5/27/2017 HowToBecomeACitizenOfBelize

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ResidencyAnd
CitizenshipInBelize
TherequirementsandbenefitsforBelizePermanentResidentstatusare
similartothoseoftheQualifiedRetiredPersonsIncentiveAct.Theapplication
processandsupportingdocumentsneededarevirtuallythesameasfor
retirementresidency.Buttherearesomekeydifferences.

PermanentResident

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AsaregularBelizepermanentresident,youdonothavetodepositany
particularsumofmoneyinabankinBelize.AndunliketheQRPprogram,you
donotneedtocontinuemakingcashdepositseverymonthintoyourbank
account.However,youdohavetoshowfinancialresourcessufficienttoobtain
residencystatus.YoucanworkforpayinBelize.

Youmustlivehereforonefullyearbeforeyoucanapplyforregularpermanent
residency.Duringthisperiod,youcannotleavethecountryformorethan14
consecutivedays.

Itismoreexpensivetoapplyforregularpermanentresidencythanforretired
permanentresidency.Applicationfeesvaryaccordingtoyourcountryoforigin,
rangingfromUS$125.(citizensofMexicoandGuatemala)toUS$2,000.for
ChineseNationals(PRC).CitizensoftheU.S.payUS$1,000,andmostBritish
CommonwealthcountryresidentsalsopayUS$1,000.CARICOMcitizenspay
US$250.

Onceresidencyisgranted,youpayafeeofUS$62.50foraresidencycard.
YouapplytotheBelizeImmigrationandNationalityDepartmentratherthan
throughtheBelizeTourismBoard.Forinformationandapplicationform,
contact:ImmigrationandNationalityDepartmentBelmopan,BelizeTel.:501
2224620Fax:5012224056

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BelizeCitizenship
TheBelizePassportnowcarriesthe
logoCCforCaribbeanCommunity.
reasonabletimeresults.
Citizenship(naturalizedBelizean)is
availableforthosepermanentresidents
livinginBelizeforfiveyears.Toacquire
citizenship,applicantsmusthavebeena
residentorhavepermanentresidency
statusforaminimumoffiveyears.After
fiveyearspermanentcitizenssubmitan
applicationforcitizenshipandthisis
usuallyprocessedwithin6months.Note
thatthisprocesscantakeuptoayear,or
more.Ensuringthatalldocumentsarein
orderbeforemakingyourapplication,and
regularcheckstotheimmigration
departmentinBelmopanwillmakefor

Therearetwootheroptionstoobtaincitizenshipwhichwewilldiscussbriefly.
Thefirstiscitizenshipbymarriage.AforeignerwhomarriesaBelizeancan
applyforcitizenshipandthisisusuallygrantedwithinoneyear.Thisofcourse
meansarealcommitmenttoyournewcountryofnationality.Oncecitizenship
isgrantedyouarefreetocomeandgoasyouwishorevenrelocated
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permanentlytoanycountryyouwishtolivein.Aforeignerwhomarriesa
Belizean,automaticallygainsresidencystatus:

BELIZENATIONALITYACT,CHAPTER161,REVISEDEDITION2000

PartIV,section10

Forthepurposeoftheresidencyrequirementspecifiedinsubsection(3)(b)
above,ifanyapplicantmarriesaBelizeancitizen,suchapplicantshallbe
deemedtohavebeenlegallyresidentinBelizefromthedateofsuchmarriage,

Citizenshipviabirthordescentareotheroptions.

IfyouachieveBelizenationality,anychildunderage18thatyouhaveis
entitledtobecomeaBelizean,nomatterwhereheorshewasorisborn.As
parentyouneedtosubmitanapplicationforcitizenshipviadescenttothe
immigrationdepartmentandthereafteryourchildrenwillbeissuedwitha
certificateofnationalitywhichyouthensubmittoapplyforpassports.

AnyindividualborninBelize,notwithstandingthemigratorystatusofthe
parents,isautomaticallyaBelizean.

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BELIZEBELIZEANNATIONALITYACT,CHAPTER161,REVISEDEDITION
2000,PartIII

5.(1)SubjecttotheotherprovisionsofthisPart,apersonborninBelizeonor
aftertheappointeddateshallhavethestatusofacitizenofBelize.

(2)SubjecttotheotherprovisionsofthisPart,apersonbornoutsideBelizeon
oraftertheappointeddateshallhavethestatusofacitizenofBelizeby
descentifatthetimeofhisbirthhisfatherormotherisacitizenofBelize.

MarriageBasedPermanentResidencyandCitizenship
BothBelizecitizensandLegalPermanentResidentscanfileimmigrant
petitionsfortheirforeignbornspouses.Thereisnowaitingperiodtofile.
However,thepetitionerhastheburdentoprovethatthemarriageisbonafide,
meaningitwasnotenteredintosolelyforimmigrationbenefits.

Becausemarriageistheonlyoptionforcertainforeignnationalstoobtainlegal
status,thesepetitionsareinvestigatedformarriagefraud.Thepenaltyfor
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marriagefraudcanbeprison,fine,deportation,andalifetimebanfrom
obtaininglegalstatus.Investigationforfraudisperformedwhenyouinitially
apply,whenyoufiletoremovethecondition,andalsowhenyoufilefor
naturalization.Additionally,fraudisinvestigatedwhenyou,oryourspouse,
petitionforyourforeignchildren.

Youhavetherighttoberepresentedbyanattorneyintheimmigrationprocess
anditisvitalthatyouandyourspouseretainanexperiencedimmigration
attorney.Competentlegalrepresentationwillleadtopositiveresults.Legal
note:noattorneycanknowinglyassistanyoneinfraud,butnothingyousayto
yourattorneycaneverberevealedtoanyone.

RecognitionofcitizenshipviadescentisdoneviaanApplicationFor
Registration.FormsareavailablefromanyBelizeembassyorconsulate,but
mustbepresentedinpersonattheImmigrationandNationalityDepartmentin
theCityOfBelmopan,Belize.

WhereapersonisborninBelize,acertificatecardoflivebirthisissuedbythe
medicaldoctor,hospital,clinicormidwife.Thiscertificateisthentaken(usually
aboutamonthortwoafterbirth)totheBirthRegistrylocatedinallcitiesand
townsinBelize.TheseRegistriesnormallyconsistofaseniorpublicofficerthat
visitsapopulationcenterandholdsofficeinajudicialcourtormunicipal
buildingonafixedschedule,oftentwiceaweek,sometimesonceaweek.
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WithintwoweekstoamonthyoucanpickupaCertificateOfBirth.The
parentsthentakethisdocumenttotheCentralRegistryinBelizeCitythey
applyforaBirthCertificate.Thiscanbeatediousexperienceduetoasmall
staffattendingwhatmaybeahoardofmomsanddads.Werecommend
applyingforatleastfourcertifiedcopiesatthistime.Youwillnotregretthisin
thefuturewhenyouneedacopyofyourchildsbirthcertificateandaremiles
awayfromtheCentralRegistry.TheBirthCertificateisissuedwithintwoweeks
butyoucanpayanexpressfeetoobtainitwithinthreedays.TheBirth
CertificateisthenusedtoapplyforaBelizePassportnocertificateof
nationalityisissuedthebirthcertificateisthedefiningdocumentinthiscase.

BelizePassportsnowcarrythelogooftheCaribbeanCommunity.Asa
memberofCARICOM,passportholdersofBelizedonotneedavisatotravel
tothe15Caribbeannationsanddependencies.Thesamevisafreetravel
advantagesappliestotheU.K.,MexicoandmostcountriesinCentraland
SouthAmerica.

Belize.comLtd.ArticlebyM.A.RomeroformerChiefInformationOfficerto
theGovernmentofBelize.

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