Contributed by Luigi Wewege At Caye International Bank, 08 October, 2019
Have you ever considered the idea of living in Belize? Depending on your circumstances, there are specific processes that you need to follow. Your best bet is to spend some time learning all you can about the country and possibly making a trip there to see the areas that interest you the most.
Once you do make the decision to move to Belize, there are a couple of options that are worth considering. Here are some tips that will help you decide which approach would work best.
If you happen to be a citizen in one of the nations considered to be part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it's possible to secure a tourist card without applying for a visa. That means if you are currently a citizen of the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Guatemala, Canada or any other nation that's part of CARICOM, you may apply for and receive a tourist card.
Why is this such a great approach? The tourist card allows you to travel throughout Belize and enjoy everything the country has to offer. The card can be renewed on a monthly basis for at least up to six months. After that, you technically need some other means of remaining in the country. Even so, this often provides all the time you need to ensure that Belize is the place you want to call home.
What can you do with the tourist card? You can travel anywhere you like in the country. It's possible to buy or rent property. One factor to consider is that you are not allowed to obtain employment while in the country as a tourist. You will also need to provide confirmation that you have a sufficient amount of income to remain in the nation.
If you are sure that Belize is where you want to live and you happen to be over the age of 45, looking into the Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) is a good idea. Sometimes called the Retirement Residency Program or the Qualified Retirement Persons Program, the QRP was created in 1999 specifically to motivate retired persons to move to Belize.
Like holding a tourist card, participation in the QRP allows you to move freely around the country. This provides additional opportunities to find a community that's ideal for you and to settle in for the long-term.
Another alternative to consider is applying for permanent residency. To be considered for this option, you must live in Belize for a period of one full year. During that time, you may only be out of the country for two consecutive weeks. Should you exceed that limit, the process of counting your time in the nation starts over.
Along with this requirement, you will need to go through several basic steps. The first is filling out the formal request for permanent residency. It's often recommended that you seek legal help to ensure that every question on the form is filled out accurately and in full. You will also need to submit to and pass an HIV test.
Your background check must confirm that there are no records of criminal convictions; a police certificate verifying that you do not have this type of record will be sufficient. You will also need statements from two current residents who have known you for at least one year. Those residents may be local clergy, a Justice of the Peace, the head of a government entity, or a registered medical professional. If your attorney has known you for over one year, that legal counsel may also submit a statement.
If your dream is to live in Belize, it can become a reality. Explore the options for visiting the country and seeking some type of long-term or permanent residency. Remember that seeking out legal help allows you to understand the fees and other costs associated with each residency option. Along the way, you get to enjoy all that your new home has to offer.
Here is an amazing article on Belize and a must-read if you're thinking about making Belize your new home: <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.escapeartist.com/blog/16-reasons-why-belize-is-the-perfect-country-to-move-to/" href="https://www.escapeartist.com/blog/16-reasons-why-belize-is-the-perfect-country-to-move-to/" target_blank"="">Why Belize is the Perfect Country to Move To.