Working Holiday: Tourist Visa Jobs In Belize

Belize offers a range of visa options, including a tourist visa, which grants visitors entry for 30 days, with the possibility of extensions for up to 90 days. However, working in Belize requires a Temporary Employment Permit, also known as a Work Permit. This permit allows individuals to stay and work in Belize for up to a year, but it is tied to a specific employer. To obtain this permit, applicants must already be residing in Belize and submit their application at a Labour Department Office.

Tourist Visa extensions

If you are planning to stay in Belize for longer than 30 days, you will need to apply for a visa extension. The relevant permit is called the 'Belize Visitor's Permit Extension'. This can be obtained by visiting an Immigration Office in the country.

It is important to note that even if you are exempt from applying for a visa to enter Belize, you will still need to obtain a visa and the relevant extensions if you plan to stay for more than 30 days. This includes citizens of the following countries:

• The United States of America
• Canada
• The Schengen Area

Additionally, holders of valid multiple-entry visas or Permanent Residence Cards from the USA, Canada, or the Schengen Area are exempt from requiring a visa to enter Belize for visits not exceeding 30 days.

For citizens of other countries, it is recommended to check the relevant government websites to understand the specific requirements for visa extensions.

Temporary Employment Permit

To work in Belize, you must apply for a Temporary Employment Permit while residing in the country. The application must be submitted at any Labour Department Office. To submit the application, you must hold a valid passport and a valid Belize visa.

The process involves four steps:

• Submission of Application: If you are employed, your employer must submit the application on your behalf. If you are self-employed, you must submit the application yourself.
• Notification of Application Status: Within 30 days, you will be informed of the status of your application. If approved, you must visit the Labour Department Office to receive an approval letter. If denied, you must still visit the Labour Department Office to receive a letter of denial and present yourself to the Immigration Office to update your legal status.
• Visit the Immigration Office: Bring the approval letter to the Immigration Office to process the permit. You will be informed of the temporary employment permit fees, which must be paid at this office. You will also be instructed to obtain an Income Tax Letter from the Belize Tax Service.
• Issuance of Permit: Present your valid passport, proof of payment, and Income Tax letter to the Immigration Office, as stated in the approval letter. The permit will be issued immediately upon confirmation of payment. After this, visit the Social Security Office to apply for your card.

• Professional Workers (Holders of University Degree)
• Technical Workers
• General Workers/Farmhands (in the banana, sugar, and citrus industries, excluding seasonal agricultural work)
• Seasonal Agricultural Workers
• General Workers (in all other industries not covered above)
• Self-Employed Workers (in industries other than agriculture)
• Self-Employed Workers in the agricultural industry
• Entertainers performing in groups of two or more persons but fewer than six
• Entertainers performing in groups of six or more persons
• Solo entertainers
• Religious, cultural, educational, and voluntary workers
• Import/Export Traders
• Waitresses and Domestics

It is important to note that a tourist visa for Belize allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days from the date of entry. If you plan to stay longer, you must visit an Immigration Office to extend your stay by obtaining a 'Belize Visitor's Permit Extension'.

Visa exemptions

Visitors to Belize may not require a visa if they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries. This includes those holding a valid multiple-entry visa or permanent residence card from the United States, Canada, or a Schengen country. These visitors can stay in Belize for up to 30 days without a visa.

In addition, holders of passports and refugee travel documents from at least 101 countries and territories can enter Belize without a visa. These include:

• All European Union member states
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• All classes of British nationality

The maximum number of days for these visitors can vary from 30 to 90 days or up to 180 days depending on the country of origin.

Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports from the following countries can also enter Belize without a visa for up to 30 days:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Central African Republic
• Commonwealth of Independent States
• Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
• Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
• Holy See (Vatican City State)
• Iran, Islamic Republic Of
• Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of (North)
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Micronesia, Federated States Of
• Moldova, Republic Of
• Netherlands Antilles
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
• Sao Tome and Principe
• South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands
• Sovereign Base Area Dhekelia
• Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Tanzania, United Republic Of
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• United States Virgin Islands

Permanent Residency

• Proof of Residence: Applicants must demonstrate that they have lived in Belize for at least one year, with no more than 14 days spent outside the country during that period. This means that an individual can stay in Belize on a tourist visa, renewing it every 30 days, and become eligible for permanent residency after 50 weeks as long as they do not leave the country for more than two weeks.
• Financial Stability: Applicants must provide proof of financial stability, demonstrating that they can support themselves and will not become a financial burden on the country. This may include bank statements, income statements, or other relevant financial documents.
• Clean Criminal Record: Applicants must not have been convicted of any criminal offense in any country for which they could have been sentenced to one year or more of imprisonment. If there has been a conviction, a free pardon for that offense must be granted.
• Health Requirements: Applicants may be required to undergo medical examinations and provide health certificates as part of the application process.
• Spouse and Child's Documentation: If applicable, applicants must provide documentation for their spouse and children as part of the application process.
• Interview Process: The process includes interviews with the Immigration Department and the Police Department. These interviews are conducted to assess the applicant's eligibility and ensure they meet the requirements for permanent residency.
• Application Fee: The cost of applying for permanent residency varies depending on the applicant's nationality. For example, US citizens pay $4,000, EU citizens pay $3,000, and citizens of the UK and other Commonwealth countries pay $3,000.

It is important to note that the process for obtaining permanent residency in Belize can take a significant amount of time, ranging from six months to two years. During this waiting period, applicants must ensure that they either renew their tourist visa each month or apply for a work permit to remain in the country legally. Additionally, applicants should be prepared to compile and submit extensive documentation to support their application.

Citizenship

Belize offers a path to citizenship for those who have been permanent residents for at least five years. To qualify, during those five years, you cannot have spent more than 30 consecutive days out of the country, nor accumulated more than three months outside of Belize in any given 12-month period.

The process begins with submitting the required documents at any immigration office in Belize. The exact documentation required is not specified, but it is mentioned that compared to the requirements for permanent residency, applying for citizenship has far fewer requirements.

Once you've submitted your documents, you will be scheduled for an interview at Immigration that you must attend, along with any dependents (if applicable) and the two Belizean-born citizens that you listed as references on your application.

Following the interview, your application will be vetted by the Nationality Department. Once the vetting is complete, you will be contacted to return to the Immigration office where you filed your application to pay the $150 citizenship fee. At this time, you will be given the date and location of your swearing-in ceremony, where you will receive your Belize Nationality Certificate.

Belize only requires renunciation of birth-country citizenship for Indian Nationals. This means that citizens of other countries can hold dual citizenship in their birth country and Belize.

Frequently asked questions