Belize
Belize CARICOM free movement
First stay: 6 mo
CARICOM skilled nationals free movement (CSME Skills Certificate)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
CARICOM free movement is a long-stay route for Belize. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 6 mo
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only for passports from 11 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The person is a national of one of the 12 participating CSME states.
- Approved categories include graduates of recognised universities, artists, musicians, media workers, sports personnel, teachers and nurses.
- Artisans with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification and holders of associate degrees or comparable qualifications also qualify.
- Applicants hold an associate, bachelor, master or doctoral degree, or are certified by their home competent authority as a sports person, musician, artist or media worker.
What you must show2
- Fees are BZ$225 for a new certificate, BZ$50 per dependent under 18 and BZ$100 per dependent over 18.
- Verifying a certificate for indefinite stay costs BZ$25 (non-refundable).
Documents2
- Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, three passport photographs and the degree or certificate; foreign-language documents need a notarised translation.
- A police record from the home country and any country of residence for 6 months or more is required for indefinite stay.
Steps4
- Hold a Skilled National Certificate and present it to Belize immigration with a valid passport and a police certificate of character.
- Certificate holders are given a minimum of six months in Belize while their status and documents are verified.
- Submit documents only at the Immigration Office in Belmopan; a new certificate takes about 8 weeks.
- Apply for indefinite stay with the form, the original and a copy of the CSME certificate, three photographs and the BZ$25 fee (1 to 2 weeks).
After you arrive1
- The certificate is valid for an indefinite period and the holder can access land for residential or business use.
When you become tax resident
How Belize decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
6 months at first
- Tax residence
The Act taxes by source (Belize) rather than residence; section 20 sets tax on the chargeable income of employed persons at 25%.
- Foreign-source income
The Income and Business Tax Act charges tax on chargeable income accruing in or derived from Belize, whether received in Belize or not, so foreign-source income is outside the charge.
All tax rules for Belize Tax records checked
Full official text
Nationals of 11 other CSME states in an approved skills category (such as university graduates) can live and work in Belize without a work permit with a CARICOM Skills Certificate, which gives at least six months to verify status and then indefinite stay. 1 2
Requirements
- The person is a national of one of the 12 participating CSME states. 1 2 3
- Approved categories include graduates of recognised universities, artists, musicians, media workers, sports personnel, teachers and nurses. 1
- Artisans with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification and holders of associate degrees or comparable qualifications also qualify. 1
- Applicants hold an associate, bachelor, master or doctoral degree, or are certified by their home competent authority as a sports person, musician, artist or media worker. 1
- Fees are BZ$225 for a new certificate, BZ$50 per dependent under 18 and BZ$100 per dependent over 18. 1
- Verifying a certificate for indefinite stay costs BZ$25 (non-refundable). 1
- Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, three passport photographs and the degree or certificate; foreign-language documents need a notarised translation. 1
- A police record from the home country and any country of residence for 6 months or more is required for indefinite stay. 1
- Hold a Skilled National Certificate and present it to Belize immigration with a valid passport and a police certificate of character. 1
- Certificate holders are given a minimum of six months in Belize while their status and documents are verified. 1
- Submit documents only at the Immigration Office in Belmopan; a new certificate takes about 8 weeks. 1
- Apply for indefinite stay with the form, the original and a copy of the CSME certificate, three photographs and the BZ$25 fee (1 to 2 weeks). 1
- The certificate is valid for an indefinite period and the holder can access land for residential or business use. 1
Stay
- At least 6 months on entry while the certificate is verified; then indefinite stay.
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
- On entry up to 6 months: Minimum stay while status and documents are verified.
- After verification: Indefinite stay granted on the indefinite stay application.
Nationality
Nationals of the CSME free movement states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Work
Holders are exempt from work permit requirements and employers can employ skilled nationals without special approval.
Family
Spouse and dependent relatives can move with the holder; marriage and birth certificates, proof of relationship and a police certificate are needed.
Official sources
- CSME Skilled Certificate · Immigration and Nationality Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Belize · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME - CARICOM Single Market and Economy · Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME Certificate Portal · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
CARICOM free movement and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARICOM free movement | – | 6 mo | Yes |
| CARICOM free movement | – | – | Yes |
| Visa-free stay Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| Andean free movement Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Brazil | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the CARICOM free movement?
At least 6 months on entry while the certificate is verified; then indefinite stay.
Can I work on the CARICOM free movement?
Yes. Holders are exempt from work permit requirements and employers can employ skilled nationals without special approval.
Can I bring my family on the CARICOM free movement?
Spouse and dependent relatives can move with the holder; marriage and birth certificates, proof of relationship and a police certificate are needed.
Who can apply for the CARICOM free movement?
Nationals of the CSME free movement states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- CSME Skilled Certificate · Immigration and Nationality Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Belize · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME - CARICOM Single Market and Economy · Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago · checked 2026-10-10
- CSME Certificate Portal · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.