Belize Proposes $500,000 Investor Visa Program

Belize approved a proposal to launch a new residency pathway for foreign investors who commit at least $500,000 to commercial ventures in the country.

The purpose of the program is to simplify the residency process for qualified investors and remove procedural delays that previously discouraged investment.

Program Overview

• Minimum investment: US $500,000 in a qualified commercial venture
• Residency benefit: Direct access to permanent residency, bypassing the usual one-year residence requirement
• Citizenship eligibility: Permanent residents may apply for citizenship after five years
• Government coordination: Investors will work with the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit to secure business permits, environmental clearances, and sector-specific authorizations

Further details on qualifying sectors and investment types will be finalized in coordination between the Ministry of Immigration and the Ministry of Investment.

Next Legislative Steps

The proposal received Cabinet approval and now moves to the Legislative Drafting Unit, which will prepare the official Bill for parliamentary debate.

Once approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the measure will require formal assent by the Governor-General to become law.

If enacted, Belize would join a growing list of Caribbean and Latin American countries offering investment-based residency to foreign nationals.