Belize
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Warnings and insurance
Before you travel听
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:听
- 蝉别别听general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- 蝉别别听general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about听safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance听
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.听
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.听
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Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥 passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of Belize鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Belize set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the .听
Passport validity requirements听
To enter Belize, your passport must have an 鈥榚xpiry date鈥 more than 3 months after the date you arrive. Some airlines may refuse boarding if the expiry date is not more than 6 months after the date you arrive. 听
Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.听听
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.听
Immigration and customs declaration form
All travellers transiting Belize through the Philip Goldson International Airport are required to complete an immigration and customs declaration form. Whilst paper declarations will still be accepted during the phased transition to a fully digital system, the Belizean authorities recommend completing the prior to travel.
Visa requirements听
You can visit Belize without a visa for 30 days.
If you want to extend your stay, it will cost 200 Belize dollars for each additional 30 days. You should go to the nearest office of the and request a new stamp.听听
Departure tax听
If you leave Belize by land, or by water crossing to Guatemala or Mexico, you must pay a departure tax of 40 Belize dollars or 20 US dollars at the border. If leaving by air, the tax is usually included in the airfare.听听
Travelling with children听
Children aged 17 and under who are travelling on their own, or with an adult who is not their parent, must carry a notarised letter to prove parental responsibility, or consent to travel from the parent or guardian. Children travelling with one parent must also have a notarised letter of authority from the other parent giving consent for travel.听听
Vaccine requirements听听
For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .听听
Customs rules听
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Belize. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Items that need to be declared will be listed on the customs declaration form. Contact the for more information.听听
Safety and security
罢别谤谤辞谤颈蝉尘听听
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.鈥
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.听
Terrorism in Belize听
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Belize, attacks cannot be ruled out.听听
Political situation听听
Political demonstrations take place in Belize City and Belmopan, but most are peaceful. Follow the instructions of local authorities, monitor local media and avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.听
颁谤颈尘别听
Investigations can take several weeks, police capacity is limited and most crimes remain unsolved and unprosecuted.听
Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. Other violent crime, including armed robbery, shootings, domestic abuse and sexual assault are听also a concern.
Serious gang-related violence occurs most frequently in Belize City, particularly in the area to the south of the Haulover Creek (known as Southside). Tourists are not normally the targets of gang violence, but anyone near an incident could be affected. You should:
- follow the advice of your hotel and local authorities听听
- be watchful of your surroundings听
Armed criminals have been active in the remote forested areas of Belize, particularly the border area with Guatemala and close to tourist sites there. However, the area is patrolled by the Belize Defence Force and there have been no reported incidents involving tourists.
Tourists, in general, are vulnerable to theft of cash, credit cards, phones and other personal belongings, including in tourist destinations such as San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio. You should:听
- avoid dark alleys
- use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
- keep valuables out of sight
- be aware that wearing expensive jewellery could attract attention
- use a qualified guide for trips off the beaten track
- only use accommodation and campgrounds that appear genuine and established
Laws and cultural differences听听
Illegal drugs and prison sentences听
Possession of illegal drugs can lead to a fine and prison sentence.听听
LGBT+ travellers听
Same-sex activity between consenting adults is legal.听The Immigration Act prohibits 鈥渉omosexual鈥 persons from entering the country but immigration authorities have not enforced that law.听Tourist-friendly areas, including San Pedro and Ambergris Caye, are relatively open and welcoming to the LGBT+ community. Outside of these areas, LGBT+ couples, especially men, tend to be reluctant to display affection in public because of incidents of verbal or physical abuse which have been reported.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.听
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism听听
Find more information on local travel from the .听
Swimming safety听
There have been injuries and fatalities from adventure sports activities, including snorkelling and diving. The main causes have been inadequate safety precautions and severe weather conditions. Check local weather forecasts and only use registered and licensed operators.
See from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Transport risks听听
Road travel听听
If you are planning to drive in Belize, see information on driving abroad.听听听
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Belize for up to 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence. For longer stays, you must get a Belize driving permit from the in your district.
Driving conditions may be hazardous, especially during the rainy season, due to:
- roads with potholes, unpaved dirt shoulders and few lane markings
- narrow or unpaved roads
- roads often unlit
- lack of emergency road assistance
- flooded temporary bridges and causeways during severe weather in southern parts of the country, particularly in Stann Creek and Toledo.
Driving standards听
Road traffic accidents are common. Local driving and vehicle maintenance standards are poor. Public buses are not well maintained and many do not have seatbelts. Take care when driving, particularly during rainy conditions or at night. Be aware of the risks, including high levels of drink-driving, speeding, reckless driving and other vehicles, including bicycles, not having working lights.
罢补虫颈蝉听听
Only take registered taxis with green licence plates. Always ask the fare before getting in, and expect to pay in cash. 听
Extreme weather and natural disasters听
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
贬耻谤谤颈肠补苍别蝉听听
The hurricane season is from 1 June to 30 November. Monitor local and international weather updates from the and the . You should also follow advice from the .听
贵濒辞辞诲颈苍驳听
Heavy rainfall can cause flooding. Follow the weather forecasts from the National Hydrological Service and the .听听
Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Sara is affecting western parts of Belize. You should follow the advice of the local authorities.
贰补谤迟丑辩耻补办别蝉听
Belize is not directly affected by earthquakes, but tremors from earthquakes in neighbouring countries can occasionally be felt in Belize. There can occasionally be tsunami warnings.听听听
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about .听听听
Health
Before you travel check that:听
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need听
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation听
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.听
Emergency medical number听
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance.听
Contact your insurance company quickly if you鈥檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.听
Vaccine recommendations and health risks听
At least 8 weeks before your trip:听
- check the latest
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 听
See , including:
- Zika virus
- chikungunya virus
- dengue听
- malaria
Medication听
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.听
Read .听
Healthcare in Belize听听
Medical facilities in Belize are limited and availability of prescription medicine is unreliable. Serious medical cases are normally evacuated to the US, at the patient鈥檚 expense.听听
FCDO has a list of medical facilities in Belize where some staff will speak English.听
There is also guidance on healthcare if you鈥檙e living in Belize.听听
Travel and mental health听
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also .听
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.听
Emergency services in Belize听
Telephone: 911 or 90 (ambulance, fire, police)听
Contact your travel provider and insurer听
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.听
Refunds and changes to travel听
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.听
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:听
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider听
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim听
Support from FCDO听
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:听
- finding and in Belize听听
- dealing with a death in Belize听听
- being arrested or imprisoned in Belize听
- getting help if you鈥檙e a victim of crime听听
- what to do if you鈥檙e in hospital听听
- if you鈥檙e affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack听
Contacting听FCDO听
Help abroad鈥
See听听including in an emergency.听
Help in the UK听听
You can call鈥FCDO鈥痠n London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.鈥
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)鈥
Get travel advice updates鈥
Sign up to鈥get email notifications鈥痺hen this travel advice is updated.鈥
Follow FCDO:鈥