Not likely because you would need a work permit, and that requires that you are a resident. And that can take months to line up...and then you have to hope you can get the permit. Probably best to see if you could work direct with a veterinarian there to bring people in to assist them as they can apply for the permits and they will know how to deal with the beauracracy.

Hello Captain, I am Jane, the new Belize correspondent. I live in Placencia, coming up on our four year anniversary. You are correct that top notch health care is lacking here. My husband and I are fit and healthy in our sixties. We have no major health issues, nor do we take any drugs, but when I needed a neurologist for neck pain and my husband a dental specialist, we went to Merida, Mexico. We now go once a year for his dental and there's a blood test I can't get here that I will do in Merida next visit. We've had blood work here in Placencia and talked with the doctor and felt comfortable with our experience. I am a health coach, so I do know a lot about keeping us in tip top shape nutritionally and we both have our workouts. So I recommend anyone with major health issues to think twice about retiring here, but for those who just need checkups, go for it. And by the way, Cancun also has great healthcare, we just prefer Merida. It's fun to get to a big city now and then, so we do not mind the travel. Please let me know if you have further questions and I'm sorry you didn't get an answer sooner, but I just started recently. Thanks for reaching out. j

Hi Lacy, This is Jane, the new correspondent from Belize. I'm sorry we had a gap there. I hope you had an enjoyable trip. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Cheers!

The response from IAMSHANMAN is mostly correct. While official sources may tell you that you technically need a "work permit" to work, even if all of your work is remote, outside of Belize, the real story is that there are plenty of expats working remote jobs here while staying in-country on their tourist visa. Once you have lived in Belize for 50 of 52 weeks you can apply for permanent residency. This process can take a year or longer. Once you are resident, you will get a Belize social security card that will allow you to be employed within Belize at a Belizean company, or run your own business doing business in Belize. Shane Kenny International Living's Correspondent in Belize

Thank you for sharing your perspective on Belize. As someone who has lived here full-time for over 5 years now I thought I might share my perspective as well on the things you brought up. I'll be the first to agree that if you have a serious health issue that requires access to specialty doctors and specific, expensive medications then Belize is probably not a great option for you. However, if you're generally healthy, Belize may be a great choice for you regardless of your age. Where I live in Plancencia, there is a growing, thriving community of older, retired expats that call Belize their full-time home. Belize is not the cheapest place to live in Central America, but it is amongst the cheapest Caribbean nations to live in. Learning how to get the biggest bang for your buck makes living here cheaper for me than where I came from (Atlanta, GA). Add to that the fixed exchange rate and English being the primary language and you can see why so many are choosing to settle here in Belize. Drugs are a problem pretty much everywhere in the world. Belize is no different. From my perspective, I really only noticed that marijuana usage seemed higher here, and was more openly used. Where your personal bias falls in the marijuana debate will probably influence how you feel about its usage here in Belize. Finally, the bugs. Yes, Belize has its fair share of bugs. Being a hot, humid, tropical destination makes this no surprise. We've learned strategies for co-existing with the bugs, and what products work and don't work here. Yes, they still drive us crazy at times (especially during rainy season) but it is a small price to pay for other benefits that living in Belize provides. Shane Kenny IL Belize Correspondent

Look for, and join, the "Placencia News & Happenings" group on Facebook. Volunteer opportunities get posted there. There is probably a similar group for Hopkins as well. Other options you could consider contacting directing are: Placencia Humane Society and Placencia Rotary. You should be able to contact both through Facebook. If you have not figured it out yet, Facebook is how things get done here in Belize! Shane Kenny IL Correspondent for Belize

For a two week rental, your best option in Placencia will be AirBnb or VRBO. You could locate a few places on those sites and then contact them direct and see if they will offer a multi-week discount. However, February is busy season here so most places may not be willing to offer a discount. Here are a few places the come to mind that you could take a look at: Alaska Reprieve Bella Sway Bella Vita Casitas Casa Valencia The Flying Toucan Lazy Palm Suites Sea Glass Inn Seabird Villas Serenity by the Sea Silver Leaf Villa White House Placencia When you are here, be sure to swing by and say "hi" at Placencia Beach Club. Shane Kenny IL Belize Correspondent

Yes, recent changes to Belize's QRP (Qualified Retirement Program) have reduced the age at which you can apply to 40 as well as added a number of accepted ways you can prove that you meet the $2,000 per month in retirement income. To get the latest on this program, visit: https://www.belizetourismboard.org/

Hi Natasha, Belize is very protective of its workforce. Any non-Belizean working for a Belizean company from within Belize must possess a Temporary Employment Permit (more commonly known as a “Work Permit”), or they must be a Permanent Resident. Essentially, the government has the mandate to protect jobs a Belizean could do. What does this mean? If you are looking to work in a job that requires specialized training or experience, like a rocket scientist, it should be easy to prove you’re not taking a Belizean’s job. However, if you’re looking to work in a position a Belizean would reasonably be able to train for, like a diving instructor or real estate agent, you’re going to have a hard time getting a work permit. That being said, there are a couple of options available that may make working in Belize a little easier. Consultancy: Build yourself a business working for non-Belizean businesses as a contractor while living in Belize. In this case, Belize is just where you live and work from, and you are not taking a potential job away from a Belizean. Entrepreneurship: Start a business in Belize. You’ll still need a work permit, but a business with a plan that includes the hiring, and training, of Belizeans would get serious consideration. In this case you’re not taking a job away, you’re creating jobs. When it comes down to it, ask yourself, “Would a reasonable person believe that the job I’m looking to take could be accomplished by a Belizean?” If the answer is yes, you will likely struggle to get approval. If the answer is no, or you are creating jobs, approval is very likely. Read more about working in Belize on the dedicated page of our website here.

Hi Jim, Thank you for sending in your question. Here are a few things to consider about renting in Ambergris Caye: Your preferences will drive rental costs. For instance, beach rentals will always be more expensive than “near the beach.” Many expats learn to settle within walking distance or a golf cart ride from a beach they like in order to save a bit on their rent budget. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) states that anyone in Belize on a tourist visa is considered a tourist, regardless of how long they are staying. This means that if the rental you’re considering is following the rules, a 9% “hotel tax” will be added to your rent each month. That being said, enforcement of this is mostly non-existent, but I wanted to make you aware that some rentals you look at may tack this tax on. If the BTB does start to actively enforce this, you may have this added expense somewhere down the road. Ambergris Caye is the #1 tourist destination in Belize. This means during the high season (Thanksgiving through April), it will be very crowded. It also means that rent and other monthly expenses will be higher than other locations here. If you have not already, I would recommend taking a trip to scout around a bit and make sure you find the perfect place for you and your wife. All that being considered, I believe you will be able to find something within your budget near a beach… but probably not on the beach. Your best bet would be to connect with a real estate agent who knows Ambergris Caye very well. Getting International Living’s Escape to Belize guidebook would be a great step. It has tons of useful information, along with a rolodex of contact information for agents that will be able to help you with more localized knowledge of Ambergris Caye.