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Need advice, re: Living legally in Belize long-term

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OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 09:02 EST

Can someone give me some advice and more information about living in Belize long-term? I’m an American, considering moving to Belize. I have been teaching English online to non-native speakers for 7 years, so I have a consistent, steady, reliable income, and wouldn’t need to find a regular job on the ground there. I get paid via PayPal and then transfer funds to my bank account. So, in other words, I have zero issue with generating an income, getting paid, etc. All I would really need is a small place to live, reliable internet and electricity, and the ability to remain in the country legally. If needed, I would get my own satellite internet hook-up.

I’ll be 45 later this year, but I don’t have any income from annuities or retirement funds, etc., so I wouldn’t qualify for the QRP; But I see that you can renew your tourist status on a monthly basis for up to 4 years.

How would this work out for me? What are the pros and cons? Can I open a bank account down there? How hard is it to rent a place? How tricky is reliable internet? I plan to visit Belize later this year or early next year to “ground truth” this plan and see what’s what with my own eyes.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

Thanks!!!

5allan1
  6/10/2019 10:17 EST

https://www.sanpedroscoop.com/2017/04/internet-possibility-digital-nomad-belize.html
^ re internet

It should be understood that Belize internet is not on par with developed countries. Speed and reliability are issues. People do work online there but efficiency parallels the culture which is go slow and nobody is in a hurry.
Most expats are retirees and use internet for casual purposes.

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bobbyveee
  6/10/2019 10:54 EST

When we lived in San Pedro we had Australian friends who ran a worldwide conferencing business on the internet. The internet speed has doubled in the last yr. So working on line should not be a problem,

OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 10:56 EST

Thanks for your message. However, I already had read that article about internet speed. What about being able to live there legally? Do you have any information or advice about that?

bobbyveee
  6/10/2019 14:02 EST

I believe that immigration have toughened up on people long term staying , yes you can renew your visa every 30 days, but i understand that after a yr they may ask you to leave , but you can come back after two wks.
If youve got an address , and have been no problem , they may say nothing , you just never know. Good luck

5allan1
  6/10/2019 14:10 EST

I lived and worked there from’o5-08 and ‘09 to 12. Only visited since.
I stayed as a “permanent tourist” with the monthly visa renewal system. I worked initially locally with a work permit and later online teaching without one but the clientele was out of country.
I worked locally second term without a permit but I had friends in high and low places.
Terrific knows more about the legality of working there. I know more about smuggling beer, wine and steaks from Mexico
;)

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dqtester
  6/10/2019 14:34 EST

Not sure about asking people to leave after 1 year, but we own land and built our home, have our cars registered, As far as immigration we can stay as long as we want even with visa renewals because we have made an investment in the country. We have started the "residency" process, which is slow, and frustrating but that's a different story

WMiller77
  6/10/2019 15:20 EST

Can you provide the source for your information about being asked to leave after a year and welcomed back after being gone for 2 weeks?
I have never heard of this before with regards to living here.

You cannot apply for permanent residency here until you have been here for minimum 1 year without being out of country for more than 2 weeks during the time before you apply for permanent residency.

But this information applying to just living here??? I haven't heard of that one before.

Mikxx
  6/10/2019 16:40 EST

Well this is Belize :))
I could stay longer than 12 months on a tourist visa.
But the process is different every time depending on the immigration officer working the day when I renewed.

- Sometimes they renewed the visa for 60 days and charged double the amount
- Once they just wrote a new date on my last sticker
- Sometimes they asked for additional information like a source of funds to see how I can afford to live in Belize without working or a receipt that I pay rent somewhere

But in general it was no problem to stay.

OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 16:47 EST

So, basically, if you have clientele that don't live in Belize and you teach them online, you do *NOT* need a work permit? Correct?

OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 16:48 EST

Thanks! This is helpful. Basically, I need to have a Plan B as a backup?

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OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 16:50 EST

Does "have made an investment" mean that...
A: You've bought land and built a house?
B: Opened a brick-and-mortar business in Belize that contributes to the local economy?
C: Other?

OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 16:51 EST

Thanks. This is helpful info. I appreciate it.

OnlineEnglishTeacher
  6/10/2019 16:53 EST

Did they need to get a satellite internet hookup or was existing internet sufficient? Roughly, what was their monthly bill?

belizelenny
  6/10/2019 22:36 EST

They keep adjusting to new changes in regulations. It is not a big deal, if you do not agree or understand with what your are being told just ask to speak with a supervisor. The new Temporary Residency Permit most at Immigration don't even know about.

Mikxx
  6/11/2019 02:29 EST

Do not worry too much.
Just pack a suitcase and go exploring. They will let you stay if you do not commit crimes. It is an easy going country. Find out if you want to stay there. Most people leave after a short period of time.

bradinbelize
  6/12/2019 12:26 EST

You can have good reliable internet in San Pedro, Placencia and a few other places. The two mentioned being the biggest expat communities. I live in San Pedro, we have high speed and fiber optic options.

You DON'T NEED a bank account here - keep your money in the US bank and use your PayPal account (get a Paypal debit card) and use that to pay bills here or your debit card / credit card from your US bank (It isn't easy and it's very time consuming to open a bank account here) - why do you need that?

Immigration is getting more strict and might only let you stay for 6 months before requiring you to "do something", ie: get a work permit, apply for QRP. If in San Pedro or northern Belize (Corozal), you could simply take a short vacation in Mexico for a long weekend, then come back or if you go back to the US, plan accordingly and go visit family or whatever you need to do there (you can fly to Miami roundtrip sometimes for under $200, go have a long weekend, then come back) - your 6 months resets.

Lastly, you could marry a Belizean and get citizenship.

phantone
  6/12/2019 14:08 EST

Ok so the long and short of it is Belize can accommodate you if you find it is, in fact, your cup of tea. Getting stamped isn't that big of a deal if you live near one of the immigration offices or the border as the case may be. Internet is as reliable as the electricity which varies from place to place, though interruptions tend to be of short duration. Band account is unlikely unless you form a local corporation otherwise there are plenty of atms. Housing is easy to find and if you are willing a bit outside of major towns cheap as dirt. But I agree with the other poster. Come down and visit for a couple of weeks and see how you like it. Better deals on houses can be found on the ground.

5allan1
  6/12/2019 14:46 EST

The advice to rent and test out the country for awhile is sound. Don’t believe that living in Belize is cheap. Only 3 things are cheap there: property taxes, labor, and rents. Everything else is at par with the US or 2, 3, or 4 times more expensive. San Pedro is at the higher end. Gas for your car is $5.15/gal.. Electricity and water are pricey. A/C can cause your utility bill to soar and during the summer, it's hard to sleep without it when temps can be in the 90s. Relatively high speed internet can cost US $85/mo or more depending on where you live.
So do your homework and don't believe the hype and myths about Belize. It's a fine place to live if you're comfortable with it's eccentricities and insist on being able to use English day to day. Beyond that it offers no advantages over Mexico or Costa Rica etc

mgammo
  6/12/2019 17:22 EST

This is sage advice. My bank, The Atlantic Bank has had its assets frozen because of its involvement in some sort of massive, Sell me a swamp in Florida"..scam. There are many ways to skin a cat....The internet in Corozal is decent....When I got to Belize I went to Crystal Auto to pick the brain of the guy who owns it. He is a very, very, very wealthy American who has lived in Belize a long time. His advice to me was lady, you just need to come do Belize and figure it out. I would also network in to Belizean friends. It is their hood so to speak and they can really help you in many ways....I would not just isolate myself into the expat community. They can help you too, but the Belizeans know the ropes bar none.....

Eidel
  6/12/2019 19:58 EST

Agree that Belize is most definitely not cheap. I think people believe the stuff they read in International Living magazine. While it is true that the Belize dollar is 2-1, the prices more than make up for that. As another person said, rent is relatively cheap (I paid $600 USD per month for a 2 bed/1 bath apartment on mainland and utilities were not included), labor is cheap (but rising) and gasoline is ridiculously expensive. So if you are thinking about moving to Belize to save a few dollars look towards Mexico instead.

mlnewman63
  10/15/2019 20:25 EST

I'm considering a move to San Ignacio. Why do you think most people leave after a short time?

belizelenny
  10/15/2019 23:28 EST

The summer heat.

phantone
  10/16/2019 12:07 EST

Usually it is one of three things, not necessarily in this order; Living in a third world country sounded good while we are on vacation . . . but the realities are a bit different. Poverty, ennui, lack of usual options. If you can let go of a consumptive lifestyle your chances of acclimating will be improved. Lack of shopping options, lack of movie theaters and malls, lack of reading material, and inability to work can be taxing on ones sense of normalcy. Feeling like an outsider becomes more acute. The result is usually heading back home; Second is being to eager to please and to open with private information like how much money you have. Showing off in Belize is an invitation for resentment, theft and being attractive for the wrong reason. People often go home because they were robbed or hurt by trusting too soon or they marry the girl/guy of their dreams only to learn that they married their whole family and are expected to care and provide for them or once the bank accounts become jointly held, a suspicious amount of unexplained spending occurs, and then it is all gone. Soon ater that so is the girl/guy of your dreams; Third I am sad to say is lack of empathy and unwillingness to join the community. The exception being expats seem to migrate towards expat communities to the exclusion of the indigenous population and the many migrants that Belize attracts from its poorer neighbors. This can lead to destructive lifestyles such as too much drinking and indiscriminate sexual escapades. This usually leads to health issues which usually lead to an exodus back home for better health care, or death.

Not trying to dissuade you. I recommend the experience highly. Just be smart;

phantone
  10/16/2019 12:07 EST

Usually it is one of three things, not necessarily in this order; Living in a third world country sounded good while we are on vacation . . . but the realities are a bit different. Poverty, ennui, lack of usual options. If you can let go of a consumptive lifestyle your chances of acclimating will be improved. Lack of shopping options, lack of movie theaters and malls, lack of reading material, and inability to work can be taxing on ones sense of normalcy. Feeling like an outsider becomes more acute. The result is usually heading back home; Second is being to eager to please and to open with private information like how much money you have. Showing off in Belize is an invitation for resentment, theft and being attractive for the wrong reason. People often go home because they were robbed or hurt by trusting too soon or they marry the girl/guy of their dreams only to learn that they married their whole family and are expected to care and provide for them or once the bank accounts become jointly held, a suspicious amount of unexplained spending occurs, and then it is all gone. Soon ater that so is the girl/guy of your dreams; Third I am sad to say is lack of empathy and unwillingness to join the community. The exception being expats seem to migrate towards expat communities to the exclusion of the indigenous population and the many migrants that Belize attracts from its poorer neighbors. This can lead to destructive lifestyles such as too much drinking and indiscriminate sexual escapades. This usually leads to health issues which usually lead to an exodus back home for better health care, or death.

Not trying to dissuade you. I recommend the experience highly. Just be smart;

phantone
  10/16/2019 12:18 EST

OK first of all, no probably no bank account due to the amount of paperwork the banks have to do each year reporting to big daddy USA. Given your income means it will be unnecessary. ATM's will do the trick. There are, however ,ways to get bank accounts. Housing is cheap if you are on the ground and diligent. Otherwise look forward to being disappointed when you discover your next door neighbor pays less than half of what you do for the same space. If you are there for four years you could get lucky and marry a local girl in which case you would be set for life regarding staying in country. Married for a year before you can apply for citizenship and a Belizean passport. And when I say lucky I mean you marry for love. Otherwise, Look out. DO NOT ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT for citizenship. It will come back to haunt you., Took me a while, a very nice while to find the right girl. But I did and we just celebrated sixteen years married. Hint: If after sleeping with you the woman asks; "when are we going to the states". Move on. She wants a ticket out, not a husband. Hope this helps.

terrific
  10/16/2019 18:14 EST

Not sure where only stay 4 years comes in.

You will NEED to have a work permit to continue your on line job.
The view is if you are physically in Belize and working you need a permit. If all your monies are taken care of in the States then you do not NEED a Belize bank, but with patience ( and a work permit helps) and a lot of paperwork it is possible and probably useful to have a local Belizean bank account as a once monthly transfer to Belize will most likely be less expensive than several trips to the ATM with fees each time.

You do not need an offshore account in foreign owned bank as the (International Atlantic bank was) to transfer Us to Belize. But some folks found it easier to open accounts with those as Central bank is less involved.

With annual renewals of work permit you should be able to stay as long as you need. If you had otherwise qualified for QRP you would not be allowed to get a work permit anyway.

In the past few years the wifi has improved dramatically, in most areas, but still pockets of poor service.

This information is fully up to date TODAY for Belmopan/ Cayo district But I do not know all areas of Belize. So info from life in Corozal and Ambergris even if it is from those who lived there several years ago may still be more relevant.

I'm not sure how the thread took the turn onto the pros and cons of marrying a Belizean citizen. Always Marry for love not convenience.

bobbyveee
  10/16/2019 19:43 EST

Phantone.
All British Army soldiers had a film and lecture on marrying locals who wanted out and a guaranteed home and life style in the UK. I had to dissuade atleast two privates from marrying locals in various world locations.

bobbyveee
  10/17/2019 09:05 EST

We banked with Atlantic , but used a private bank to draw local currency , we also got a better rate than 2:1 But you have to be recommended or asked to be part of any private banking, this was on AC

waljoa
  10/17/2019 11:07 EST

Allan you are way out of touch , the internet now is better , more reliable, faster and cheaper than anything I could get in Canada

imafaque
  11/27/2019 22:18 EST

The laws of Belize are very clear. You may not Volunteer, be self employed, or be employed in any way shape or form without being one of the following;
1) A Citizen
2) A full legal resident
3) Hold a valid work permit.
As a visitor you have none of those things, so you are illegal working in Belize. You can be deported and in one extreme case I know in Caye Caluker, a guy got one month in jail for each of the 9 years he was in violation, that is 9 months in Hattieville central prison.
No different than your home country, you can only work legally.

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