Quick answer
The Dependent Permit allows a Belize resident to bring certain family members to Belize [1]. Eligible dependents must be of retired age (55+), disabled, or under 5 [1]. Acceptable immediate family includes spouse, child, parent, or sibling [1]. Fees are BZ$3000 for Chinese nationals, BZ$750 for nationals of India, Nepal, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and BZ$200 for all other nationals [2]. Application is made in person at the Immigration Office with required documents [3]; upon submission, a Dependent Permit sticker is placed on the dependent's passport [4]. The permit remains valid as long as the sponsor remains a resident of Belize and the dependent relationship continues [5].
Key facts
| Purpose | To allow dependents (spouse, child, parent, sibling) of a Belize resident to reside in Belize[1] |
| Sponsor requirements | Must be a Belize resident able to provide accommodation and financial support[1][5] |
| Eligible dependents | Retired (55+), disabled, or children under 5; immediate family: spouse, child, parent, sibling[1] |
| Fees | BZ$3000 (China), BZ$750 (India, Nepal, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), BZ$200 (all other nationals)[2] |
| Validity | Indefinite while sponsor remains a Belize resident and dependent status continues[5] |
Requirements
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Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the European Union, United Kingdom, United States of America, or Canada.
Income must be from outside Belize. Amount depends on whether you apply alone or with dependents.
USD $75,000 per year if applying alone.
USD $100,000 per year if applying with dependents.
Must demonstrate how the income is earned outside Belize. Provide either a job letter (if employed) or proof of business registration and annual tax return (if self-employed).
Letter from employer issued within 30 days of application, confirming employment and income.
Proof of business registration and annual tax return if self-employed.
Notarized banking reference and statement of account from a financial institution.
Police record from applicant's country of residence, issued within six months of application.
Certified copy of the bio-data page of the applicant's passport and each dependent's passport.
Proof of travel insurance with a minimum health coverage of USD $50,000.
Non-refundable fee of USD $500 per adult and USD $200 per child (under 18).
Documents you'll need
- Letter of Financial Support [3]
- Photographs [3]
- Birth Certificate / Marriage Certificate (specific: marriage certificate for spouse, child's birth certificate for child, sponsor's birth certificate for parent, both siblings' and sponsor's birth certificates for sibling; if not in English, must be translated by proper authority and signed) [3]
- Letter of Authority (required if dependent sibling is under 18, from the child's parents) [3]
- Passport [3]
- Proof of Belizean Identity [3]
- Recent Bank Statement [3]
- 1 year return ticket [3]
This list adjusts automatically based on your nationality and category.
How to apply
- 1
Gather all required documents: letter of financial support, photographs, appropriate birth/marriage certificate, letter of authority (if applicable), passport, proof of Belizean identity, bank statement, and 1-year return ticket [3].
- 2
Visit the Immigration Office in Belize to submit the application [4].
- 3
Pay the applicable fee according to the dependent's nationality [2].
- 4
Upon submission and approval, a Dependent Permit sticker is placed in the dependent's passport [4].
Related visas
Sources
One numbered entry per specific claim — several entries may point to the same underlying document, each with its own locator.
- [1]
Dependent permit eligibility criteria and family members
Primary source · Last verified: Jul 23, 2026Cross-referenced - [2]
Permit fees by nationality
Primary source · Last verified: Jul 23, 2026Cross-referenced - [3]
Required supporting documents
Primary source · Last verified: Jul 23, 2026Cross-referenced - [4]
Application processing procedure
Primary source · Last verified: Jul 23, 2026Cross-referenced - [5]
Legal definition and validity conditions from Immigration Act
Belize Immigration Act (PDF) – defines dependent permit provisions, Section 15 · Last verified: Jul 23, 2026Cross-referenced
This page reflects Belize's officially published requirements as of the dates above. It is not legal advice, and final approval is solely at the discretion of Belize's immigration authorities. For a case-specific compliance check against your own documents, try VisaBook free.