Belize, a country in Central America has approved a government proposal to create a new route to permanent residency for foreign investors to commit at least $500,000 to commercial ventures.
The Cabinet confirmed it this week, noting that the initiative is intended to simplify residency procedures for high-value investors globally, and tackle persistent complaints that bureaucratic obstacles have deterred foreign capital from the country.
The country also continues to operate its Qualified Retirement programme for individuals aged 40 and above with foreign-sourced income of at least $24,000 annually. That scheme offers tax benefits and a renewable temporary residence permit, but unlike the proposed investor route, it does not confer immediate permanent residence.
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How to apply
To apply for Belize’s new $500,000 investment program for fast-track permanent residency, which is expected to launch and formalize in 2026, you’ll need a detailed business plan for productive investments (tourism, green energy, etc.), proof of the $500k capital, and must work through the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit to get inter-ministerial approvals, showing a commitment to business integration over just a passport.
The process involves submitting a formal application with financial/business docs, aiming for direct permanent residency approval, with citizenship possible after 5 years.
According to IMI Daily, under the proposed scheme, qualifying investors would gain immediate permanent residency, replacing a traditional pathway that typically requires at least one year’s physical residence in Belize. Successful applicants are expected to be eligible to apply for citizenship after five years of holding permanent resident status.
Upon attaining citizenship status, a Belize passport holder is eligible to travel visa-free through or through a simplified process to various destinations. The countries are Colombia, Panama, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Uruguay. In Asia and the Middle East, eligible destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Georgia, Russia and South Korea, although entry conditions may vary, particularly where visa-on-arrival or e-visa arrangements apply. Within Africa, travellers can access South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, while in other regions, Vanuatu is also included.
While ministries have yet to publish detailed eligibility guidelines, officials have signalled that investors must work through the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit to secure business approvals, environmental clearances and sector-specific licences, particularly in tourism and export-oriented sectors. Registration with the Central Bank and relevant tax and social security authorities will also be required.
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Experts assess the policy
Policy analysts and migration experts say Belize’s move aligns with broader trends in global investment migration, but calls for clear safeguards to ensure economic benefits are realised.
Dr Katherina Davis, a specialist in international investment migration, described the proposal as “a strategic shift in Belize’s investment framework” that could position the country more competitively within the Caribbean migration market. She noted that the $500,000 threshold is designed to filter for serious entrepreneurial capital and distinguish Belize from passive residency and donation-based models elsewhere in the region. “By emphasising productive enterprise investment rather than passive real estate purchases, Belize could attract investors with long-term commercial commitments,” she said.
However, an editorial in National Perspective Belize, warned that without enforceable requirements for job creation, technology transfer or industrial expansion, the policy risks becoming “a fast track for money, not a fast track for Belize’s economy”. It argued that residency programmes should be tied to measurable economic outcomes, including employment generation for Belizeans
Belize’s initiative arrives as regional peers adjust their own investor and citizenship-by-investment frameworks in response to international scrutiny and competition. Other Caribbean nations, for example, are introducing minimum physical presence requirements and strengthened due-diligence measures to boost programme credibility and align with global compliance expectations.
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Existing programmes and legislative road map
The Cabinet’s approval indicates executive backing for the proposal, but it has not yet become law. The next step is for the Legislative Drafting Unit to prepare the Bill, after which it must be debated and approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate before receiving the Governor-General’s assent and being formally published in the Gazette.
The ruling party currently holds a strong majority in the House, which may allow the legislation to move through Parliament more quickly when lawmakers resume sittings after the winter recess on January 28, 2026.
Appeal to Nigerian investors
Nigerians are increasingly acquiring Caribbean citizenship by investment to improve global mobility, expand business opportunities and gain economic stability, with programmes in Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda among the most popular. These schemes typically require government fund donations or approved real estate investments starting from $100,000 to $200,000, and offer visa-free access to destinations such as the UK and the Schengen Area.
However, the sector is facing heightened international scrutiny, including recent US travel restrictions on some CBI-issuing countries. In response, Caribbean governments are tightening due-diligence checks and regulatory oversight. While a few Central American countries like Belize offers investment-linked routes to citizenship, the Caribbean remains the preferred option for Nigerians seeking faster and more established second-passport solutions.
