Retire to Belize and Escape Taxation

Summary: With the inception of the Retired Persons Incentive Program in 1999 Belize managed to create a 'best of both worlds' scenario for retirees worldwide and as a result the country has rapidly become known as THE retirement destination for those looking to negate their taxation liability!

How to apply

The initial application is handled by the Belize Tourism Board; they process applications and pass completed and qualifying forms to the Immigration Board.

When you submit your form detailing why you believe you qualify you have to provide the following supporting documentation: -

Birth certificate - for each applicant and dependent
Marriage certificate - if spouse is a dependent
Police record - from your last place of residence and complete to within one month of your application
Colour copies of passports - copies of the complete passports (yes, including all blank pages!) of each applicant and dependent.  These have to be certified by a public Notary
Proof of income - this is key - and you have to have official proof that you have a regular guaranteed income of a minimum of USD 2,000 per month
Copy of a medical examination - this has to be totally up to date and include an AIDS test
Photographs - four front face and four side view photographs of each applicant and dependent

Expect to pay the following application fees: -

A non-refundable application fee of USD 100.00 is payable to the Belize Tourism Board - to be submitted with the application form.
If you qualify a program fee of USD 500.00 is then payable to the Belize Tourism Board.
When you enter the country follow acceptance, a fee of USD I00.00 must be paid to the Immigration Department. 
This will then mean the applicant has achieved the Qualified Retired Person Status.
Each dependant is required to pay a program fee of USD 350.00 to enter the program.

So far the program has proved extremely popular and more and more people are looking to retire to Belize and applying to the program.  Those accepted not only benefit from the features detailed above, but they benefit from a low cost of living in Belize and affordable real estate - making Belize as attractive a retirement destination as possible!

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