Retirement Program in Belize – Belize Retired Person’s Incentive Program (QRP)
Many expats opt for the Belize Retired Person’s Incentive Program (QRP). This program provides special residence status to those who are accepted. QRPs can come and go as they please and only need to spend one month per year in Belize. Note that you can include your family in your application, with additional fees. QRPs are allowed to bring their personal goods into Belize, during the first year of residence, duty free. That includes a vehicle, boat, and plane. Despite the QRP Program’s name, you need not be retired to qualify. If you don’t have a pension or annuity but do have adequate savings in IRAs, 401(k)s, or other investments, explain this to the BTB representative. Their main concern is to obtain proof that you have adequate resources to transfer into a Belizean bank. To take advantage of the QRP program you must be at least 45 years old. You will also be required to prove that you can move $2,000 a month, or $24,000 per year into a Belizean bank account. Proof of a pension or annuity (such as Social Security) is the preferred approach to show the required income stream. If you don’t have a pension plan, it’s acceptable to prove that you have adequate savings and investments (such as in 401Ks or IRAs) to generate $24,000 per year. The non-refundable QRP application fee is $150. Once accepted into the program, a sum of $1,000 is payable to the Belize Tourism Board. And an initial fee of $200 is due for the QRP residence card. Each December you must renew your QRP status. The fee for a new card is $25. At that time, the QRP provides documentation to prove that you spent one month in Belize during the year, and moved $24,000 into the country. A new card is then issued, for the coming year. QRPs come into Belize as special status retirees and aren’t allowed to work for a Belizean company, or to own or manage a company in Belize. Some QRPs do work outside of Belize, however. For instance, it’s possible to work online as an independent consultant, providing services to clients outside of Belize. The ability to bring your personal goods to Belize tax-free and the fact that you don’t have to pay Belizean taxes on any foreign-earned income are some of the major advantages of the Qualified Retired Persons Program. It’s not difficult to fill out the QRP paperwork. But some expats choose to retain an attorney or consultant who is familiar with the QRP Program to assist them with their application process.
QRP Application Requirements
To apply for the program, you must submit an application, which can be downloaded from the BTB website here. In addition to the application, you must submit the following documents:- Birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- A police report from your most recent place of residence, issued within a month before submitting the application and stating that you don’t have a criminal record. (The QRP officers have tended toward leniency in regard to the one-month time frame. They have accepted police reports prepared within six months before the application…)
- A copy of each page (including blank ones) in your passport. Retain a notary public to certify the copy with his or her seal and mark how many pages are in the passport, the passport number, and your name. (See form for details.)
- Proof of income. This can be in the form of a statement from a pension or annuity company or from your bank. The statement must show that your income is at least $2,000 a month or the equivalent of at least $24,000 a year. Another option is to provide a financial statement from a financial institution, bank, credit union, or building society in Belize certifying that the applicant’s investment or deposit will generate the sum of a minimum of $2,000 per month or the equivalent of $24,000 per year.
- Medical exam results. Applicants must undergo a complete medical examination, including an AIDS test. The medical exam is usually done in Belize. A copy of the medical certificate must be attached to the application to show that you are in good health and free from contagious diseases.
- Four recent front-view and four side-view, passport-size, color photographs of yourself and of any dependents included in the application. These must be notarized or certified. (Please note, while the application says two photos are needed, it is recommended that you bring four due to past experiences applicants have had with some inconsistency in this requirement).