Retirement in Belize
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I live in Placencia and have been in Belize for almost 4 years. There is no problem working remotely as long as you do not have customers in Belize, do not do work for Belizeans and you get paid in the US or Canada. You will not be taxed in Belize for remote work that is paid in the US or Canada. You can stay in Belize on a tourist visa with monthly extensions or on the QRP program. Once you have been in Belize for a year you can apply for permanent residency. Once you have permanent residency you will be given a work permit in Belize. That would let you expand your business in Belize if that is of interest. But remote work that is paid in the US or Canada is very common in Belize. There is also a digital nomad program for remote workers only planning to stay for 6 months max.
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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