Belize
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Warnings and insurance
State of emergency
Following an increase in gang violence, a one-month state of emergency was declared in parts of Belize City, the Belize District, and the Cayo District on 7 May 2025.聽The state of emergency grants law enforcement expanded powers and could be extended. Follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media.
Before you travel聽
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:聽
- see聽general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see聽general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about聽safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance聽
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.聽
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.聽
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Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full 바카라 사이트楤ritish citizen바카라 사이트� passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government바카라 사이트檚 understanding of Belize바카라 사이트檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Belize set and enforce entry rules. If you바카라 사이트檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the .聽
Passport validity requirements聽
To enter Belize, your passport must have an 바카라 사이트榚xpiry date바카라 사이트� more than 3 months after the date you arrive. Some airlines may refuse boarding if the expiry date is not more than 6 months after the date you arrive. 聽
Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.聽聽
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.聽
Immigration and customs declaration form
All travellers transiting Belize through the Philip Goldson International Airport are required to complete an immigration and customs declaration form. Whilst paper declarations will still be accepted during the phased transition to a fully digital system, the Belizean authorities recommend completing the prior to travel.
Visa requirements聽
You can visit Belize without a visa for 30 days.
If you want to extend your stay, it will cost 200 Belize dollars for each additional 30 days. You should go to the nearest office of the and request a new stamp.聽聽
Departure tax聽
If you leave Belize by land, or by water crossing to Guatemala or Mexico, you must pay a departure tax of 40 Belize dollars or 20 US dollars at the border. If leaving by air, the tax is usually included in the airfare.聽聽
Travelling with children聽
Children aged 17 and under who are travelling on their own, or with an adult who is not their parent, must carry a notarised letter to prove parental responsibility, or consent to travel from the parent or guardian. Children travelling with one parent must also have a notarised letter of authority from the other parent giving consent for travel.聽聽
Vaccine requirements聽聽
For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .聽聽
Customs rules聽
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Belize. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Items that need to be declared will be listed on the customs declaration form. Contact the for more information.聽聽
Safety and security
Terrorism聽聽
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트犅犅�
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.聽
Terrorism in Belize聽
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Belize, attacks cannot be ruled out.聽聽
Political situation聽聽
Political demonstrations take place in Belize City and Belmopan, but most are peaceful. Follow the instructions of local authorities, monitor local media and avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.聽
Crime聽
Investigations can take several weeks, police capacity is limited and most crimes remain unsolved and unprosecuted.聽
Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. Other violent crime, including armed robbery, shootings, domestic abuse and sexual assault are聽also a concern.
Serious gang-related violence occurs most frequently in Belize City, particularly in the area to the south of the Haulover Creek (known as Southside). Tourists are not normally the targets of gang violence, but anyone near an incident could be affected. You should:
- follow the advice of your hotel and local authorities聽聽
- be watchful of your surroundings聽
Armed criminals have been active in the remote forested areas of Belize, particularly the border area with Guatemala and close to tourist sites there. However, the area is patrolled by the Belize Defence Force and there have been no reported incidents involving tourists.
Tourists, in general, are vulnerable to theft of cash, credit cards, phones and other personal belongings, including in tourist destinations such as San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio. You should:聽
- avoid dark alleys
- use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
- keep valuables out of sight
- be aware that wearing expensive jewellery could attract attention
- use a qualified guide for trips off the beaten track
- only use accommodation and campgrounds that appear genuine and established
Laws and cultural differences聽聽
Illegal drugs and prison sentences聽
Possession of illegal drugs can lead to a fine and prison sentence.聽聽
LGBT+ travellers聽
Same-sex activity between consenting adults is legal.聽The Immigration Act prohibits 바카라 사이트渉omosexual바카라 사이트� persons from entering the country but immigration authorities have not enforced that law.聽Tourist-friendly areas, including San Pedro and Ambergris Caye, are relatively open and welcoming to the LGBT+ community. Outside of these areas, LGBT+ couples, especially men, tend to be reluctant to display affection in public because of incidents of verbal or physical abuse which have been reported.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.聽
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism聽聽
Find more information on local travel from the .聽
Swimming safety聽
There have been injuries and fatalities from adventure sports activities, including snorkelling and diving. The main causes have been inadequate safety precautions and severe weather conditions. Check local weather forecasts and only use registered and licensed operators.
See from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Transport risks聽聽
Road travel聽聽
If you are planning to drive in Belize, see information on driving abroad.聽聽聽
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Belize for up to 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence. For longer stays, you must get a Belize driving permit from the in your district.
Driving conditions may be hazardous, especially during the rainy season, due to:
- roads with potholes, unpaved dirt shoulders and few lane markings
- narrow or unpaved roads
- roads often unlit
- lack of emergency road assistance
- flooded temporary bridges and causeways during severe weather in southern parts of the country, particularly in Stann Creek and Toledo.
Driving standards聽
Road traffic accidents are common. Local driving and vehicle maintenance standards are poor. Public buses are not well maintained and many do not have seatbelts. Take care when driving, particularly during rainy conditions or at night. Be aware of the risks, including high levels of drink-driving, speeding, reckless driving and other vehicles, including bicycles, not having working lights.
Taxis聽聽
Only take registered taxis with green licence plates. Always ask the fare before getting in, and expect to pay in cash. 聽
Air Travel
Following the hijacking of a small passenger aircraft on an internal flight on 17 April 2025, the Belize Airports Authority has announced security enhancements across Belize바카라 사이트檚 municipal airstrips. You may wish to allow extra time in case of disruption to domestic air travel.
Extreme weather and natural disasters聽
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Hurricanes聽聽
The hurricane season is from 1 June to 30 November. Monitor local and international weather updates from the and the . You should also follow advice from the .聽
Flooding聽
Heavy rainfall can cause flooding. Follow the weather forecasts from the National Hydrological Service and the .聽聽
Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Sara is affecting western parts of Belize. You should follow the advice of the local authorities.
Earthquakes聽
Belize is not directly affected by earthquakes, but tremors from earthquakes in neighbouring countries can occasionally be felt in Belize. There can occasionally be tsunami warnings.聽聽聽
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about .聽聽聽
Health
Before you travel check that:聽
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need聽
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation聽
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.聽
Emergency medical number聽
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance.聽
Contact your insurance company quickly if you바카라 사이트檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.聽
Vaccine recommendations and health risks聽
At least 8 weeks before your trip:聽
- check the latest
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 聽
See , including:
- Zika virus
- chikungunya virus
- dengue聽
- malaria
Medication聽
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.聽
Read .聽
Healthcare in Belize聽聽
Medical facilities in Belize are limited and availability of prescription medicine is unreliable. Serious medical cases are normally evacuated to the US, at the patient바카라 사이트檚 expense.聽聽
FCDO has a list of medical facilities in Belize where some staff will speak English.聽
There is also guidance on healthcare if you바카라 사이트檙e living in Belize.聽聽
Travel and mental health聽
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also .聽
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.聽
Emergency services in Belize聽
Telephone: 911 or 90 (ambulance, fire, police)聽
Contact your travel provider and insurer聽
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.聽
Refunds and changes to travel聽
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.聽
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:聽
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider聽
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim聽
Support from FCDO聽
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:聽
- finding and in Belize聽聽
- dealing with a death in Belize聽聽
- being arrested or imprisoned in Belize聽
- getting help if you바카라 사이트檙e a victim of crime聽聽
- what to do if you바카라 사이트檙e in hospital聽聽
- if you바카라 사이트檙e affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack聽
Contacting聽FCDO聽
Help abroad바카라 사이트�
See聽聽including in an emergency.聽
Help in the UK聽聽
You can call바카라 사이트�FCDO바카라 사이트痠n London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.바카라 사이트�
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)바카라 사이트�
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Sign up to바카라 사이트�get email notifications바카라 사이트痺hen this travel advice is updated.바카라 사이트�
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