Belize Entry Requirements, Visas & Travel Info

To enter Belize, all arriving visitors must have a valid passport that won’t expire for at least 90 days. Cruise ship passengers are exempt from these requirements. Children under 18 years of age, must have proper documentation, including a valid passport. Children traveling with one parent only, or a guardian, require a notarized letter of authority from the other parent(s) indicating their travel consent. If you are an American Citizen or U.S. Green Card holder, Canadian Citizen, EU or CARICOM passport holder, you can enter Belize for up to 30 days without any visa.

For a complete list of countries that need visas to enter Belize and those that are exempt, please visit The Belize Department of Immigration and Nationalization services at: https://immigration.gov.bz/

Do I need a visa to visit Belize?

US, Canadian and UK citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 30 days. Some nationalities do need one, so check the Belize Immigration Department’s list if you hold another passport.

Passport requirements

US citizens need a passport book valid for the length of their stay, with at least one blank page. A passport card is not accepted.
We recommend six months of validity anyway. Some airlines apply stricter rules than Belize does.
Other nationalities: check your own government’s guidance, as validity rules vary.

What to have ready on arrival

Proof of a return or onward ticket (flight, bus or cruise).
Proof you can cover your stay, such as a credit card or bank statement.
A completed immigration and customs form. Fill in the paper form on arrival, or submit it online in advance on the Belize Immigration website.

Staying longer than 30 days

Visitors can extend their stay at any Belize immigration office for US$100 per month, up to six months. Minors pay too. Beyond six months you’ll likely need extra paperwork. If you’re thinking about living here, see our guide to the Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) program.

Traveling with children

Bring a copy of each child’s birth certificate. If a child travels without both parents, immigration can ask for notarized consent from the parent who isn’t traveling.

Arriving by cruise ship or private boat

Cruise passengers on round-trip sailings from a US port can usually use a birth certificate plus photo ID instead of a passport. Private boats must notify the Belize Port Authority at least 48 hours before arrival.

Fees and taxes

There is no entry fee.
The air departure tax is usually included in your airline ticket. Check your fare breakdown.
Leaving by land or water to Mexico or Guatemala, you pay the departure fee at the border.

Health and safety

No vaccinations are required for US travelers. Ask your doctor about routine travel vaccines.
Buy travel insurance with medical evacuation cover. Serious cases are often transferred abroad.
Drink bottled or filtered water. Tap water isn’t safe everywhere.
Hurricane season runs June to November. Read our guide to traveling in hurricane season.
Check your government’s travel advisory before you go, and enroll in its traveler alert program.

Good to know before you pack

Recreational drones can’t be brought into Belize.
A US driver’s license is valid for three months after you arrive.
Belize dollars are fixed at BZ$2 to US$1, and US dollars are widely accepted.

What happened to our COVID-19 travel updates?

Between 2020 and 2022 we published hundreds of updates on testing, curfews, reopening phases and vaccine rules. All of those rules have ended, so we’ve retired those articles and pointed them here. If you followed a link to an old update, this page has the current information.