Belize Customs Form, Entry Requirements & Online Declaration

Belize entry requirements at a glance

The short version, for the impatient. Everything below this is the why.

How the Belize online declaration works

Belize replaced its paper arrival cards with a free online Immigration and Customs Declaration (the digital Embarkation/Disembarkation, or E/D, form). It combines the immigration and customs declarations into a single submission, so there is no separate paper customs slip to fill out on the plane. You complete it before you travel, in and out.

1. 1
   Complete the E-embarkation form before you fly

   A day or two before departure, visit the official Belize Department of Border Management & Immigration Services website at immigration.gov.bz to complete your E-embarkation form. The official form is completely free. Verify the .gov.bz domain and avoid third-party sites that charge a 'processing fee.'

2. 2
   Enter your details & customs declaration

   Type everything exactly as it appears on your passport, plus flight number, arrival date, port of entry and where you're staying, then answer the customs questions (goods, gifts and any cash to declare). Travelling as a family? You can add other travellers to one submission.

3. 3
   Save your QR code & show it on arrival

   On submission you receive a QR code. Save a screenshot and print a backup. Show it to immigration and customs officers when you land. You must submit a fresh declaration when you depart Belize.

Is the Belize form free? Watch for third-party sites

Yes. The official online immigration and customs declaration is free on the Belize Department of Border Management & Immigration Services portal (immigration.gov.bz). A number of third-party websites advertise “Belize travel declarations,” “eVisas” or “travel authorizations” and charge for them. For visa-exempt travellers (US, Canada, UK, EU and others) these paid services are not required and not official.

To be clear: the declaration is an administrative entry form, not a visa. Visa-exempt visitors do not need an eVisa or travel authorization to enter Belize. If a site charges you to file the declaration itself, you are paying a middleman, not the Belize government. Verify against the Belize Department of Immigration and the Belize Customs & Excise Department sources listed below.

What documents do I need for Belize?

Have these ready before you reach immigration:

• A valid passportBelize requires your passport to be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended departure date. Many airlines enforce the more common six-month rule at check-in, so carry 6+ months of validity whenever possible.
• A valid onward or return ticketOfficers and airlines may ask to see proof you intend to leave.
• Your completed online declaration (QR code)Submit the free E/D form before arrival and have the QR code ready on your phone or printed.
• Accommodation & sufficient fundsWhere you're staying, and evidence you can support your stay.

Do I need a visa for Belize? Visa requirements by nationality

Most short-stay tourists do not need a visa. Permitted stay is ultimately the immigration officer's call. Confirm your own nationality's status with Belize Immigration before travelling.

How long can I stay in Belize?

Visitors are usually granted 30 days on arrival. You can extend your stay month by month at a Belize Immigration office; pay the extension fee before your current permit expires (extensions are typically inexpensive for the first months and step up the longer you stay). Working on a tourist stamp is prohibited.

Belize entry requirements by nationality

The rules are similar across the big visa-exempt markets, but the details differ. Confirm your own status with Belize Immigration before you fly.

Duty-free allowances for Belize

Each arriving visitor aged 18 or over may generally bring the following into Belize duty-free, for personal, non-commercial use:

Treat the figures above as a guide, not gospel. Customs allowances get revised, sources disagree, and the officer in front of you has the final word. Anything over the allowance is dutiable; Belize applies import duties plus a General Sales Tax on the assessed value, so a “duty-free” bargain can quietly stop being one at the counter. Declare honestly, and confirm current allowances with the Belize Customs & Excise Department before you travel.

Prohibited & restricted items (and BAHA rules)

Violations can mean steep fines or prison. When in doubt, declare.

• Drugs, including cannabis, CBD and THC, do not importThe nuance trips travellers up: Belize decriminalised possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis on private premises inside the country, but importing it across the border in any form is still illegal, including CBD oil, THC edibles and vapes, with no medical exemption. Bringing drugs through customs is a serious offence.
• Firearms & ammunition, permit requiredFirearms, parts and ammunition require prior written authorization. Penalties for undeclared weapons, or even loose rounds, are severe. Counterfeit goods, obscene material and certain weapons are also prohibited.
• BAHA: food, plants, meat & live animalsThe Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) restricts fresh produce, plants, seeds, meat, dairy and other agricultural products to protect Belize's farms and reef. Pets and live animals require permits and health certificates. Declare any food or plant material on your online declaration.
• Reef life, Maya artifacts & prescriptionsIt is illegal to remove or export coral, turtle products or marine artifacts, and removing or exporting Maya antiquities is a serious crime. Carry prescription medication in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

Belize airport customs: arriving at Philip Goldson (BZE)

Almost everyone flies into Philip S. W. Goldson International (BZE) in Ladyville, just outside Belize City, the country's main gateway. Domestic hops on Tropic Air and Maya Island Air connect onward to San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Caye Caulker and Placencia. The arrivals process is short:

• 1 · ImmigrationPresent your passport and the QR code from your online declaration. The officer stamps your permitted stay, usually 30 days.
• 2 · Baggage claimCollect your checked luggage.
• 3 · CustomsPresent the customs portion of your declaration; head to the declare lane if you've exceeded your duty-free allowance or are carrying anything restricted.
• 4 · Arrivals hallTaxis (green licence plates), pre-booked transfers, car-rental desks and the domestic-airline counters are right there. If you're island-bound, your puddle-jumper to San Pedro or Caye Caulker often leaves within the hour.

Money matters

Good news for US travellers: the Belize Dollar (BZD) is pegged at a fixed 2 to 1 with the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. The math never changes, and you'll often get change in a mix of both. Carry small US bills and some local cash for the cayes.

Best time to visit Belize

Warm and tropical year-round, generally 24°C to 31°C (75°F to 88°F). The seasons split on rain, crowds and price.

Whale sharks gather near Gladden Spit off Placencia around the full moons of roughly March to June, one of Belize's great wildlife spectacles. Dates vary year to year; go with a licensed operator.

Health, water & food in Belize

• Before you goCheck current advice with your doctor and an official health authority (the CDC or your national equivalent). Mosquito-borne illness (dengue, and malaria in some rural/jungle areas) is a consideration; pack repellent. Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended, especially if you're diving.
• WaterDrink bottled or filtered water in most areas to be safe. Resorts and dive operators provide it widely.
• Sun, sea & reefThe sun is strong and the reef is fragile; pack reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard and shade for midday. Water shoes help on rocky entries and seagrass.

Food, the part that matters

Belize eats like the crossroads it is: Maya, Creole, Garifuna and Mestizo all working the same small kitchen. Rice and beans with stew chicken is the daily bread, and you should eat it until you stop noticing it. Fry jacks for breakfast, ceviche off the back of a boat, lobster and conch when the season says yes, and Garifuna hudut down south that will quietly humble your idea of a fish dinner. Put Marie Sharp's habanero sauce on all of it; it's closer to a national flag than a condiment. Trust the shack with the hand-painted sign and the line of locals.

Top things to do in Belize

A barrier reef you can fall into off the beach, a perfect blue sinkhole, jaguar jungle and Maya cities the rainforest nearly swallowed. For a country this small there is no business finding this much to do.

The Great Blue Hole

A near-perfect circular sinkhole on Lighthouse Reef, more than 300m across and 120m deep. A bucket-list dive, and a jaw-dropping scenic flight for everyone else.

Snorkeling the barrier reef

Belize sits on the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere. Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, an easy boat ride from the cayes.

Ancient Maya cities

Climb the temples of Xunantunich and Caracol, or take a river trip to Lamanai and Altun Ha. Belize's interior is dense with Maya ruins.

Caye Caulker

The island that runs on its own motto, 'Go Slow.' No cars, sandy lanes, golf carts, and the Split for sunset and a cold drink.

The ATM Cave

Actun Tunichil Muknal: swim and scramble into a sacred Maya cave past pottery and the calcified 'Crystal Maiden.' One of the most humbling half-days in the Americas.

Jungle & wildlife

Cave-tube through the Cayo jungle, listen for howler monkeys, and visit Cockscomb Basin, the world's first jaguar preserve.

A sample day in Belize

Built around Ambergris Caye and the reef; adapt it to your island or the mainland. Beat the boats to the water, snorkel before the crowds, fresh ceviche on the dock, and a rum sour as the sky goes pink.

1. 7:30 am
   Slow startFry jacks and Belizean coffee, then down to the dock.
2. 9:00 am
   Hol Chan & Shark Ray AlleyBoat out to the reserve to snorkel with rays and nurse sharks while the water's calm.
3. 1:00 pm
   Ceviche on the dockConch or lobster ceviche (in season) with a cold Belikin beer.
4. 3:00 pm
   Bike or golf-cart the islandPotter up the beach to Secret Beach, or laze in a hammock.
5. 6:00 pm
   The Split or a beach barSunset over the water with a rum sour in hand.
6. 7:30 pm
   Grilled catch of the dayWhatever came off the boat, with rice and beans and Marie Sharp's.

More time? Fly or bus to the mainland for the ATM Cave, the Maya ruins around San Ignacio, or whale sharks off Placencia in season.

Where to stay: best islands & areas in Belize

Belize divides neatly into reef and rainforest, and your base shapes the whole trip. Here is how the most popular visitor areas compare.

Main island

Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)

The hub: the biggest island, with the most resorts, restaurants and dive shops, right on the reef. Best for first-timers, diving and beach life.

Island

Caye Caulker

Smaller, slower and cheaper, sandy lanes and golf carts. Best for budget travellers and 'Go Slow' vibes.

Southern coast

Placencia

A long mainland sand peninsula with proper beaches. Best for beach lovers, whale sharks and Garifuna culture.

Official Belize resources

This is an independent travel guide by CustomsBreeze. Always confirm current requirements with the official sources below before you travel:

• Belize Dept. of Border Management & Immigration Services — immigration.gov.bz
• Belize Customs & Excise Department — customs.gov.bz
• Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) — baha.org.bz
• Belize Tourism Board — travelbelize.org
• Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport — pgiabelize.com