No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\n\n\n","slug":"warnings-and-insurance","title":"Warnings and insurance"},{"body":"This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Belize’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Belize set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Belize High Commission in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Belize, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ more than 3 months after the date you arrive. Some airlines may refuse boarding if the expiry date is not more than 6 months after the date you arrive.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.
\n\nAll travellers transiting Belize through the Philip Goldson International Airport are required to complete an immigration and customs declaration form. Whilst paper declarations will still be accepted during the phased transition to a fully digital system, the Belizean authorities recommend completing the digital form prior to travel.
\n\nYou can visit Belize without a visa for 30 days.
\n\nIf you want to extend your stay, it will cost 200 Belize dollars for each additional 30 days. You should go to the nearest office of the Belize Immigration and Nationality Department and request a new stamp.
\n\nIf you leave Belize by land, or by water crossing to Guatemala or Mexico, you must pay a departure tax of 40 Belize dollars or 20 US dollars at the border. If leaving by air, the tax is usually included in the airfare.
\n\nChildren aged 17 and under who are travelling on their own, or with an adult who is not their parent, must carry a notarised letter to prove parental responsibility, or consent to travel from the parent or guardian. Children travelling with one parent must also have a notarised letter of authority from the other parent giving consent for travel.
\n\nFor details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Belize guide.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Belize. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Items that need to be declared will be listed on the customs declaration form. Contact the Belize Customs and Excise Administration for more information.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Belize, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nPolitical demonstrations take place in Belize City and Belmopan, but most are peaceful. Follow the instructions of local authorities, monitor local media and avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.
\n\nInvestigations can take several weeks, police capacity is limited and most crimes remain unsolved and unprosecuted.
\n\nBelize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. Other violent crime, including armed robbery, shootings, domestic abuse and sexual assault are also a concern.
\n\nSerious gang-related violence occurs most frequently in Belize City, particularly in the area to the south of the Haulover Creek (known as Southside). Tourists are not normally the targets of gang violence, but anyone near an incident could be affected. You should:
\n\nArmed criminals have been active in the remote forested areas of Belize, particularly the border area with Guatemala and close to tourist sites there. However, the area is patrolled by the Belize Defence Force and there have been no reported incidents involving tourists.
\n\nTourists, in general, are vulnerable to theft of cash, credit cards, phones and other personal belongings, including in tourist destinations such as San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio. You should:
\n\nPossession of illegal drugs can lead to a fine and prison sentence.
\n\nSame-sex activity between consenting adults is legal. The Immigration Act prohibits “homosexual” persons from entering the country but immigration authorities have not enforced that law. Tourist-friendly areas, including San Pedro and Ambergris Caye, are relatively open and welcoming to the LGBT+ community. Outside of these areas, LGBT+ couples, especially men, tend to be reluctant to display affection in public because of incidents of verbal or physical abuse which have been reported.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nFind more information on local travel from the Belize Tourism Board.
\n\nThere have been injuries and fatalities from adventure sports activities, including snorkelling and diving. The main causes have been inadequate safety precautions and severe weather conditions. Check local weather forecasts and only use registered and licensed operators.
\n\nSee water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Belize, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Belize for up to 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence. For longer stays, you must get a Belize driving permit from the Department of Transport in your district.
\n\nDriving conditions may be hazardous, especially during the rainy season, due to:
\n\nRoad traffic accidents are common. Local driving and vehicle maintenance standards are poor. Public buses are not well maintained and many do not have seatbelts. Take care when driving, particularly during rainy conditions or at night. Be aware of the risks, including high levels of drink-driving, speeding, reckless driving and other vehicles, including bicycles, not having working lights.
\n\nOnly take registered taxis with green licence plates. Always ask the fare before getting in, and expect to pay in cash.
\n\nFollowing the hijacking of a small passenger aircraft on an internal flight on 17 April 2025, the Belize Airports Authority has announced security enhancements across Belize’s municipal airstrips. You may wish to allow extra time in case of disruption to domestic air travel.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nThe hurricane season is from 1 June to 30 November. Monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Center’s regional map and the National Meteorological Service of Belize. You should also follow advice from the National Emergency Management Organisation.
\n\nHeavy rainfall can cause flooding. Follow the weather forecasts from the National Hydrological Service and the National Meteorological Service of Belize.
\n\nFlooding caused by Tropical Storm Sara is affecting western parts of Belize. You should follow the advice of the local authorities.
\n\nBelize is not directly affected by earthquakes, but tremors from earthquakes in neighbouring countries can occasionally be felt in Belize. There can occasionally be tsunami warnings.
\n\nThe US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 911 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Belize, including:
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nMedical facilities in Belize are limited and availability of prescription medicine is unreliable. Serious medical cases are normally evacuated to the US, at the patient’s expense.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical facilities in Belize where some staff will speak English.
\n\nThere is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Belize.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nTelephone: 911 or 90 (ambulance, fire, police)
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
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