Located in the Caribbean Sea, close to Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is one of the most appealing tourist destinations for American citizens. In the past few years, Belize has also caught the eye of other nationalities around the world, as flight connections make it easy to come here. Those interested in a golden visa program that would enable them to move here must know that there is no traditional Belize citizenship by investment, however, there are several other alternatives foreign citizens can rely on if they want to immigrate here.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Nationalities accepted |
All |
|
Business investment option (YES/NO) |
Yes, the minimum amount to invest is USD500,000 |
|
Real estate investment option (YES/NO) |
No |
| Other investment options (if available) |
Retirement, based on proof of minimum income of USD 2,000/month |
| Living requirement in Belize (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Residence or direct citizenship option |
Temporary residency followed by permanent residence |
| Direct immigration with family members (YES/NO) |
No, residence permits are required for family members |
| Family members allowed to join the program |
No restrictions on family members allowed to move here |
| Residence visa/citizenship processing time (approx.) |
Temporary residency card is issued in approx. 30 days |
| Additional financial requirements for family members (YES/NO) |
No |
| Timeframe for obtaining citizenship/residency by investment |
Permanent residence can be obtained after one year of permanent residency, citizenship can be obtained after 5 years |
| Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO) |
No |
| Reasons to choose Belize |
– possibility to run a business or work here, – no minimum investment amount, – quick processing time, – large number of successful applications |
| Personal income tax rate |
25% |
| Visa free travel to other countries (approx. number of countries) | Approx. 90 countries |
Below, our local specialists explain how you can obtain Belize residency by investment. For obtaining a golden passport for Belize you should follow a legal procedure that can be explained by our lawyers.
Table of Contents
Is it possible to obtain a Belize passport by investment?
The short answer to this question is that there is no Belize investment visa at the level of 2023 through which foreign citizens can move here as in other Caribbean countries, such as Dominica, for example, however, they can apply for temporary residence permits that can be converted into permanent ones followed by citizenship by making certain investments. So even if obtained through investment, the Belize residence permit is considered a traditional one.
Even if there is no dedicated Belize citizenship by investment program, there are two options for those who want to move here:
- the first one targets businesspersons who can invest in local companies;
- retired people who must submit proof of a specific monthly income.
If you want to apply for a traditional golden visa/citizenship by investment scheme, there are several neighboring countries in which you can relocate and in which you can rely on our services. Among these, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia are two of them. If you want a golden passport for Belize in 2023, you can contact our lawyers who will offer legal assistance.
The main ways to acquire Belize citizenship in 2023
How to obtain Belize citizenship by investment as an investor
If you are a foreign businessperson who wants to enjoy a good quality of life while running a company here, the easiest way to obtain Belize residency by investment is to apply for a temporary residence permit. All you need to do is submit proof of having at least 500,000 Belize dollars to invest. The permit obtained this way has a validity of one year and can be renewed.
If you want to apply for a Belize investment visa this way, all you need to do is get in touch with our local agents who can help you obtain your residence permit. We are also at your service if you want to enroll in another golden visa program available in another country. We can help you buy a passport for Belize in 2023 or another country, if you observe the local rules.
The Qualified Retired Person Incentive Program in Belize
A Belize citizenship by investment scheme that resembles others organized by golden visa countries is the Qualified Retired Person Incentive Program (QRP) created by the Belize Tourism Board.
This program:
- is dedicated to persons aged 45 or above;
- implies having a minimum monthly income of 2,000 USD;
- required for a minimum of 24,000 USD to be deposited in a Belize bank account;
- also grants a residence permit with a validity period of one year.
The source of the money must be a foreign pension or annuity. Another important aspect related to this program is that successful candidates are not allowed to work in Belize, however, they can maintain their investment in the country of origin or other foreign states.
If you are interested in obtaining Belize residency by investment this way, you can contact our golden visa specialists who will help you draft the necessary documents and move here.
The main ways to obtain Belize citizenship
There are two ways to become a citizen of Belize in 2023. Marriage-based citizenship is one of them. When a foreigner marries a Belizean, they are eligible to seek citizenship, which is typically approved within a year. Usually, this entails moving to Belize after obtaining the passport. Once you have been awarded citizenship, you are free to travel wherever you like.
For persons who have been lawful residents of Belize for 5 years, citizenship by naturalization, thus by investment, is an option. Citizenship confers the right to apply for a passport from Belize. Applicants must have lived in the country or have permanent residency status for a minimum of 5 years in order to become citizens. The application is typically processed in 6 months.
How long does it take to obtain Belize citizenship by investment?
When using the usual route to obtain a Belize passport by investment, temporary residency can be obtained in one year, and if the applicant provides proof of financial worthiness, the temporary residence permit can be converted into a permanent one, so it is safe to say that becoming a permanent resident of this country is not complicated.
Citizenship can be obtained after 5 years of permanent residency in Belize.
If you want to apply for a Belize investment visa, feel free to request our support. Buy a passport for Belize with the help of our experienced lawyers.
Advantages of moving to Belize in 2023
Even if there is no specific Belize citizenship by investment scheme, obtaining permanent residency followed by citizenship is quite simple in this country. Apart from this, dual citizenship is recognized here, which means that you are not required to give up your current passport to obtain one in Belize.
Becoming a citizen of Belize comes with visa-free access to more than 90 countries and the possibility of acquiring land or property here without investing a specific amount of money.
Contact us for assistance in choosing the best option for you and obtaining all the benefits that arise from having a Belize passport.