Belize: What's The Cost Of Entry?

There are no fees when entering Belize, but there is a mandatory departure tax. This departure tax is used for infrastructure development, airport/border maintenance or expansion, and national conservation efforts. The fee will differ based on whether you leave Belize through its international airport or land borders with Guatemala or Mexico. For instance, the departure tax for non-Belizean citizens leaving through the airport is US$73.50, while for those leaving through land borders, it is US$20.

There are no fees when entering Belize

When entering Belize, there are no fees for visitors to pay. However, there are a few requirements that must be met. Firstly, visitors must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after their arrival, and proof of their intent to depart the country, such as a return ticket. Some airlines may require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival. It is also recommended that you have your passport re-stamped by a local immigration office if you plan to stay for more than 30 days.

Citizens of the United States and its territories, Canada, the United Kingdom and its territories, the European Union, the Caribbean, and Central American countries do not need a visa to enter Belize. However, citizens from a few countries, including West African countries, do require an entry visa, so it is important to check the Belize entry requirements before travelling.

Although there are no entry fees, there are some important things to keep in mind when entering Belize. Visitors driving or boating into Belize must secure a temporary importation permit at their point of entry from Mexico or Guatemala. Vehicle and vessel permits are valid for 30 days and must be extended if your stay is longer. Additionally, there are strict rules about the goods you can bring into the country, and any prohibited items or items subject to tax or duty must be declared.

Overall, Belize has relatively straightforward entry requirements, and the only fees to be aware of are the departure taxes when leaving the country, which will be covered in the next section.

Belize Departure Taxes

When leaving Belize, there is a mandatory departure tax, also known as an exit fee, that must be paid. The amount of the departure tax varies depending on whether you are leaving through the international airport or through the land borders with Guatemala or Mexico. For those departing by air, the departure tax is typically included in the price of your airfare, but it is important to check this in advance to avoid any issues when exiting the country.

The breakdown of the departure tax for those leaving by air is as follows:

• Airport Development Fee: BZ$36.00 / US$18.00 (for all passengers except citizens and permanent residents of Belize)
• PACT Fee: BZ$7.50 / US$3.75 (for all passengers over 11 years of age, except citizens and permanent residents of Belize)
• Screening Fee: BZ$5.00 / US$2.50 (for all passengers)
• Passenger Service Fee: BZ$30.00 / US$15.00 (for all passengers)

For those departing through the land borders, the departure tax is as follows:

• Border Exit Fee: BZ$30.00 / US$15.00
• PACT Fee: BZ$7.50 / US$3.75 (for visitors who have been in Belize for more than 24 hours)
• Border Development Fee: BZ$2.50 / US$1.25

It is important to note that these departure fees must be paid in cash and that credit and debit cards are not accepted. Additionally, the fees must be paid in US dollars for non-Belizean citizens, while Belizean citizens and residents can pay in Belizean dollars.

There is a mandatory departure fee when leaving Belize

There is no entry fee for Belize. However, there is a mandatory departure fee when leaving the country. The departure tax is used for infrastructure development, airport/border maintenance or expansion, and national conservation efforts. The fee varies depending on whether you leave Belize through its international airport or land borders with Guatemala or Mexico.

The airport departure tax is typically included in airline tickets. However, it is recommended that visitors check whether their airfare includes the mandatory departure tax, as it must be paid before leaving the country if it is not. The airport fees for non-Belizeans total US$73.50 for international flights, including US$20 for the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), US$15 for passenger service, US$36 for airport development, US$1.25 for security, and US$1.25 for baggage handling. For citizens and residents of Belize, the airport fee is US$17.50 (BZ$35) since it only includes the service, security, and baggage handling charges.

Non-Belizeans leaving Belize through its land borders must pay an exit fee of BZ$40. This includes BZ$30 for a border exit fee, BZ$7.50 for a PACT fee, and BZ$2.50 for a border development fee. Foreigners who spend less than 24 hours in Belize, such as those transiting from Mexico to Guatemala or vice versa, do not pay the BZ$7.50 conservation fee. Instead, they pay a total of BZ$32.50 for the border departure and development fees. It is important to note that all departure fees (if not included in airfare) must be paid in cash, as credit and debit cards are not accepted.

The departure fee is higher when leaving by air than by land

There are no fees when entering Belize. However, there is a mandatory departure fee that varies depending on whether you leave the country by air or by land.

The departure fee for non-Belizean citizens leaving the country by air is US$73.50. This includes US$20 for the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), US$15 for passenger service, US$36 for airport development, US$1.25 for security, and US$1.25 for baggage handling. This fee is typically included in airline tickets, but it is recommended that visitors check whether their airfare includes the departure tax, as it must be paid before leaving the country.

The departure fee for non-Belizean citizens leaving the country by land is BZ$40, which includes a BZ$30 border exit fee, BZ$7.50 for PACT, and BZ$2.50 for border development. This fee must be paid in cash at the border.

It is important to note that the departure tax is used for infrastructure development, border maintenance or expansion, and national conservation efforts.

The departure fee is used for infrastructure development and conservation

There is no entry fee for Belize. However, there is a mandatory departure tax that is used for infrastructure development and conservation. The departure tax is typically included in the price of airfare for flights departing from Belize, but it is recommended that visitors check whether or not this is the case, as it must be paid upon leaving the country if it is not included. The departure tax is also payable at land borders with Guatemala or Mexico.

The departure tax is used for infrastructure development and conservation. This includes airport/border maintenance or expansion, and national conservation efforts. For example, the departure fee helps fund Belize's network of protected areas via the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT). The departure tax is an important source of funding for these initiatives, which are essential for the country's development and the protection of its natural environment.

The departure tax for non-citizens and non-residents of Belize flying out of the country is $35.50 USD plus a "security screening" fee of $0.75 USD. For Belizean citizens and residents, the departure tax is $35 BZD. When leaving by land, non-Belizeans must pay an exit fee of BZ$40, which includes a border exit fee of BZ$30, a PACT fee of BZ$7.50, and a border development fee of BZ$2.50. It is important to note that all departure fees must be paid in cash and that credit and debit cards are not accepted.

The departure tax is an essential source of funding for infrastructure development and conservation in Belize. By contributing to these fees, visitors are helping to support the country's development and the protection of its natural environment. These initiatives are crucial for the country's long-term sustainability and the preservation of its natural beauty.

The departure fee must be paid in cash

There is no entry fee for Belize. However, there is a mandatory departure tax. The departure tax is used for infrastructure development, airport/border maintenance or expansion, and national conservation efforts. The fee will differ based on whether you leave Belize through its international airport or land borders with Guatemala or Mexico.

The departure tax may be included in the price of your airfare. It is recommended that all visitors investigate whether their airfare includes the mandatory departure tax because if it is not included, it must be paid upon leaving the country.

All departure fees (not included in airfare) must be paid in cash. Credit and debit cards are not accepted. Some taxes are quoted in American dollars (USD) and some in Belizean dollars (BZD), but all foreigners are required to pay in American currency.

For individuals who spend less than 24 hours in Belize (i.e. travellers transiting through Belize), there is no conservation fee. Any visitor spending more than 24 hours in the country must pay a conservation fee of BZD 7.50 upon exiting the country.

Every traveller departing from the Philip S.W. Goldson airport outside of Belize City, including those who have spent less than 24 hours in the country, must pay the departure tax. For non-citizens and non-residents of Belize, the departure tax is $35.50 USD plus a "security screening" fee of $0.75 USD.

For travellers leaving Belize via land/water crossings to Guatemala or Mexico, the departure tax is BZD 2.50 for a "border development" fee, BZD 7.50 for the conservation fee, and BZD 30 for the departure tax itself. In total, travellers must pay BZD 40 to leave the country via a land/water crossing.

Frequently asked questions