Companies

For a company to open an account, identification is required for all beneficial owners and authorized signatories. Each authorized signatory is required to submit two banker’s references from established institutions. Certified copies of the company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association, and Articles of Association are also required.

 

Social Security

The Social Security website allows you to register as an employer or a company.

 

Employment – Employer
 Employment includes any trade, business, profession, office, or vocation. An “employer” is any person or their representative who employs a person for at least eight hours during a contribution week (Sunday to Saturday).

 

These include:

    1. Any person or entity, whether incorporated or not.
    2. Any managing agent of an employer;
    3. The personal representative of a deceased employer;
    4. For a person engaged in (work) plying for hire with a vehicle or vessel obtained from the owner under a contract of bailment (other than a hire-purchase agreement), the owner is considered the employer. This applies regardless of whether the vehicle or vessel is owned outright or under a hire-purchase agreement.
    5. “For a person employed for any game or recreation and engaged or paid through a club, the manager is considered the employer. If the club is managed by a committee, the committee members are considered the employer.”

 

The Social Security Act requires every person who employs one or more persons to register as an employer.

    1. The application for registration must be made within seven days of hiring the first employee.
    2. The application is to be filled out in reference to one establishment at a specified address. If in one establishment, there is more than one economic activity under a single management, that activity in which the largest number of persons are employed is to be given as the “nature of the business” and indicated on the form.

 

Every registered employer receives a registration number for each specified establishment. This number must be used on all correspondence with the Social Security Board.  A business establishment has only one registration number.  While an employer receives only one Employer Number, they may be assigned multiple Business Numbers if operating several businesses.

 

Within fourteen days of registration, a registered employer must submit a list of all employees to the Social Security Board.  Individuals working under a contract of service are eligible for Social Security coverage. A contract of service is an agreement between an employer and a worker where the worker performs work under the employer’s authority and direction, even without direct supervision, in exchange for payment (cash or in kind) based on hours worked or piece/task rate.

 

Employers are required to employ only persons possessing valid registration cards.

Contribution – A contribution is the Social Security payment due for one week’s earnings. The Social Security contribution week runs from Monday to Sunday.

 

Documents can be downloaded on the website https://www.socialsecurity.org.bz/employer/

 

Immigration

 

Travel to Belize

​Travelers must have a valid passport and an onward plane ticket to receive a 30-day visitor’s visa.  Visa extensions, for a fee, are available at any district Immigration Office before the initial visa expires.  Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa: American Samoa, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Commonwealth (except India), British Territories, Canada, CARICOM member states, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Iceland, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, the U.S.A., and European Union member states.  For visa requirements for other countries, please contact the nearest Belize Embassy, Mission, or Consulate.

 

In countries without a Belize Embassy or Consulate, visas can be obtained through the nearest British Embassy or High Commission.

 

Since visa requirements are subject to change, please contact the Belize Embassy or Consulate in your area.


Permanent Residence
Individuals may apply for permanent residence after residing legally in Belize for at least one year. During this period, absences from the country must not exceed fourteen days. Applicants must demonstrate to the Immigration Office that they have been and will continue to be financially stable. Applicants must not have been convicted in any country by a competent court of a criminal offense punishable by twelve months or more of imprisonment unless they have received a free pardon for that offense.

 

For more information on the process for permanent residency and associated fees, please visit the Immigration Website.

Nationality/Citizenship
To acquire citizenship, applicants must be permanent residents and have resided in Belize for at least five years, in accordance with the Belize Nationality Act, Chapter 161. Absences from the country must not have exceeded thirty (30) consecutive days during this period. The Act also provides for the registration of minor children with their parent’s application.

 

Those of Belizean descent must complete the application form.  Applicants with a Belizean spouse may also apply.

Applications for Permanent Residence or Citizenship can be downloaded on the Immigration Website.

 

For more information:  https://immigration.gov.bz/

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