Temporary Employment Permit
Labour Department approval, issued by Immigration
Anyone who intends to work in Belize needs a Temporary Employment Permit and must be residing in Belize. The employer files the application at a Labour Department office (self-employed people file themselves). After approval, the worker collects the permit at an Immigration Office after paying a fee that depends on the type of work, from BZ$150 for a crop season to BZ$3,000 a year for professionals. CARICOM nationals may instead use the CSME Skilled Certificate route.
Life in Belize
Money
3
Currency
Belize Dollar
BZD
Belize Dollar
Cost of living
54
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
Flat 25%
Income tax (national)
25% of chargeable income for employed persons; residents below an annual income threshold (raised by a 2024 amendment) pay no income tax.
Living
1
Happiness
#25 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign employees and self-employed people working in Belize, including professionals, technicians, farm workers, entertainers and volunteers.
Eligibility
Residing in Belize
You must be residing in Belize and hold a valid passport and a valid Belize visa if you need one.
Who files
If you are employed, your employer must file on your behalf at the Labour Department. Self-employed people file themselves.
Categories
Professional workers (university degree holders such as managers, doctors, architects, accountants, chefs), technical workers, general workers and farmhands, seasonal agricultural workers, self-employed, entertainers, religious/cultural/educational/voluntary workers, import/export traders, pedlars, and waitresses and domestics.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklistTemporary Employment Permit application
- FeesProfessional workers (university degree) - one year
- Steps to applyThe employer (or the self-employed person) submits the application at a Labour D
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 4 documents
- 9 fees
- 6 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Belize
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Belize
- Visit & tourismBelize visitor visa (where required) and visitor's permit extension
- Permanent residenceBelize permanent residence
Work permits in other countries
- CanadaInternational Experience Canada (IEC): Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op
- Central African RepublicLong-stay visa (visa long séjour, 45-90 days) for work, business and other purposes
- Republic of the CongoOrdinary resident card (carte de résident ordinaire), including for salaried workers
- SwitzerlandWork and residence permit for non-EU/EFTA nationals
- ChileResidencia Temporal – subcategoría Extranjeros que desarrollan actividades lícitas remuneradas
- CameroonEmployment: MINEFOP-approved (visé) work contract, long stay visa and carte de séjour
