Entry/Exit Requirements

All U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid beyond their planned departure date, proof of an onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds to cover the cost of the length of stay.  U.S citizens visiting as tourists do not require visas.  Visitors planning to stay more than 30 days must have their passport re-stamped by a local immigration office and pay an additional fee for every month additional month they wish to stay up to 6 months; for stays longer than 6 months, you may need to provide further documentation to the local immigration office to explain the reason for a longer stay and pay additional fees.  Travelers who overstay visas or do not keep their immigration stamps up to date may face immigration fines (a minimum of 500 USD per fine) and up to six months imprisonment. 

U.S. citizens entering Belize by land are charged different fees depending on if they are staying for less than or more than 24 hours.  Belize does not require specific immunizations for visitors; vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control can be found at Belize vaccinations. Visit the Embassy of Belize to the United States website for the most current visa information.

U.S. citizens traveling with their children may be asked by immigration officials to show U.S. birth certificates for each child.  When children are not traveling with both parents, immigration officials often request documentation to establish the children are traveling with the permission of both parents.  Such documentation may include notarized letters from the parent(s), custody or adoption papers, or death certificates in situations where one or both parents are deceased.

Persons who are citizens of both the United States and Belize are able to enter Belize with only a Belizean passport.  Such dual nationals should be aware, however, that all U.S. citizens traveling by air must enter the United States on a valid U.S. passport, and that airlines require a valid U.S. passport in order to board a U.S.bound flight from Belize.  The average processing time to obtain a full-validity U.S. passport at the Embassy is approximately 10 working days.  U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (i.e., cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) will be permitted to depart or enter the U.S.United States with a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID, but the U.S. Embassy recommends that passengers carry a passport in case of an emergency.  Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documentation.  U.S. citizen passengers, including dual U.S.-Belezian nationals, who leave their cruise ship and return by air to the United States are required to present a valid U.S. passports to airline officials before being permitted to board the aircraft, as noted above.

Visit the Embassy of Belize website for the most current visa information.  Contact the Embassy of Belize for information on diplomatic and consular posts in the United States.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Belize.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our customs information page.