Residency in Belize for Canadians and Americans
You don't need residency to buy property in Belize, but you do to live there long-term. Belize offers three realistic routes: the Qualified Retirement Program (QRP), permanent residence after a year in the country, and investor-based temporary residence. Here's how each one works, from the government's own requirements.
Visiting first: how long you can stay
Canadian and US citizens don't need a visa to visit Belize. Visitors are admitted for up to 30 days, and can extend 30 days at a time at an immigration office with a Visitor's Permit Extension (BZ$200 per extension under the current fee schedule). Many buyers spend their first year in Belize this way before applying for permanent residence. Check current entry rules with the Belize Immigration and Nationality Department before you travel.
The Qualified Retirement Program (QRP)
The QRP, run by the Belize Tourism Board, is built for retirees who want to live in Belize on foreign income. According to the Belize Tourism Board, applicants must be 40 or older and receive at least US$2,000 a month (US$24,000 a year) in retirement income from outside Belize, in US dollars, pounds sterling, euros or Canadian dollars. Pensions, annuities, investment accounts and personal savings all count. Applicants must also pass a security check and spend at least 30 consecutive days a year in Belize.
QRP participants and their dependants receive a resident card, renewed annually, allowing multiple entries without a visa. The program's incentives include duty-free import of household effects and a vehicle (and, where applicable, a light aircraft or boat) within the first year, and exemption from Belizean tax on income earned outside Belize. Canada and the US are both on the list of qualifying countries.
Permanent residence
The Immigration Department grants permanent residence to people who have legally lived in Belize for at least one year before applying, without leaving the country for more than 14 days in total during that year. You must show you are financially stable and have no serious criminal record, and supply a Belizean medical examination, a police record and your passports showing your arrival date.
Government fees depend on nationality. Under the schedule in effect since May 2020, the fee for Commonwealth citizens, including Canadians, is BZ$3,000 (about US$1,500 at Belize's fixed rate of BZ$2 to US$1); fees for other nationalities differ. Check the current residence fee schedule before applying.
Temporary residence for investors
Temporary residence is designed for people who have made, or are making, a substantial investment in Belize but can't meet the one-year stay required for permanent residence. It lasts one year and is renewable, and the Immigration Department asks for evidence of investments in Belize worth at least BZ$500,000, such as a property title, business registration or bank statements, plus proof of where you live in Belize.
Choosing a route
For retirees with steady foreign income, the QRP is usually the simplest route and carries the most tax and duty benefits. For people who plan to live in Belize full-time and possibly work there, permanent residence is the long-term status. For investors who will split time between countries, temporary residence can bridge the gap. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current requirements with the relevant office, and see our foreign ownership guide for how buying works in the meantime.
Residency in Belize for Canadians and Americans — FAQs
Do I need residency to buy property in Belize?
No. Foreigners can buy freehold property in Belize without any residency status. Residency only matters if you want to live there beyond a visitor stay.
What is the minimum age for the Belize QRP?
The Belize Tourism Board's current requirement is 40 years or older, with at least US$2,000 a month in retirement income from outside Belize.
How long do I have to live in Belize before applying for permanent residence?
At least one year of legal residence, without leaving the country for more than 14 days in total during that year.
Can Canadians apply for the QRP?
Yes. All Commonwealth countries, including Canada, and the United States are on the program's list of qualifying countries.
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