Belize is a beautiful subtropical paradise that located on the Western edge of the Caribbean Sea. It is the only English speaking country in Central America but it also has a very diverse population and culture. Belize formally known as the British Honduras is an independent democratic country and a member of the British Commonwealth.
The second largest barrier reef in the world is located within Belize and it attracts visitors from around the world. Some of the best snorkeling, diving and fishing opportunities in the world are just off shore. Belize also has 3 of the only 4 atolls found in the Western hemisphere surrounded by beautiful blue water. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are world class tourist destinations that are less than a mile from the Barrier reef.
Many visitors fall in love with Belize after just one visit and aspire to retire and move to Belize permanently. In recent years many retirement developments have been built to accommodate all the new citizens. The cost of living is very low which makes a retirement income stretch further than back home. Belize has most all of the conveniences available that are found in the US and Europe. Belize City has a quality hospital that will meet all the most common medical needs of seniors. All of which make moving to Belize a good choice.
There are several European and US communities located in Belize that has attracted people to make their second homes there as well. Eventually many of these people end up moving to Belize. Getting to and from Belize is relatively easy through the two international airports. Commuter air services and water taxis provide quick transport to the many Cayes and Islands at a reasonable price.
Becoming a permanent resident of Belize is really quite easy and can be accomplished in less than a year. The government is very helpful in completing all the necessary paperwork. Moving to Belize and establishing a residence and a bank account with sufficient funds is required. In general you must remain in the country for 6 consecutive months to qualify for citizenship. You must also obtain a report from the local police and a medical certificate that includes HIV test to certify that you are healthy. You will need to report to the immigration office and have your passport stamped and pay $12.50 for each month of extended stay.
Becoming a citizen of Belize requires 5 years of permanent residency. Application fees are 200 Belizean dollars (BZ$) for each adult and 50 BZ$ for each child. The Belizean dollar value is tied directly to the value of the US dollar making 2 BZ$ equal to 1 USD.
Belize is a beautiful subtropical paradise on the coast of the Caribbean. Moving to Belize is relatively easy. It is also very easy to become a citizen after the prerequisites have been met. The cost of living is very low and the county has most all the conveniences that anyone could want and need. You may want to book your next vacation to Belize to see why so many people are moving to Belize.
James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the Moving to Belize website at http://www.moving-to-belize-info.com Providing great information on visiting and moving to Belize.
Rageh omaar on BBC Question Time (Part2)
