Customs And Duties: Goods Entry To Belize

If you're bringing goods into Belize, there are a few things you need to know. An import permit, commercial invoice, bill of lading/air waybill, and a packing list are all required. If you're bringing in household goods or personal effects, these can be imported duty-free as long as they've been in use for at least a year and arrive within six months of your arrival. There are restrictions on certain items, including meat and meat products, and a permit is needed for drones. It's also important to declare any cash over $10,000 BZ or equivalent, and any arms or ammunition.

Required documents

If you are importing goods into Belize, you will need several documents. An import permit, commercial invoice, bill of lading/air waybill, and a packing list are all required. If applicable, you may also need health and sanitary certificates, a fumigation certificate, and a certificate of origin.

When shipping goods to Belize, you must be present for customs clearance. It is important to note that certain goods are restricted for import into Belize based on a licensing and permit regime. These include peanut butter, jam, jellies, pasta, wheat flour, rice, peppers and pepper sauces, beer, alcohol, spirits, carbonated beverages, cigarettes, products made of wood, pharmaceutical medicines, pesticides, telecommunication equipment, certain gases and chemicals deemed harmful to the environment, and fuel. Additionally, goods containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are prohibited.

If you are bringing in household goods and personal effects, these can be imported duty-free as long as they have been in use for at least one year and arrive within six months of the owner's arrival.

When entering Belize, you must present the proper documentation to customs officers, who will inspect luggage and collect any necessary taxes or import duties. If you are bringing in items that exceed the duty-free limit, you will need to declare them and provide a proper invoice.

Restricted and prohibited goods

If you are entering Belize, you will need to declare certain restricted and prohibited goods. These include:

• Firearms and ammunition. Belize has strict gun control laws, and a mandatory 2-year prison sentence for each bullet found in your possession without the right permit.
• Drugs, including marijuana, which is illegal to bring into the country.
• Drones, which require a special permit from the Civil Aviation Department.
• Cash or currency over $10,000 BZ, or the equivalent in foreign currency. This must be declared on a customs form.
• Meat and meat products, which are restricted from entry.
• Processed food items, such as peanut butter, jam, jellies, pasta, wheat flour, rice, peppers and pepper sauces, beer, spirits, carbonated beverages, and products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
• Live animals, which require prior permission from the Belize Agricultural and Health Authority (BAHA).
• Hazardous materials.
• Counterfeit money and goods.
• Pornographic material.

Other items that are restricted or prohibited include certain types of medication, ham, turkey, plant and plant products, milk and poultry products, knives and deadly weapons, and wooden furniture.

Duty-free allowances

Belize allows visitors to bring in duty-free items such as personal effects, wearing apparel, jewellery, binoculars, cameras, and laptops. Each person is also allowed to import a limited quantity of tobacco products, alcohol, perfume, and food. Here is a detailed breakdown of the duty-free allowances for travellers entering Belize:

Tobacco and Alcohol

Travellers from non-European Union countries can bring the following items duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes
• 100 cigarillos
• 250 grams of tobacco
• 50 cigars
• 1 litre of spirits with alcohol content over 22%
• 2 litres of dessert wine with alcohol content no more than 22%
• 2 litres of wine

Perfume and Eau de Toilette

In addition to the above, travellers can bring in limited quantities of perfume and eau de toilette:

• 60cc of perfume
• 250ml of eau de toilette

Food and Other Items

Belize also allows travellers to bring in certain types of food and other items duty-free:

• Basis foodstuffs such as bread, rice, flour, condensed milk, and fresh meat
• Medicine and medical supplies for personal use
• Animal feeding material
• Travellers can import and export up to 100 BZD per person in local currency, and an unlimited amount of foreign cash if it is declared upon arrival.

It is important to note that there are restrictions on importing certain types of food, such as meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Importing animals

If you are planning to import animals to Belize, there are several requirements and procedures that must be followed. Here is some information to guide you through the process:

Firstly, it is important to note that an import permit is required for bringing live animals into Belize. This permit must specify the authorised port of entry, as live animals will only be inspected at the designated entry point mentioned on the permit. The Director of Animal Health must be notified at least two days in advance of the arrival date and time of the live animals, and veterinary inspections will only be conducted during daylight hours (9 am to 4 pm).

Before issuing an import permit, a risk analysis may be conducted, which may include an inspection of the farm and area of origin by a BAHA veterinary officer. If the animals will be in transit through an area that is not free of a prescribed disease, a BAHA veterinary officer may need to accompany them. Additionally, the veterinary officer in the district where the animals will be quarantined must certify that the quarantine station meets the minimum standards, and they must also discuss quarantine arrangements and costs with the importer.

Upon arrival, the animals will be inspected by a Veterinary Officer from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. If entry is denied, the animals will be returned to their origin at the importer's expense. Any costs incurred during the processing of live animals for entry, including veterinary inspections, transportation, and disinfection, will be borne by the importer.

All animals allowed entry will be subject to a mandatory quarantine period of at least thirty days. During this time, the animals may be retested, and they must test negative for any diseases before being released from quarantine. The importer is responsible for all costs associated with the quarantine, including supervision, health measures, and testing.

It is important to note that no fodder, bedding, or livestock gear accompanying the animals will be permitted entry. Any gear will be disinfected at the importer's expense.

For specific guidelines regarding the importation of dogs and cats, it is recommended to refer to the Belize Agricultural Health Authority's guidelines. Additionally, for information on exporting live animals from the United States to Belize, the APHIS website provides detailed requirements and protocols for various species.

Importing food

If you are importing food into Belize, you will need to comply with the country's customs regulations. An import permit, commercial invoice, bill of lading/air waybill, and a packing list are required. Other items that may be required include health and sanitary certificates, a fumigation certificate, and a certificate of origin.

Importers must submit original commercial invoices to the Customs and Excise Department at the point of importation. Customs duties and taxes are collected based on the transaction value, which is derived from the value stated on the invoice (once authenticated), receipt, or other proof of purchase.

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is responsible for issuing sanitary and phyto-sanitary certificates for exports. Import permits from BAHA are required for certain foodstuffs, live animals, plant and plant materials, and veterinary vaccines. BAHA also requires health certificates, health-risk analysis documentation, and certificates of origin for animals and certain plant materials.

It is important to note that certain food items are restricted from entry into Belize, including meat and meat products, processed food items, and live animals. Additionally, there may be quantity restrictions on certain products, such as peanut butter, jam, jellies, pasta, wheat flour, rice, peppers and pepper sauces, beer, alcohol, and spirits.

Frequently asked questions