Moving to Belize for permanent residence. Belizean companies used in tax planning contrary to oesr pressure
Publication
The state of Belize is located in Central America: in the southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula between Mexico and Guatemala. His main income is tourism. In addition, the offshore financial industry makes a significant contribution to Belize’s national income. And although Belize became an offshore not so long ago (independence from Great Britain was obtained in 1981), its popularity has recently been quite significant.
Among the reasons for this popularity are the following:
- continental state, therefore, unlike island offshore, and has a fairly developed economy;
- the official language is English;
- the company registration procedure is fast enough (within a few hours), and the subsequent maintenance of the company is relatively inexpensive;
- no minimum paid-in capital requirements;
- no currency control;
- belizean offshore companies are exempt from taxation in Belize, as well as from any reporting;
- the legal system of jurisdiction is based on English common law.
This is probably due to the fact that from September 1, 2013, Belize undertook to transmit information on the basis of the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, ratified in May. This document regulates the exchange of tax information, and also instructs to assist in conducting joint interstate tax audits.
The Convention allows the recalculation of the tax base, penalization and prosecution of those responsible. And the possibility of conducting a simultaneous tax audit in several countries at once is designed to stop the abuse of interstate agreements to avoid double taxation.
And, although Russia has not yet ratified this agreement, it is unlikely to get information from Belize for our tax authorities. All this can seriously reduce the popularity of using Belizean companies in international tax planning. But, at the same time, it is hardly worth talking about the disappearance of this jurisdiction from the offshore world map.
Belize in practice is often used in conjunction with Cyprus.
The legal system of jurisdiction is based on English common law. Under Belizean law, it is possible to establish companies of various organizational and legal forms, however, the main interest is represented by international business companies - International Business Companies (hereinafter - IBC), whose activities are regulated by the International Business Companies Act of 1990 (recent changes were introduced in 2000). In fact, IBC is a limited liability company, and its shareholders are not liable for the debts of the company. The offshore status of such a company is achieved by the fact that the following list of incomes is not subject to any Belizean taxes:
- all IBC income received from foreign sources;
- all dividends and other distributions paid to non-residents of Belize;
- all interest, rents, royalties, compensation, other amounts paid to non-residents of Belize;
- capital gains received in respect of any shares, debt instruments or other securities from non-residents of Belize.
So, if a Belize company owns 100 percent of the capital of a Cypriot company, and that, in turn, has subsidiaries in Russia, it allows you to withdraw net profit offshore with minimal tax loss. In fact, these losses will only be a source tax in Russia. When paying dividends to Cyprus, its minimum rate is 5 percent. There will be no loss in the distribution of dividends from Cyprus to Belize. If according to the same scheme to distribute interest on a loan or royalties, there will be no tax loss at all.
At the same time, the Belize company must keep accounting records reflecting its financial condition and keep: minutes of all meetings of directors, shareholders, committees of directors, committees of officers, committees of shareholders; copies of all decisions taken on directors, shareholders, committees of directors, committees of officials, committees of shareholders. Account books, statements and minutes of meetings are stored at the registered office of the company.
In addition, the company must have a seal, a print of which is also stored at the address of the registered office.
Another opportunity to obtain tax-free status in Belize is to register a Limited Duration Company (LDC). This is a type of offshore company with a limited duration. Under the Law on International Commercial Companies, LDC enjoys the same advantages as IBC, but is transparent for tax purposes. That is, in fact, is a partnership. With this structure, the LDC does not pay Belize taxes - all tax obligations that are passed on to partnership members who pay taxes at the place of their tax residency.
Unlike IBC, LDCs in Belize are limited in existence. When registering such companies, constituent documents must indicate the period by which the organization is obliged to complete its activities. The maximum allowable period of activity of the LDC is 50 years.
Instead of tax deductions, any type of international business company in Belize, whether LDC or IBC, must pay an annual registration fee. The amount of the fee depends on the size of the declared authorized capital of the company:
- up to 50 thousand USD - 100 USD per year;
- up to 50 thousand USD with shares without par value - 350 USD per year;
- more than 50 thousand USD - 1 thousand USD per year.
In addition to the annual registration fee, companies are charged a fee for the services that the registration agent provides.
Automatic exchange of tax information with Belize is not currently possible
Belize has a number of tax avoidance agreements (UK, Sweden, some Caribbean jurisdictions) that allow you to reduce the source tax when using a Belize company in conjunction with holdings from these jurisdictions.
Recently, more and more Belize has been subjected to pressure from various international structures on issues related to taxation in one way or another. In particular, these are issues of the automatic exchange of tax information, the development of a joint policy that impedes the withdrawal of profits and tax evasion by legal methods through offshore companies.
OECD is preparing proposals for the automatic exchange of information on the relevant standard. As for preventing tax evasion, in many countries, especially European ones, a large number of scandals have recently arisen. Leading businessmen, politicians, as well as large companies were accused of taking money to tax havens. The OECD has prepared an action plan to combat the legal diversion of tax revenues by international companies.
The document is expected to be approved at a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Moscow in late July. The document (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)) outlines the measures that will be taken at the international and national levels against the tax-free transfer of company profits to offshore.
It is assumed that international corporations will pay taxes in the jurisdiction where they produce and sell products and conduct, and not at the place of registration of the company - the "mailbox". The report analyzed all the main tools of legal tax optimization used by companies around the world: interest, royalties, etc.
This organization plans to oblige companies to increase tax transparency, including by informing fiscal authorities about their tax optimization tools. The report indicates specific timelines for these activities. Thus, recommendations to countries on the most effective reform of their tax systems will be formulated in 2014 (in particular, for Belize - the first half of 2014).
Currently, in practice, automatic exchange of information is not possible. In order for the multilateral convention to work, it is necessary that the participating countries make appropriate changes to their domestic legislation: jurisdictions, in particular Belize, must develop and sign additional protocols that establish the appropriate procedure for mutual assistance and automatic exchange of specific information.
In Belize, such information may now be disclosed by a Belize Court ruling, at the request of the Belize Financial Intelligence Unit for money laundering, fraud and other illegal activities or, in some cases, by the Registered Agent (report on suspicious transactions, report on suspicious activity).
That is why at the moment it seems to us appropriate to wait and see how actual and effective the attack will be on Belize and other offshore jurisdictions and the consequences of this pressure. Jumping from one jurisdiction to another for no apparent legal reason seems inappropriate and premature. Therefore, we consider in more detail the corporate aspects of the activities of Belizean companies.
Bearer shares in Belize are permissible, but issuing them makes no sense
The simplicity, speed and low cost of incorporating a Belize company is one of the advantages of using this jurisdiction. The founder can be one, both an individual and a legal entity. Any activity not prohibited by law is permitted. Some activities require a license (banking, insurance, trust services). A company may carry out certain types of activities in Belize without losing its offshore status:
- make or keep deposits with banks;
- use the services of local lawyers, accountants, auditors, etc.
- compile and store books and records;
- hold meetings of directors and shareholders;
- rent an office to communicate with company members and store documents;
- own ships registered in Belize.
The legislation does not establish restrictions on the minimum declared capital; however, it can be indicated in several currencies. There is also no requirement for mandatory payment of the authorized capital. Moreover, no share can be issued until it is paid in full. The minimum size of the authorized capital has not been established, but the annual fee established by law depends on its size (border - 50 thousand US dollars).
Shares may be with or without par value. The minimum number of shares issued is one. Shares may be paid in cash, services, obligations (bills), movable and immovable property.
Along with registered shares, bearer shares are also allowed. But at the same time, Belize’s legislation established that the share certificate is kept by the registration agent or the company administrator with the declaration of the name of the bearer (owner). What makes senseless in this case their main function is confidentiality.
The obligation of the company to issue a share certificate should be specified in the company's charter. If a company issues a share certificate, it must be signed either by two directors, two officers, or the director and officer of the company, or must be sealed with or without signatures. Public information in Belize is only the constituent documents, legal address and name of the agent.
The company-registrar is submitted a memorandum of association and the charter of the company, which he retains and registers in the Register of International Commercial Companies, and a fee is paid.
The charter regulates the main corporate relations. In particular, the number of directors and their powers. The director may be a natural or legal person. The minimum number of directors is one. The law does not establish requirements for the residency of directors. The first directors are elected by the signatories. Meetings of directors and shareholders can be held anywhere: both in Belize and beyond. Moreover, meetings of shareholders are held at the initiative of the director of the company.
The company can maintain a register of directors that lists the names and addresses of directors, the date of appointment, the date of resignation. A copy of the registry is stored at the registered office address and is not submitted to public registries.
The presence of a registered agent and a registered office by the company is legally required throughout the life of the company. The agent may be a resident of Belize, who has received a license from the International Commission for Regulation of the Financial Services Market.
LDC has a slightly different structure than IBC. Instead of shareholders, participants, and instead of directors, a manager can be appointed. To register a partnership, one participant is enough. It is he who can manage the company alone. It is not necessary to appoint a pensioner or director.
The main regulatory document of such a company is a memorandum of association, which sets out the main provisions for managing the company, the rights of participants, etc.
All existing IBC companies can always change form to LDC.
It is wiser to close a company through a standard liquidation procedure
In accordance with the International Business Companies Act (Part IX), the liquidation of a Belize company can be either voluntary or compulsory. A company may initiate a voluntary liquidation procedure if it is solvent and has no debt obligations. In this case, the directors of the company decide on the liquidation and dissolution of the company, approve the dissolution plan and appoint a liquidator.
After the dissolution plan of the company has been approved by the directors (and, if required, by the shareholders), dissolution provisions are issued which state the dissolution plan and information on the approval by the directors or shareholders. Provisions should be sent to the registrar (for registration in the Register and subsequent storage). And then within 30 days a notice of liquidation was published in the official press organ of The Gazette. The fee established for registration by the Registrar of dissolution provisions is 100 USD.
After completion of the liquidation procedure, the liquidator sends the registrar a corresponding application. After which the registrar excludes the company from the Register and issues a certificate of dissolution (with his signature and seal). Accordingly, the dissolution of the company takes effect from the date of issuance of such a certificate.
The company has the right to cancel the liquidation by sending the registrar a copy of the decision of the directors or participants to annul the liquidation provisions. Within 30 days from the date the liquidation was canceled, the company is obliged to place an appropriate advertisement in the official press organ of The Gazette, the publication of the general circulation in Belize, as well as in the publication of the general circulation in the country or location of the company's head office. Liquidation cannot be canceled after the issuance of a certificate of liquidation.
In some cases, the registrar may exclude from the register a company that has not passed the liquidation procedure. There are several reasons why a company can be deleted from the register by administrative procedure: the company no longer meets the requirements that are provided for international commercial companies; Necessary documents were not submitted or annual fees paid. The company is not considered to have been dissolved for another 3 years from the moment it was struck off the register.
The principal difference between liquidation and exclusion from the register is as follows: the company is considered liquidated immediately after the liquidation procedure is completed, but after the company is deleted from the register, it is not considered liquidated for another 3 years.
The fact that the company was deleted from the register does not relieve it of liability for its obligations, any creditor can file a lawsuit against the company. Exclusion from the register does not relieve directors, participants, officers and agents of the company from liability. The fact of exclusion also does not exempt the company from paying annual duties and penalties for late payment.
Such a company retains its legal status, but is limited in legal capacity. The company does not have the right to file claims, conduct business or dispose of its assets, respond to claims, perform any actions related to the affairs of the company. However, such a company may be a plaintiff or a defendant in a lawsuit initiated before it was removed from the registry. In addition, directors and members of the company may apply for the reinstatement of the company in the registry.
Upon restoration, all license fees and fines unpaid at the time of exclusion and accumulated during the time after exclusion must be paid, plus a recovery fee. In this case, the company restored by the registrar in the registry will be considered as a company that has never been excluded from the registry.
Anastasia Chernova, a lawyer at Global Financial Consulting, participated in the preparation of the article.
Belize is a small country on the Caribbean Sea (the population does not exceed 300 thousand people). This location gives Belize not only the opportunity to trade in seafood, but also brings severe disasters in the form of frequent showers, floods and hurricanes. By the way, it is for this reason that Belmopan was chosen as the capital of Belize instead of Belize City, the largest city and port in this country, constantly suffering from severe natural disasters, a city located in the interior of the country, small in size and population.
There are not many Russian emigrants in the country, although they still want to settle in Belize, which is explained by a simplified immigration regime, low taxes, inexpensive real estate, which can be bought in the country without citizenship and, of course, a warm climate, pristine nature and located near The Caribbean.
Those who decide to leave civilization for a beautiful place right in the middle of the jungle do not always understand what they have to see and experience. It should be noted that this mistake of many foreigners - often there is simply no way to go "for reconnaissance". The range and high cost of such a journey affects, and therefore the move is carried out, chopping off all the roads and bridges. So what awaits the immigrant in Belize and what psychological difficulties will he have to face?
What is and what is not in Belize
The first thing you should pay attention to: Belize is a truly stunning beautiful country, but its beauty mainly focuses on the absence of civilization, low population density, poorly developed infrastructure in most parts of the country, and the absence of large shops and shopping and entertainment centers. Only thanks to this, it is possible to preserve such a number of effective places where you can enjoy nature in its original form.
In fact, everything is quite natural, however, not every immigrant understands to the end the meaning of the words “no traffic jams, no frantic race for time, no civilization”.
About some of the nuances of life in Belize
The “white” person in Belize is often mistaken for a source of income. As in most countries of Latin America, here, with a European appearance, everyone becomes a potential victim who is not considered a great sin to rob or sell to her something several times more expensive, which is sufficient reason to be especially careful.
To make life easier in Belize, you must and must have a good command of languages. The official language in the country is English, but most of the population speaks exclusively Spanish, and therefore it is tolerable to own both. You should not think that you can acquire such knowledge even after arriving in the country - even going to the grocery store will be very difficult, not to mention finding a job. Knowing Spanish and English in Belize will allow you to at least bargain in fruit stalls and make friends. By the way, knowledge of the English language for business people is considered mandatory here, all educated local residents and other local elites communicate on it.
Knowledge of languages \u200b\u200bin Belize, as in other countries, is quite important even for those who previously considered themselves to be a person who does not like someone else’s society and who prefer a quiet evening at the TV to a noisy party with friends. The peculiarity of life in Belize is that it is too quiet for those who are used to rushing home in traffic jams after work, having lunch in crowded cafes and spending free time in the cinema. Quiet in this country, even for those who led a more secluded life. To find friends is not so simple and, especially, a Russian-speaking family, and therefore, before leaving your country, it makes sense to look for friends through social networks, to meet Russian-speaking people living in Belize. By the way, thanks to this friendship, it will be possible to familiarize yourself with some points in advance, to prepare for possible difficulties through those who have already experienced this.
In general, settling in a new country is quite difficult and Belize in this case is no exception. Difficulties may arise not only with communication, but also with employment and, of course, material wealth.
About Belizeans
Life in Belize is full of European traditions and customs, adopted, for the most part, from the British. For example, here it is customary to take a lunch break during the working day, and incredible punctuality has been inherited from the British: being late even for a few minutes for the declared meeting is a sign of disrespect for them.
Locals are calm. It should be noted that foreigners who are not accustomed to such a slow way of life, this is very annoying, especially at first - until it becomes clear that nothing can be done about it. The favorite word of all locals is “maniac”, which literally means “tomorrow” when translated into Russian. It perfectly characterizes the entire local population: slow and calm.
The positive qualities of the inhabitants of Belize include their good nature, the ability to listen and give good advice. In general, all local residents are interesting interlocutors and excellent listeners who are able to skillfully support even that conversation about which they have little idea. At the same time, personal life is a forbidden topic for them; questions in this category are unethical for them.
The locals have a special passion for the holidays and magnificent feasts, even the most modest celebration often lasts until late at night. In this country, one holiday does not have time to end and another begins already. So for every month of the year there is at least one holiday and it is customary to celebrate it for at least four days.
In this sense, Belizeans are very reminiscent of Russians: visits to friends, neighbors, and relatives by noisy companies with strong drinks in this country are very common.
Belize is the only country in South America to officially speak English. This means that if you move, you will not need to study either Spanish or Portuguese, which are less popular among our people.
In addition to the language, Belize is famous for its offshore status and offers favorable zero taxation for companies. For individuals, certain concessions are also acceptable.
In addition, the price level in the country is low, the weather is sunny, the coast is long and there is a second-largest coral reef next to the Australian Great Barrier Reef. So, if you are also a diver, there will be something to do.
General Belize Information
Capital of the country: Belmopan
Country population: 322,453 (2010 estimate)
Area: 22 966 km2
Official language: English
Life expectancy: 68 years
GDP: $ 1.624 billion (2013)
GDP per capita: $ 4,893
Currency: Belize Dollar (BZD)
How to become a resident of Belize? How to get a Belize residence permit?
To visit Belize and become local, you must first obtain a visa. Since Belize is a Commonwealth country led by the UK, virtually any contact for official documents will go through the British consulates.
However, from February 2016, it appeared to get an entry visa right at the border upon arrival at the place. To do this, you will need to have a valid passport, return tickets, and money to stay in the country. A visa is valid for 30 days, after which it can be extended.
However, it is more interesting to get a tourist card.
How to get a temporary residence permit (residence permit) Belize?
If you decide to stay in a country between Guatemala and Mexico, then pay attention to several types of programs. The first and easiest in terms of documents and deadlines is to obtain a Tourist Card.
This cannot be called fully a temporary residence permit, but the concept closest to it. In fact, this is a visa that allows you to stay in the country for 30 days. At the end of this period without any problems it is allowed to obtain permission again. It costs an extension of $ 25 for the first six months and $ 50 thereafter.
Such a visa (stamp in the passport) will allow you to travel around the country, relax, but not work. We do not recommend forgetting to renew - they can deport.
In fact, the Tourist Card does not require you to make any special investments or expenses, except to prove that you have the means to live. It is done very quickly. But at the same time it does not give an official status and tax breaks, for which many people come to the country, you can’t work and get an official salary. In addition, constant costs.
The only thing that the Card really gives is the credited period of stay in the country for the transition to a Permanent Residence Permit. However, before moving on to it, it is worth mentioning another type of permit, which is called a Residence Permit for pensioners.
Belize residence permit for senior citizens
In English, it is called Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) or eligible retired persons. The program has been working for a long time and attracts enough people, although in recent years there has been a slight decline in interest.
What is the program’s interest, and what are its disadvantages? As a person older than 45 years, you have the right to apply for the status of a pensioner in Belize and come here to live. In addition to age, you must receive a monthly pension of $ 2,000 or any other type of income. The main thing is that official sources confirm it - banks, pension funds, etc.
Also, future residents are invited to bring their property into the country absolutely duty-free, from furniture and bicycles to cars, yachts and airplanes. Although taxes are low within the country, import duties are high, and using the program to import expensive items is beneficial.
In addition to the senior citizen, the spouse, minor children or children under 23 years of age who are educated at the University can come together.
This is a plus. The disadvantages are that, firstly, the period of residence by QRP does not count and moving up the steps of "Residence Permanent Residence Permanent Residence Permanent Citizenship" will not work. Secondly, the authorities sometimes forget that they themselves invited pensioners to live in the country and perceive them as tourists. Not to mention the fact that no one officially knows how many pensioners moved into the country and where the money earned from duties went.
Therefore, it is not uncommon for spouses to come to the country, one receives and uses a Tourist Card to set the time, and the second uses QRP to bring personal items and assets to Belize without taxes.
How to get a permanent residence permit (permanent residence) Belize?
Of permanent interest is the Permanent Residence Permit in Belize. To qualify for it, you must live in the country for more than 1 year in a row without leaving the territory for more than 14 days. As you remember, the period of stay under the program for pensioners is not counted, therefore, the renewable Tourist Card is mainly used.
In addition to the deadline, personal documents (passports, birth and marriage certificates), an extract from the police about the lack of a criminal record are required. You will have to undergo a medical examination to make sure that you are not a carrier of dangerous diseases such as AIDS.
A representative of any country can apply for permanent residence, although there is a risk of refusal. At the same time, it is allowed to bring in personal items once, without a fee, excluding vehicles.
Having received permanent residence, you have the right to work, get paid or work for yourself - in other words, receive income in the country, and not just outside it. Travel restrictions are removed and allowed to be located outside the country as much as you want.
The cost of the application depends on nationality and will cost from 250 to 5000 dollars.
Consideration takes time and is not always transparent. If they refuse you, it’s not always clear why.
How to obtain Belizean citizenship?
Five years later with a Permanent Residence Permit, a person has the right to apply for Belizean citizenship and passport. Again, you need to provide a passport, account statements and from the police, plus to show that you really have been a permanent resident for five years.
You will need to prove that you speak English and the history of Belize. It is recommended to keep English at the level always, and the history of Belize can be read out in a couple of books, since it is small.
Another way to obtain citizenship is to marry a Belizean citizen. To do this, you must obtain permission from the Ministry of the Attorney General and pay a fee of $ 25. A year after marriage, a foreigner has every right to apply for Belizean citizenship. In the case of children, the process is accelerated even more.
There is information that Belize offers a citizenship program for investment. This was in the history of the country, but now there is no active and legal program. Therefore, the question of what can be acquired for a modest remuneration of a second citizenship is not true. Even in the Russian part of the Internet there are announcements that Belizean citizenship is being sold, with reference to sites that have not had such an offer for a long time. Therefore, check the adequacy of one or another advertising text, especially the “second citizenship program in Belize” is considered the most classic example of fraud, since it has not existed since 2002.
Passport registration takes 6-12 months.
Having received a Belizean passport, you are allowed to travel to 93 countries without a visa - almost like in Russia. But on the other hand, the list of visa-free countries includes Great Britain with Ireland, Andorra with Gibraltar, Turkey with Israel, and Mexico with Hong Kong. In addition, it is easy to travel to the Caribbean, so if you decide to open a company not only in Belize, but also, say, in St. Kitts and Nevis, you can personally attend.
How to get dual citizenship of Belize?
The disadvantage of Belizean citizenship is the fact that you will have to abandon the original passport. And although this is a full-fledged offshore zone, at the moment it does not allow you to have two passports.
Therefore, if you are thinking about getting tax benefits and living in an accessible country, then holding a passport is not necessary. In addition, if you already have second passports of other jurisdictions, then there is definitely no point in refusing.
Taxes and Tax Planning in Belize
Belize is considered an offshore haven for companies, especially if they are properly structured. Ordinary people can also get some tax benefits.
Non-residents are taxed on income received in the country. Married couples are taxed, each member individually.
The income tax is by no means small - 25%, but residents can exclude the first 10,000 dollars from taxation. But there is no tax on capital gains. If you used the QRP program, then there are also no duties on the import of things.
Real estate fees are quite high, albeit unified: the state duty rate for the purchase of real estate is 10%. Land ownership - 1%. For rental income - 12.5%.
Many enterprising people have a desire to obtain Belizean citizenship and make this country their main place of residence. Despite its inconspicuous position on the world map, Belize is known for its developed financial sector. This is where many offshore companies owned by businessmen from various countries are registered. This state, located in Central America, is perfect for re-registering a business, registering startups, etc.
As for Belize, the procedure is more conservative. To get a passport, you need to live in the state for a certain time and fulfill several conditions. This is the so-called naturalization process. And before that, you need to become the official owner of a permanent residence.
Long stay in the country
The task of staying legally in Belize is decided by the Tourist Card. It is received at the entrance to the country. Validity - 1 month. After 30 days, you can extend the validity of the Card at the immigration office. It will cost 25 US dollars. After six months have passed, the procedure will cost 2 times more expensive. A tourist card provides an opportunity to move around the country without restrictions, to buy or rent a property. But the rights to official work in Belize with the help of the Map cannot be obtained.
Do not forget to extend the validity period of the Tourist Card on time. Otherwise, the state will have an official reason for your deportation. In the best case, officials will have to explain for a long time why the extension was not completed on time. Usually, after several months of using the Tourist Card, a person applies for a permanent residence in this country.
There is a Qualified Retired Persons program. She aims to attract retirees to Belize. With it, the state hopes to stimulate the local economy. The program provides a residence permit and allows you to import property, including large, without paying taxes. Persons over 45 years old can participate in the program. The benefits of QRP also apply to the spouse of the program participant and minor children (or students at the university). You must remember the main drawback of the program: the time spent in this country as part of the QRP is not taken into account as the period during which a person must live here to obtain permanent residence or citizenship.
Citizenship through marriage
You can get a Belize passport by marrying a citizen or citizen of this country. This option can be considered by single people. This requires permission to marry, which is issued by the Ministry of the Attorney General. Usually there are no problems with this. Costs are also small - only $ 25.
It is believed that many Belizeans are interested in marrying foreigners in order to improve their financial situation. This makes it quite easy to find a partner for marriage. Such an alien may apply for citizenship 1 year after marriage. The process may accelerate if a child is born in the marriage.
Permanent residence in Belize
An application for permanent residence in Belize can be submitted after 1 year of residence in the country. To do this, contact the Department of Immigration. It is located in Belmopan - the capital of the state. For a year you can leave Belize only for a period not exceeding 2 weeks. Otherwise, the application may be rejected. The applicant will need to go through several medical tests. You will also need a certificate confirming the absence of a criminal record. In addition, you must provide 2 recommendations from Belizean citizens. These people should be familiar with a person applying for permanent residence for at least one year. Usually, legal or medical workers are chosen as such guarantors.
It looks like a certificate of no criminal record
In order for the application to be considered, a fee must be paid. The amount ranges from 250 to 5000 US dollars and largely depends on the nationality of the applicant. The review period is also different: from several months to a year, and sometimes more. After approval of the application, you can work in Belize without obtaining special permission to do so. A person gets the opportunity not only to travel without restrictions around the country, but also to leave Belize for the period he needs.
One of the reasons why Russians apply for foreign citizenship is the possibility of visa-free travel around the world. Among the countries whose passport allows you to travel freely, is Belize. How to obtain Belizean citizenship?
How
Belizean citizenship issues are regulated by the local Constitution and the Citizenship Act of 1981 with additions from 1985. Foreigners wishing to become citizens of this country should study these documents in detail.
There are several ways to become a citizen of Belize. For instance:
- By birthright.
- Through naturalization.
- Based on marriage with a citizen of the country.
Children whose parents had Belizean citizenship or received it as a result of naturalization, automatically receive the right to be considered Belizean citizens.
A popular way is to naturalize. The following requirements are applied to a person applying for citizenship on this basis:
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In addition, a potential citizen will need to prove the fact of integration into local society. To do this, you need to pass tests for knowledge of the state language (English), as well as the history and culture of the country.
You can become a Belizean citizen by marrying a local resident. In this situation, the residency qualification decreases. After a year of residence in the country, it is allowed to apply for citizenship.
Children born in such a marriage are automatically considered natives of Belize. In this case, the foreign parent receives preference when the period of residence is not taken into account.
For investment
Economic citizenship programs exist in many states. The bottom line is that in exchange for an investment in the economy or a donation to the budget of a certain amount, you can become a citizen of the country.
The Belize Citizenship Economic Program was approved in 1985. A person who has invested in the country's economy may obtain citizenship for himself, his spouse, children under 18 years of age or disabled children under 30 years of age, and parents. All family members must reside in Belize with a direct investor.
Investments involve making:
- registration fee of $ 15,000 per person or $ 25,000 per family;
- gratuitous investment contribution of $ 25,000;
- fees for the services of a licensed immigration consultant in the amount of 20% of the total fee and fee.
If citizenship is denied, then the amount paid will be refunded. Only $ 500 is deducted for consideration of the appeal.
Applications are reviewed by an independent committee. If approved, the passport is issued within a month after receipt of documents and payment of the necessary amounts. Newly-fledged citizens are required to swear allegiance to the Constitution of Belize.
Since 2002, the economic program for the provision of Belizean citizenship has been suspended.
For seniors
People of retirement age can come to Belize through the Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) program. According to the conditions, a person over the age of 45 can receive pensioner status in Belize and live permanently in the country.
In this case, we are not talking about obtaining citizenship, but rather a residence permit. The applicant must have a monthly verified income of $ 2,000.
A future resident who has received a residence permit is entitled to enter any personal property into the country without paying a fee. Together with a pensioner, a spouse, minor children or children under the age of 23 years of age may come.
While a citizen lives in Belize in the status of a pensioner, the period of residence does not count towards him. Therefore, applying for naturalization citizenship will not work. You must apply for a residence permit.
The next step is to obtain a permanent residence permit. And only after five years from obtaining a residence permit is allowed to apply for citizenship.
If both spouses move to Belize, then the best option is to get one of them a Tourist Card and enter the other according to the QRP program. At the same time, one is gaining a period of residence to obtain citizenship, and the second imports duty-free personal items.
How to obtain Belizean citizenship for Russians
Russians can move to Belize by following these instructions:
- Get a Tourist Card. This is a visa. Allowing to stay in the country for thirty days. You can renew it repeatedly. According to the Card, you can permanently live in the country and at the same time the length of stay is taken into account.
- Apply for permanent residence after a year of residence (you must not leave the country for more than two weeks).
- Apply for citizenship five years after obtaining permanent residence. You will need to submit the necessary documents and wait for a decision.
There is no Belize consulate in Russia, but diplomatic relations between the countries have been operating since 1991. To apply for a visa to Belize, Russians must contact the Consulate or Embassy of Great Britain or the British Visa Application Centers.
Required documents
To obtain a Belizean visa, the following documents will be required:
- a passport with a validity period of at least six months and a free page for a visa;
- applicant in English. You can fill out on the website of the UK government and here you can choose the time of visiting the visa center. For a personal visit, you need to have a printed and signed application form with you;
- two color photos 3,5 × 4,5;
- documents confirming income and financial viability (in an amount sufficient to finance the trip). It can be bank statements, salary receipts, tax documents, copies of bank accounts;
- a certificate of employment indicating the position and size of the salary (at least $ 700) or another document indicating the occupation and sources of funding;
- invitation of the host country with the dates of the trip, hotel name or address of the planned accommodation.
All documents are translated into English, but notarization is not required.
To obtain a residence permit you will need to provide (a notarized translation into English is required):
- a copy of the applicant’s passport (and all family members);
- documents confirming kinship / marriage;
- medical report on the health of the applicant and family members;
- a certificate of the absence of a criminal record and criminal record;
- four front color photos and four 3 × 4 profile photos.
To obtain permanent residence, you will need to confirm permanent residence and the absence of problems with the law. In addition, you will need to provide two recommendations from citizens of the country, acquaintance with whom lasts at least a year (officials, doctors, lawyers). Be sure to undergo medical tests.
When you marry a Belizean citizen for the purpose of obtaining citizenship, you must obtain permission from the Ministry of the Attorney General of Belize.
When applying for Belizean citizenship, the same documents are submitted confirming residence, trustworthiness, and the absence of health problems. In addition, you must renounce your former citizenship.
Term and cost of registration
Visa to Belize will cost 2,400 rubles, this is a consular fee. Additionally, you may need to pay an amount of 3,250 rubles, if you need to send documents for consideration to the Russian Foreign Ministry. A visa is issued within 7-30 days, which depends on the workload of the Embassy and the speed of response of the migration service.
Upon arrival in Belize, the visa you received can be extended. There is an extension of $ 25 in the first six months and $ 50 thereafter. When you get married, you need to pay only $ 25 for permission.
The amount of payment for consideration of an application for permanent residence is determined by the citizenship of the applicant and varies from $ 250 to $ 5,000.
If we talk about the exact timing of obtaining citizenship, then subject to all the requirements of Belizean legislation, the period until obtaining citizenship ranges from one year to five years after obtaining permanent residence (except for cases of obtaining citizenship by birth).
The very process of obtaining Belizean citizenship cannot be called expensive. However, for most Russians planning to move to this country, the need to confirm financial viability becomes an obstacle.
Although the declared funds remain with the applicant and no investment fees are required, the funds must be and this must be officially confirmed.
What gives
Belizean citizenship provides the following benefits:
- visa-free entry to 56 countries of the world (countries of Western Europe, the British Commonwealth of Nations, the Pacific region);
- obtaining a visa on favorable terms for other states;
- minimum taxation upon registration of a company, since Belize is an offshore zone;
- no capital gains tax for individuals;
- the possibility of reducing the tax base when paying income tax (25%) by $ 10,000 at the beginning of payment.
The rest of the special advantages of living in Belize are few. Real estate fees are very high. Low population density is not conducive to infrastructure development.
In addition, just a huge number of different nationalities live here and you need to adapt to living in a multicultural society.
Life in Belize is suitable for those who want to lead a relatively inexpensive quiet life in a beautiful area or plan to actively travel the world.
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