Belize · Retire or live on savings
Belize QRP retiree programme
Income needed: $2,000+ a month
Qualified Retired Person (QRP) programme
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
QRP retiree programme is a retire or live on savings route for Belize. Applicants need income of $2,000+ a month. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- $2,000+ a month
Cost, time and long term
Shown, not spent$2,000+/mo · $2,000+/mo
- $2,000 a monthUndertaking to deposit in a licensed Belize financial institution by the 15th of each month; alternatively US$24,000 by 1 April each year.
- $2,000 a monthPension or annuity from a source outside Belize.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
Qualified Retired Persons are treated as non-residents for the purposes of the Immigration Act, so QRP status does not build up residence time.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Qualified Retired Persons are treated as non-residents for the purposes of the Belizean Nationality Act, so QRP status does not build up residence time for citizenship.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Work rights are limited
- Only from age 45
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is at least 45.
- The applicant is the beneficial owner of a pension or annuity from outside Belize.
- The Minister responsible for tourism may add requirements by regulation.
What you must show1
- The applicant gives a deposit undertaking.
When you become tax resident
How Belize decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- 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
Retirees: foreign-source exempt
A designated Qualified Retired Person is exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize, for work or investment made outside Belize, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize.
- Regime tied to this route
QRP exemption for foreign-source income · Tax relief
Qualified Retired Persons are exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize for work or investment abroad, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize.
All tax rules for Belize Tax records checked
Full official text
Persons aged 45 or over with a pension or annuity of at least US$2,000 a month from outside Belize may enter and remain in Belize with dependants and receive import-duty and tax exemptions. 1
What you must show
- Savings of at least $2,000 a month · Undertaking to deposit in a licensed Belize financial institution by the 15th of each month; alternatively US$24,000 by 1 April each year. 1
- Income of at least $2,000 a month · Pension or annuity from a source outside Belize. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is at least 45. 1
- The applicant is the beneficial owner of a pension or annuity from outside Belize. 1
- The Minister responsible for tourism may add requirements by regulation. 1
- The applicant gives a deposit undertaking. 1
Stay
- May enter and remain from time to time for as long as the person stays a Qualified Retired Person.
Work
No gainful employment in Belize, except carrying on a business from within Belize that relates to activities mainly outside Belize and is conducted exclusively with non-residents.
Family
Dependants are the spouse and children under 18.
Official sources
- Retired Persons (Incentives) Act, Cap. 62, Revised Edition 2011 (published by Belize Tourism Board) · Government of Belize / Belize Tourism Board · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2011
QRP retiree programme and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRP retiree programme | Needs income of $2,000+ a month | – | Limited |
| Retiree permanent residence Mexico | Needs income of MXN 134k+ a month ≈ $7,310 | – | Yes |
| Pensioner visa M Colombia | Needs income of COP 5.3M+ a month ≈ $1,640 | 3 yr | Yes |
| Pensionado residence Costa Rica | Needs income of $1,000+ a month | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Pensioner residence Argentina | Needs income of ARS 2M+ a month ≈ $1,290 | 3 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the QRP retiree programme?
Savings of at least $2,000 a month. Undertaking to deposit in a licensed Belize financial institution by the 15th of each month; alternatively US$24,000 by 1 April each year. Income of at least $2,000 a month. Pension or annuity from a source outside Belize.
How long can I stay on the QRP retiree programme?
May enter and remain from time to time for as long as the person stays a Qualified Retired Person.
Can I work on the QRP retiree programme?
Limited. No gainful employment in Belize, except carrying on a business from within Belize that relates to activities mainly outside Belize and is conducted exclusively with non-residents.
Can I bring my family on the QRP retiree programme?
Dependants are the spouse and children under 18.
Does the QRP retiree programme lead to permanent residence in Belize?
Time on the QRP retiree programme doesn't count toward permanent residence in Belize. Time on the QRP retiree programme doesn't count toward citizenship.
Is there a tax break for QRP retiree programme holders in Belize?
QRP exemption for foreign-source income: Qualified Retired Persons are exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize for work or investment abroad, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
QRP exemption for foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Foreign-source income and receipts
Qualified Retired Persons are exempt from all taxes and levies on income or receipts from a source outside Belize or from a person resident outside Belize for work or investment abroad, earned or passive, whether or not remitted to Belize.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income and receipts
Who it applies to
- Designated Qualified Retired Person aged 45 or over meeting the pension and deposit conditions.
Exclusions
- Exemption is lost if qualifying conditions or the deposit undertaking lapse.
Tax residence
Qualified Retired Persons are deemed non-residents for the Offshore Banking Act and exchange control purposes.
Visas
Tied to QRP designation; import duty exemption for personal effects and transport within one year of first entering Belize.
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
More in Belize
Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 1 official source. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
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.
- Retired Persons (Incentives) Act, Cap. 62, Revised Edition 2011 (published by Belize Tourism Board) · Government of Belize / Belize Tourism Board · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. 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.