Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697644188397.pdf (Belize)
Immigration BELIZE: IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1.

Short title.

2.

Amendment of section 13.

3.

Insertion of section 13A.

4.

Insertion of section 43.

5.

Insertion of Schedule.

No.

20] Immigration 73 No.

20 of 2021 I assent, (H.E.


MS. FROYLA TZALAM) Governor-General 23rd September 2021 AN ACT to amend the Immigration Act, Chapter 156 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011; to provide for the addition of a new category of visitor permit to allow visitors to work remotely from Belize; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(Gazetted 25th September, 2021).


BE IT ENACTED, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives and Senate of Belize and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1.

This Act may be cited as the Short title.

IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021, 74 CAP.

156.

1 of 2014.

13 of 2016.

46 of 2017.

10 of 2018.

18 of 2020.

Amendment of section 13.

Immigration [No.


20 and shall be read and construed as one with the Immigration Act which, as amended, is hereinafter referred to as the principal Act.

2.
The principal Act is amended in section 13 by repealing sub-section (1) and replacing it with the following– “(1) The kinds of permits which may be issued to a person entitling such person to enter and remain temporarily within Belize shall be as follows– (a) a long stay visitor permit; (b) an in transit permit; (c) a dependent’s permit; (d) a temporary employment permit; (e) a student’s permit; (f) a special permit; (g) a visitor’s permit; (h) a temporary residence permit; or (i) temporary border permits and border crossing cards.”.
Insertion of new section 13A.

3.

The principal Act is amended by inserting the following new section immediately after section 13– “Long stay visitor permit.

13A.–(1) A long stay visitor permit may be issued by the Director to any person who– (a) is a citizen or permanent resident of any country specified in the Schedule; No.
20] Immigration 75 (b) is employed outside of Belize; and (c) has a minimum annual income of– (i) USD $75,000, if the person is applying alone; or (ii) USD $100,000, if the person is applying with dependents.

(2) A person issued a long stay visitor permit shall be entitled to enter and remain in Belize along with his dependents for a period not exceeding six months in any calendar year, as stated in the permit.
(3) A person issued a long stay visitor permit or his dependents shall not engage in employment in Belize.

(4) A permit issued by the Director under this section shall not be extended.

(5) The Director may cancel a long stay visitor permit if, the holder of the permit or his dependents– (a) engage in employment in Belize in contravention of sub-section (3); or (b) contravenes any provision of this Act.

76 Immigration [No.
20 (6) Every application for a long stay visitor permit shall be accompanied by the following documents– (a) job letter issued within thirty days of application, if the applicant is employed by another person; (b) proof or registration of business and annual tax return, if the applicant is self- employed; (c) proof of annual income in the amount of at least– (i) USD $75,000.00, if the person is applying alone; or (ii) USD $100,000, if the person is applying with dependents; (d) notarized banking reference and statement of account; (e) police record from country of residence of the applicant, issued within six months of application; (f) certified copy of biodata page of passport of the applicant and every dependent; (g) certified copy of valid visa of the applicant and every dependent, if applicable; and No.
20] Immigration 77 (h) proof of travel insurance with a minimum health coverage of USD $50,000.00.

(7) For the purposes of this section “dependent” means– (a) the spouse of the applicant; (b) an unmarried– (i) child or step-child of the applicant, who is under the age of eighteen years; or (ii) adopted child of the applicant who was adopted in a manner recognised by the law, and is under the age of eighteen years; or (c) any other person certified as a dependant, by order of a court.”.

4.
4.

The principal Act is amended by inserting the following new section immediately after section 42– “Amendment of Schedule.

43.

The Minister may, by Order published in the Gazette, amend the Schedule.”.

5.

The principal Act is amended by inserting the following Schedule– 78 Immigration [No.

20 “SCHEDULE [section 13A (1)(a)] 1.

Canada 2.

The United States of America 3.

The United Kingdom 4.

Any country that is a member state of the European Union”.
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