications are being accepted and through which channel.

Timeline

1. Confirm the programme is open Before anything else
   The official permit page was removed in September 2026, so ask the Immigration Department whether long-stay applications are still taken.
2. Gather time-sensitive documents Job letter within 30 days of applying; police record within 6 months
   The employer letter and the police record from your country of residence both have short validity windows, so order them last.
3. Submit the online application Not stated officially
   Upload certified passport copies for yourself and each dependant, income evidence, the bank reference and the insurance certificate.
4. Wait for approval Not stated officially
   No processing time is published by Immigration or the tourism board.
5. Travel and pay on arrival At the airport on entry
   The tourism board says the programme fee is paid at the airport after approval; complete Belize's online e-embarkation form before flying.
6. Leave before the permit runs out Valid 6 months from issue; no more than 6 months in a calendar year
   The archived official page says the permit cannot be extended, so plan your exit date from the start.

Proving your income

The archived Immigration Department page split income evidence by type of worker. Employees needed a job letter issued no more than 30 days before the application. Self-employed applicants needed proof that their business is registered plus their annual tax return. Everyone had to show annual income of at least US$75,000 when applying alone or US$100,000 when bringing dependants, together with a notarised bank reference and a statement of account. The income has to come from employment outside Belize, since holders may not work for anyone in the country. Passport bio pages had to be certified copies. The official page did not state how many months of bank statements are expected, whether foreign documents need an apostille, or whether translations into English are required; because English is Belize's official language, documents in other languages are likely to raise questions, so ask Immigration before submitting.

Bringing your family

Dependants are defined narrowly on the archived official page: the applicant's spouse; an unmarried child, stepchild or lawfully adopted child under 18; or another person certified as a dependant by a court order. Adult children are therefore not covered. Instead of a per-person income add-on, the threshold rises once from US$75,000 to US$100,000 a year when any dependant is included, and a separate per-child fee applies. Neither the permit holder nor the dependants may take employment in Belize. According to the Belize Tourism Board, children under 18 may enrol in Belizean schools and the usual student permit is waived for them, which avoids a separate immigration application for school-age children.

Health insurance

Applicants must show a travel insurance policy with at least US$50,000 of health coverage; the archived Immigration page and the tourism board page give the same minimum. The rule is stated for the applicant, and the page does not say whether each dependant needs separate cover, so the safest approach is a family policy that names everyone. No official text says when the policy must start, but it should be in force from your arrival date until you leave, since the permit runs for up to six months and there is no public health scheme mentioned for permit holders.

Cost and processing time

The fee is uS$500 per adult and US$200 per child per the Immigration Department (the tourism board quotes Belize dollars). Processing takes not stated. Budget extra for translations, certified copies and health insurance.

After you arrive

• Fill in Belize's online e-embarkation form before the flight; the Immigration Department encourages this to save time at the airport.
• Show your approval on arrival and pay the programme fee at the airport, as described by the Belize Tourism Board.
• Note the permit's issue date: it is valid for six months from issue and allows no more than six months in Belize in any calendar year.
• Do not take any job or paid assignment from people or businesses in Belize; this applies to dependants too.
• School-age children can be enrolled directly; the tourism board says student permits are waived for participants' children.
• Book your departure before the permit ends, because the archived official page states the permit cannot be extended.

Tax

No official page says anything about how Long Stay Permit holders are taxed or whether their foreign income is exempt. Belize's own statement to the OECD on tax residency explains that, under section 16(6) of the Income and Business Tax Act (Cap. 55), a person counts as resident for a basis year if they spend more than 182 days in total in Belize in that year, or if they are domiciled in Belize. Because the permit caps stays at six months per calendar year, a holder who relies only on this permit would normally stay close to, but under, that line; however, the permit's calendar-year cap and the tax basis year are separate tests, and other time spent in Belize can add to the day count. The official material reviewed does not say how foreign-source income of residents is treated, so ask the Belize Tax Service if you plan to spend more time in the country.

Does it lead to permanent residence?

The Long Stay Permit is a visitor-type permit and does not lead to residence on its own. Belize's permanent residence rules require at least one year of legal residence before applying, with no more than 14 days spent outside the country during that year, plus proof of financial stability, a clean criminal record, a Belize medical examination and a Belize police record. Since the long-stay permit allows at most six months per calendar year and cannot be extended, it cannot by itself cover the qualifying year, and no official page says whether long-stay time counts. Belize's temporary residence category is aimed at people investing at least BZ$500,000 in the country. Anyone hoping to settle should discuss a change of status with the Immigration Department.

Why applications get refused

• Nationality or residence outside the approved list: the archived official page limited the permit to citizens or permanent residents of the EU, UK, US or Canada (non-citizens resident there had to prove residence).
• Income below US$75,000 (or US$100,000 with dependants), or income not clearly earned from employment outside Belize.
• A job letter older than 30 days, or, for the self-employed, no proof of business registration and no annual tax return.
• A bank reference that is not notarised, or a police record issued more than six months before the application.
• Travel insurance with less than US$50,000 of health coverage.
• Applying through a channel that no longer operates: the official page and portal link were removed in September 2026.

Cost of living in Belize City

1-bedroom rent

US$250-445 per month in the centre; about US$150-225 outside (Numbeo, Oct 2026)

Coworking desk

No dated price data found

Numbeo's Belize City figures come from only five contributors, and island areas popular with visitors such as San Pedro have too little data to quote.

Good to know

• Children may attend local schools without a student permit
• The stay is capped at 180 days

Visiting first? Entry rules for popular passports

105 passports can enter Belize visa-free for a short stay, a common way to try the country before applying. Check Belize visa requirements for your passport.

Official source

Travel Belize – Work Where You Vacation

Not yet confirmed on an official source: whether the programme is still open, renewal, processing time. Check these with the consulate before you apply.