🇧🇿
Active Visa 2026

Belize Digital Nomad Visa

Work Where You Vacation Program

How to Apply Compare
Aerial view of Caye Caulker island and turquoise Caribbean waters, Belize
Photo: Dronepicr / CC BY 3.0 via Unsplash
Min. Income
$6,250
per month
Stay
6 mo
Not renewable
Foreign Tax
Tax-Free
No foreign income tax
App. Fee
$500
14-28 days
Family
Allowed
Dependents eligible
Apply Online
Yes
No citizenship path
Data verified: 2026-09-15  ·  Reviewed by SHOYA KIHARA  ·  See all All Visas

Overview

Belize's Work Where You Vacation programme is issued as a six-month Long Stay Permit, letting remote workers base themselves in the only English-speaking country in Central America, with the application and fee handled online through the Immigration Department portal. The permit cannot be extended and is open only to citizens or permanent residents of the EU, the UK, the US and Canada. The income bar is USD 75,000 a year (USD 100,000 with dependants), and the reward is a Caribbean coast, Mayan ruins and the world's second-largest barrier reef.
Apply Online
Family Allowed
Renewable
Citizenship Path
53
/ 100
Good

Nomad Score

Our unique composite rating
Visa Accessibility 14/25

Fees, processing, online application

Stay & Flexibility 5/20

Duration, renewability, family

Tax Benefit 15/15

No tax on foreign income

Living Quality 8/25

Safety, healthcare, development

Digital Infrastructure 11/15

Internet, English, tap water

Nomad Score is calculated from visa accessibility, stay flexibility, tax benefits, living quality (UNDP, UNODC, WHO data), and digital infrastructure. Updated 2026-09-15.

Application Process

📋

Prepare Documents

Gather 6 required documents including certified copies of the passport bio-data pages for every applicant, job letter from an employer outside belize dated within the last 30 days (or business registration and tax return if self-employed)

📝

Submit Application

Complete and submit the application online

⏳

Processing

Wait 14-28 days for a decision

✅

Approval

Receive your visa approval (fee: $500)

✈️

Arrive & Register

Arrive in Belize and complete any local registration

How to apply online: annotated screenshots

Numbered markers on official portal screenshots show exactly where to click and what to enter.

Step 1 Check the official Work Where You Vacation requirements
Check the official Work Where You Vacation requirements
  1. Confirm that this is Belize's official tourism page for the remote-work program.
  2. Review the six-month stay, income, insurance, criminal-record and application requirements before using the Immigration Department's online process.

Source: Travel Belize — Work Where You Vacation · Captured: 2026-07

Min. Monthly Income
$6,250 ~75,000 USD
Initial Stay
6 mo Single term only
Application Fee
$500 Excludes insurance & legal fees

Visa Requirements

Financials

  • Income Proof

    Annual income of at least USD 75,000 (USD 100,000 if dependants are included), evidenced by a job letter from an employer outside Belize dated within the last 30 days, or by business registration and a tax return if self-employed.

  • Income Type

    annual (USD 75,000/year applying alone; USD 100,000/year with dependants)

Background & Health

  • Health Insurance
    Required
  • Background Check
    Required
  • Minimum Age 18+ years old

Advantages

  • • No income tax on foreign earnings (territorial system)
  • • English-speaking country (only one in Central America)
  • • Caribbean coastline and world-class barrier reef
  • • Application and fee payment handled online through the Immigration Department portal
  • • Spouse and unmarried children under 18 can be included
  • • Moderate fee: USD 500 per adult and USD 200 per dependant

Disadvantages

  • • High income requirement (USD 75,000/year applying alone)
  • • Even higher with dependants (USD 100,000/year)
  • • Six months only: the permit cannot be extended and is capped at six months per calendar year
  • • Open only to citizens or permanent residents of the EU, UK, US and Canada
  • • Infrastructure and internet limited outside major areas

Tax & Legal

Taxation Profile
Foreign Income Tax-Free

Foreign Income

Belize generally does not tax foreign-sourced income for holders of this visa, making it highly attractive for remote workers.

Special Regime

Territorial tax system — no tax on foreign-sourced income.

Local Income

Income earned from local Belize sources is taxable at standard rates.

Belize operates a territorial tax system, meaning income earned outside the country is not subject to Belizean tax.

Living in Belize

All ratings use a unified A–D scale. A = best for digital nomads in each category.

💰 Affordability
C

Moderate

Numbeo Cost of Living Index: 48/100 (NYC=100, lower=cheaper)

🛡️ Safety
D

Exercise Caution

UNODC Homicide Rate: 25.8/100k population

🏥 Healthcare
D

Limited — Private Insurance Recommended

WHO Universal Health Coverage Index: 52/100

📶 Internet
B

Good for Remote Work

Ookla Speedtest: 50 Mbps median download

🌐 Development
C

Medium Development

UNDP Human Development Index: 0.721

☀️
23° – 30°C

Tropical — hot and humid, rainy season Jun-Nov

🚱
Bottled Water

WHO/UNICEF JMP

🗣️
English Spoken

Widely spoken

🌡️
Köppen

Climate classification

A = Excellent B = Good C = Moderate D = Caution

Sources: UNDP HDR 2025 · UNODC Homicide Data · WHO UHC 2023 · Numbeo · Ookla · WHO/UNICEF JMP. Updated 2026-08.

Common Questions

How much does the Work Where You Vacation Program cost?
The government fee is about $500. Budget beyond that for health insurance, sworn translations, apostilles and, where required, a criminal-record check — these routinely add up to more than the fee itself.
Is the Belize income requirement monthly or annual?
It is set as an annual figure. We show roughly $6250/month for comparison against other programmes, but the official test is applied to your yearly income, so a strong year with uneven months can still qualify.
What happens when the Work Where You Vacation Program runs out?
It cannot be renewed. The initial grant is 6 months and that is the whole of it. Plan the exit at the same time as the arrival — this route suits a defined stay rather than an open-ended move.
Can I bring my family on the Work Where You Vacation Program?
Yes. Dependants are a spouse and unmarried children under 18. Including them raises the income requirement to USD 100,000 a year, and each dependant adds a USD 200 fee on the Immigration portal. Permit holders may not take up employment in Belize. Budget for the higher income threshold that normally comes with each additional person.
Is foreign income taxed in Belize on this visa?
Foreign-sourced income is not taxed locally under this route. Territorial tax system — no tax on foreign-sourced income.. That does not settle your position at home — most countries tax on residence or citizenship, so check both sides before assuming a saving.
Can the Work Where You Vacation Program be applied for online?
Yes, the application is submitted online. You can file from outside the country, so no embassy visit is needed to start. Documents still need to be properly certified before upload — that is where most delays come from.
Is the Work Where You Vacation Program open to every nationality?
No. This is a country-list programme: it is restricted to citizens or permanent residents of a published list of countries: the 27 EU member states, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Check eligibility before anything else.
Which documents cause the most trouble for Belize?
Insurance wording and the criminal-record certificate. The policy has to cover the whole permitted stay in Belize on terms the authority accepts, and the police certificate usually needs an apostille and a certified translation — both take longer to obtain than people plan for.

Where to Live & Work

San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)

Most popular expat destination on Belize's largest island with beach bars, diving, and a laid-back Caribbean vibe.

Avg 15 Mbps

Popular Neighborhoods

San Pedro Town

Sandy streets, beach bars, restaurants, social

1BR Rent $800/mo

Best for: Social nomads wanting island beach life

North Ambergris

Quieter, resorts, more secluded beaches

1BR Rent $700/mo

Best for: Those wanting peace with beach access

Coworking Spaces

The Hive Belize

Coworking space on Ambergris Caye

$200/mo

Local Tips

  • ● Golf carts are the main transportation on the island
  • ● The Great Blue Hole is a short boat ride away
  • ● Internet can be slow — Starlink is becoming popular among expats

Placencia

Peninsula village with beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and a growing expat community on the mainland coast.

Avg 10 Mbps

Popular Neighborhoods

Placencia Village

Small village, beach, restaurants, walkable

1BR Rent $600/mo

Best for: Those wanting a quiet beach village

Coworking Spaces

Local Tips

  • ● Placencia has the narrowest main street in the world (a sidewalk)
  • ● Whale sharks visit between March and June
  • ● More affordable than San Pedro/Ambergris Caye

General Tips for Belize

  • ● Belize Dollar (BZD) is pegged 2:1 to USD — prices are often quoted in both
  • ● The rainy season is June-November, but showers are typically short
  • ● Mayan ruins (Caracol, Xunantunich) are easy day trips from the mainland

Prices are approximate and based on publicly available data as of 2026-04. Actual costs vary by individual circumstances and market conditions.

Advanced Questions

What is the income requirement for Belize's Work Where You Vacation program?
The threshold is set per year: USD 75,000 if you apply alone (about $6,250 a month), rising to USD 100,000 if your spouse or children are on the application. It is one of the higher bars among digital nomad programmes.
Is foreign income taxed in Belize under this program?
No. Remote workers under the Work Where You Vacation program are exempt from Belizean income tax on foreign-sourced earnings.
Can I apply for the Belize digital nomad visa online?
Yes. The Long Stay Permit is applied for and paid for through the Belize Immigration Department's online portal, and you must be a citizen or permanent resident of an EU member state, the UK, the US or Canada. The portal charges USD 500 per adult and USD 200 per dependant; the tourism board's page quotes the same numbers in Belize dollars, so go by the amount shown at checkout.
Does Belize offer a path to permanent residency through this visa?
No. The Long Stay Permit is a temporary six-month permit: it cannot be extended, you cannot hold it for more than six months in any calendar year, and it does not lead to residency or citizenship. Staying longer would mean qualifying under a different immigration route.
Can I bring dependents to Belize on this visa?
Yes. A spouse and unmarried children under 18 can be added. Including them raises the income requirement to USD 100,000 a year, each dependant pays a USD 200 fee, and certified copies of the passport bio-data pages are needed for every applicant.

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