Companies
For a company to open an account, identification is required for each beneficial owner and authorized signatory. Authorized signatories must each submit two Bankers’ References from established institutions. Certified copies of the company’s Certificate of Incorporation, and Memorandum and Articles of Association are also required.
Employment - Employer
Employment includes any trade, business, profession, office or vocation. An “employer” is any person or his / her representative who employs a person for eight hours or more in any contribution week (Sunday to Monday).
These include:
Every person who employs one or more persons is required under the Social Security Act to apply for Registration (R1 Form to be retrieved from Social Security) as an employer.
On being registered under the Act, an employer shall, within fourteen days after such registration, present to the Social Security Board a list of all his/her employees. Someone working under a contract of service employment would be eligible for Social Security coverage. This is any agreement between employer and worker by which the latter works under the authority and direction of the employer, even if not under his direct supervision, in return for payment (cash or kind), fixed according to the hours of work or piece rate / task rate.
Employers shall employ only those persons in possession of valid registration cards indicating that such cards are valid for employment.
Contribution - A contribution refers to Social Security payment due for one-week’s earnings. A Social Security contribution week is from Monday to Sunday.
Weekly Contributions Payable by Employed Persons and Employers
Employment includes any trade, business, profession, office or vocation. An “employer” is any person or his / her representative who employs a person for eight hours or more in any contribution week (Sunday to Monday).
These include:
- Anybody of persons, whether such body be a legal person or not;
- Any managing agent of an employer;
- The personal representative of a deceased employer;
- In relation to a person engaged in plying for hire with any vehicle or vessel the use of which is obtained from the owner thereof under a contract of bailment (other than a hire purchase agreement), the owner;
- In relation to a person employed for the purpose of any game or recreation and engaged or paid through a club, the manager, or where the club is managed by a committee, the members of the managing committee of the club;
Every person who employs one or more persons is required under the Social Security Act to apply for Registration (R1 Form to be retrieved from Social Security) as an employer.
- The application for registration is to be made within seven days of employing his/her first employee;
- The application is to be filled out in reference to one particular establishment at a specified address. If in one establishment, there is more than one economic activity under a single management that activity in which the largest number of persons are employed is to be given as the “nature of the business” and indicated on the form.
On being registered under the Act, an employer shall, within fourteen days after such registration, present to the Social Security Board a list of all his/her employees. Someone working under a contract of service employment would be eligible for Social Security coverage. This is any agreement between employer and worker by which the latter works under the authority and direction of the employer, even if not under his direct supervision, in return for payment (cash or kind), fixed according to the hours of work or piece rate / task rate.
Employers shall employ only those persons in possession of valid registration cards indicating that such cards are valid for employment.
Contribution - A contribution refers to Social Security payment due for one-week’s earnings. A Social Security contribution week is from Monday to Sunday.
Weekly Contributions Payable by Employed Persons and Employers
BZD$ |
|
|
Amount of Weekly Contributions |
Rate of Contribution |
||||
|
Actual Weekly Earnings |
Weekly Insurable Earnings |
Employer |
Employed Person |
Total Contribution |
Employer |
Employee |
|
1 |
Under 70.00 |
55.00 |
3.57 |
0.83 |
4.40 |
6.50% |
1.50% |
|
2 |
70.00 to 109.99 |
90.00 |
5.85 |
1.35 |
7.20 |
6.50% |
1.50% |
|
3 |
110.00 to 139.99 |
130.00 |
8.45 |
1.95 |
10.40 |
6.50% |
1.50% |
|
4 |
140.00 to 179.99 |
160.00 |
9.65 |
3.15 |
12.80 |
6.03% |
1.97% |
|
5 |
180.00 to 219.99 |
200.00 |
11.25 |
4.75 |
16.00 |
5.63% |
2.38% |
|
6 |
220.00 to 259.99 |
240.00 |
12.85 |
6.35 |
19.20 |
5.35% |
2.65% |
|
7 |
260.00 to 299.99 |
280.00 |
14.45 |
7.95 |
22.40 |
5.16% |
2.84% |
|
8 |
300.00 and over |
320.00 |
16.05 |
9.55 |
25.60 |
5.02% |
2.98% |
|
9 |
*** |
2.60 |
0.00 |
2.60 |
** Applied to employed persons (60 – 64 years) who have received a retirement benefit and all employed persons 65 years and older.
Documents can be downloaded on website (http://www.socialsecurity.org.bz)
Documents can be downloaded on website (http://www.socialsecurity.org.bz)
Travel to Belize
Travelers must have a valid passport and an onward plane ticket for a 30-day Visitor’s Visa to be issued. Prior to expiration, an extension of the Visitor’s Visa can be obtained at any of the district Immigration Offices, for a fee of US$25.00 per month, after 6 months for a fee of US$50.00 per month. Citizens from the U.S.A., British Commonwealth (except India), Mexico, CARICOM, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Iceland, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, or nationals of a member state of the European Union do not require a visa. Kindly contact the nearest Belizean embassy, mission or consulate for information on countries that require and do not require a visa.
Any Belizean Embassy or Consulate can issue a visa at the cost of US$50.00 for single entry valid for 3 months or US$100.00 for multiple entries valid up to twelve months. If there is no Belizean Embassy or Consulate in your country, one can still be obtained through the nearest British Embassy or High Commission.
Nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of US$100.00, in addition to an Entry Permit (Visa) which costs US$2,000.00. For nationals of India, Nepal, Thailand and Burma the application fee is US$250.00
Since visa requirements are subject to change, please contact the Belize Embassy or Consulate in your area.
Permanent Residence
An individual can apply for permanent residence after a legal presence in Belize for a minimum of one (1) year. During that period you cannot leave the country for more than fourteen (14) days. Application fees range from US$500.00 to US$5,000 depending on the nationality of the applicant and will be paid upon approval. Permanent Residency Status application forms may be purchased at the Angelus Press Ltd., a stationery store with two outlets in Belize City and one in the City of Belmopan.
Nationality/Citizenship
To acquire citizenship, applicants must be a permanent resident and have been a resident for a minimum of five (5) years, in accordance with the Belize Nationality Act of 1981. There is also a provision for the registration of minor children along with the applicant.
Applicants by virtue of Belize descent are required to fill out Section 4 and 5 of the application form. Applicants with a Belizean spouse are required to fill out Form G application form. Application forms may be purchased at the Angelus Press.
Applications for Permanent Residence or Citizenship are to be accompanied by:
Travelers must have a valid passport and an onward plane ticket for a 30-day Visitor’s Visa to be issued. Prior to expiration, an extension of the Visitor’s Visa can be obtained at any of the district Immigration Offices, for a fee of US$25.00 per month, after 6 months for a fee of US$50.00 per month. Citizens from the U.S.A., British Commonwealth (except India), Mexico, CARICOM, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Iceland, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, or nationals of a member state of the European Union do not require a visa. Kindly contact the nearest Belizean embassy, mission or consulate for information on countries that require and do not require a visa.
Any Belizean Embassy or Consulate can issue a visa at the cost of US$50.00 for single entry valid for 3 months or US$100.00 for multiple entries valid up to twelve months. If there is no Belizean Embassy or Consulate in your country, one can still be obtained through the nearest British Embassy or High Commission.
Nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of US$100.00, in addition to an Entry Permit (Visa) which costs US$2,000.00. For nationals of India, Nepal, Thailand and Burma the application fee is US$250.00
Since visa requirements are subject to change, please contact the Belize Embassy or Consulate in your area.
Permanent Residence
An individual can apply for permanent residence after a legal presence in Belize for a minimum of one (1) year. During that period you cannot leave the country for more than fourteen (14) days. Application fees range from US$500.00 to US$5,000 depending on the nationality of the applicant and will be paid upon approval. Permanent Residency Status application forms may be purchased at the Angelus Press Ltd., a stationery store with two outlets in Belize City and one in the City of Belmopan.
Nationality/Citizenship
To acquire citizenship, applicants must be a permanent resident and have been a resident for a minimum of five (5) years, in accordance with the Belize Nationality Act of 1981. There is also a provision for the registration of minor children along with the applicant.
Applicants by virtue of Belize descent are required to fill out Section 4 and 5 of the application form. Applicants with a Belizean spouse are required to fill out Form G application form. Application forms may be purchased at the Angelus Press.
Applications for Permanent Residence or Citizenship are to be accompanied by:
- Completed application form
- Proof of identification and nationality of applicant (translated as required)
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- Three recent passport size photographs of self
- Recent Police record form
- Country of origin
- Belize
- Certificate of Health including HIV and VDRL tests for applicant
- Evidence of period of continuous legal residence for one/five years
- Police record and identification of reference (i.e. passport, birth certificate, voter’s ID)
- Inclusion of spouse: Item 2-7 are to be submitted in support if included in application
- In case applicants is married to a Belizean
- Marriage certificate
- Wife’s/husband’s birth certificate
- Spouse’s certificate of nationality (as applicable)
- Recent Local Bank Statement or otherwise where means of financial support is not indicated.
- Temporary employment permit if applicant wishes to engage in gainful employment
- Renunciation Form (as applicable)
WORK PERMIT
Foreign Nationals (non-Belizeans) wishing to work in Belize as an employee or an employer. There are two types of applications:
Procedure on applying for permission to employ a Foreigner:
Procedures on applying for self-employment (Foreign Investor):
Foreign Nationals (non-Belizeans) wishing to work in Belize as an employee or an employer. There are two types of applications:
- Application for permission to employ a foreigner
- Application for Self-Employment (Applies for foreign investors, etc.)
Procedure on applying for permission to employ a Foreigner:
- The potential employer is required to advertise the position in a local (not regional) newspaper for at least three (3) weeks to ensure that no local applicants can do the job;
- Purchase an application form from the Labor department;
- The prospective employer completes and submits, in person, the application along with supporting documents (which includes police report from the last county of stay), on behalf of the foreign worker that he wishes to employ to the Department of Labor;
- The payment of BZ $25.00 application fee and $20 of postage stamps is required along with the submission;
- The application will be review and is additional information and documentation is needed, this will be requested;
- The applicant and employer must attend an interview and it is not a guarantee that the application will be approved;
- The application will be forwarded to Special Branch to conduct a security check on the individual;
- If all is in order and the application is approved then the applicant is required to pay a fee;
- The applicant should then register with the Income Tax Department and the Board of Social Security;
- Should the work permit need to renewed, the entire procedure must be done again one month prior to the expiry of the permit.
Procedures on applying for self-employment (Foreign Investor):
- Submit the application and supporting documents (which includes police report from the last county of stay), in person to the Department of Labor;
- Upon receipt of the application an interview date for the applicant is provided;
- The Department will review the application and if additional information and documentation is needed, this will be requested.
- The applicant must attend an interview and it is not a guarantee that the application will be approved;
- The application will be forwarded to Special Branch to conduct a security check on the individual;
- If all is in order, the application is approved and then the applicant is required to pay a fee;
- The applicant should then register with the Income Tax Department and the Board of Social Security.