Qualifying Process

1. Anyone forty-five years and older can qualify for the program. A person who qualifies can also include his or her dependents in the program. Dependents include spouses and children under the age of eighteen. However, it can include a person up to the age of twenty-three if enrolled in a university.
   
   INCOME FROM PENSION OR OTHER SOURCE
2. Qualified Retired Persons
   To be designated a Qualified Retired Person under the program, applicants must receive a monthly income of not less than US $2,000 through a pension or annuity that has been generated outside of Belize.
3. Certification
   1. When a company grants a pension, that company has to prove that it has been in operation for at least 20 years by submitting proof of registration.
   2. The company that grants the pension shall certify that the pension of no less than US $2,000.00 per month will be forwarded to a reputable financial institution within Belize. This letter must be signed by the manager, president, or by a legal representative of the company.
   3. Certification by a Certified Public Accountant independent of the company:
      1. Stating the date the company was established
      2. Verifying the authenticity of the above mentioned letter
      3. Certifying that the obligation signed in favor of the beneficiary is not less than US $2000.00 per month.
   4. The applicant must present two (2) bank references from the company that is sending the pension.
   5. The company granting the pension must present a document outlining its pension scheme.
4. Background Check
   1. All applications are subject to a background check to be carried out by the Ministry of National Security.

Requirement b, c, d could be omitted where the company sending the pension is considered to be a Fortune Five Hundred Company.

INCENTIVES

All persons who have been designated a Qualified Retired Person shall be entitled, on first entering Belize, to import his or her personal effects and an approved means of transportation free of all import duties and taxes.

A Qualified Retired Person shall be exempt from the payment of all taxes and duties on all income or receipts which accrue to him or her from a source outside of Belize whether that income is generated from work performed or from an investment.

REGULATIONS

All privileges, exemptions and regulations herein included are governed by the Retired Persons (Incentives) (Amendment) Act, 2001 and the ACT will serve as the basis for all purposes of interpretation.

1. Personal Household Effects
   Qualified Retired Persons have one year from the date that they officially enter the program to import their personal and household effects free of duties and taxes as determined by the Customs Department. Numerous entries are permitted within the one year period; however, your detailed master list of household and personal effects must be submitted to the Belize Tourism Board upon approval into the Program. After the year has elapsed, you will be subject to all duties and taxes under the Customs Department.
2. Transportation
   1. Motor Vehicle
      Qualified Retired Persons are strongly encouraged to procure a vehicle in Belize. However, we will facilitate duty and tax exemption on an imported vehicle.
   2. Light Aircraft
      A Qualified Retired Person is entitled to import a light aircraft less than 17,000 kg. A Qualified Retired Person is required to have a valid Private Pilot license to fly in Belize. This license can be obtained by passing the requirements set by the Civil Aviation. However, if the participant has a valid pilot's license, that license only has to be validated by Civil Aviation Department in Belize.
   3. Boat
      Any vessel that is used for personal purposes and for pleasure will be accepted under this program.
3. Disposal of Duty Free Items
   If for whatever reason a qualified retired person decides to sell, give away, lease, or otherwise dispose of the approved means of transportation or personal effects to any person or entity within Belize, all duties and taxes must be paid by the qualified retiree to the proper authorities.
   
   Qualified Retired Persons must note that only after 3 years and upon proof that the vehicle previously imported into Belize under the Program has been disposed of according to regulations, will another concession be granted to import a new transportation.
4. Offenses & Penalties
   Any person who knowingly makes any false declaration or entry in order to qualify for or renew any exemption or privilege granted under the Retired Persons (Incentives) (Amendment) Act, 2001 commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.
5. Fee Structure
   1. A non-refundable application fee in the sum of US $150.00 payable to the Belize Tourism Board must be submitted with the application.
   2. A Program fee in the sum of US $1,000.00 payable to the Belize Tourism Board must be submitted upon acceptance into the Program.
   3. Upon acceptance into the Program a fee of US $200.00 must be paid to the Belize Tourism Board for the issuance of the Qualified Retired Person Residency Card.
   4. Each dependent is required to pay a Program Fee of US $750 to enter the Program.

NOTE: All payments must be made payable to the Belize Tourism Board and be in the form of US cash, US bank draft or US cashier's check. Personal or comapny checks will not be accepted.