• Effective August 9th, 2021 all travellers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, entering Belize from other countries will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test.
• All travellers entering Belize at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) will be required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of arrival or a negative result from any approved Antigen Rapid Test (home testing kits are not accepted) taken within 48 hours of arrival. If no test is presented, a COVID-19 test will be administered at the airport for a fee of USD $50 per passenger. Children under the age of 5 years will not be required to present a negative test; but children 5 years and older will be required to present a negative test.
• All travellers entering Belize through the Northern and Western Borders will be administered a Rapid Test for COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, at their own expense. No external COVID-19 PCR or Rapid Test will be accepted at these points of entry.

• As of December 6, 2021, The Government of Belize (GOB) states that every person who enters Belize through the airport and who has travelled from Botswana, Eswaniti, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe, shall be put into mandatory quarantine for a period of ten days at a government designated quarantine facility in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry responsible for health.

• The country’s primary concern is to assure both travellers and residents that Belize’s tourism product is safer than ever before.  A series of new enhanced health and safety protocols have been put in place to protect visitors, Belizeans, and our communities.

  These include:

  • Mandatory use of face masks in public spaces
  • Enforcement of physical distancing measures in public spaces and capacity restrictions at restaurants (currently 50%), grocery stores, retail stores, etc.
  • Introduction of the “Tourism Gold Standard Program” which seeks to enhance the tourism industry’s health and safety standards by adapting new behaviours and procedures to ensure both employees and travellers are confident in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s tourism product. Some of these new measures include:
    • Online check-in/out, contactless payment systems, and automated ordering/booking systems
    • Hand sanitizing stations
    • Enhanced cleaning and sanitization of public spaces and high touch surfaces
    • Capacity restrictions for all tourism sites to ensure physical distancing can be maintained
    • Smaller tour groups to provide a more intimate tour experience

  Gold Standard entities can be easily identified by looking for the Gold Standard Certificate or Safety seal.

  

   

• The country’s primary concern is to assure both travellers and residents that Belize’s tourism product is safer than ever before.  A series of new enhanced health and safety protocols have been put in place to protect visitors, Belizeans, and our communities.

  These include:

  • Mandatory use of face masks in public spaces
  • Enforcement of physical distancing measures in public spaces and capacity restrictions at restaurants (currently 50%), grocery stores, retail stores, etc.
  • Introduction of the “Tourism Gold Standard Program” which seeks to enhance the tourism industry’s health and safety standards by adapting new behaviours and procedures to ensure both employees and travellers are confident in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s tourism product. Some of these new measures include:
    • Online check-in/out, contactless payment systems, and automated ordering/booking systems
    • Hand sanitizing stations
    • Enhanced cleaning and sanitization of public spaces and high touch surfaces
    • Capacity restrictions for all tourism sites to ensure physical distancing can be maintained
    • Smaller tour groups to provide a more intimate tour experience

  Gold Standard entities can be easily identified by looking for the Gold Standard Certificate or Safety seal.

  

   

Belize has also been recognized by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and is now one of two hundred destinations using the Councils “Safe Travels Stamp” – the world’s first global safety and hygiene mark that indicates that a destination has adopted global standardized health and hygiene protocols.

• To date no approval has been granted by the Ministry of Health for the importation of Antigen Home Tests by any manufacturer. Therefore, results from these tests are not accepted for entry to Belize.

• If I am unable to take a COVID test prior to traveling to Belize, will I be required to test upon arrival? If so, what is the cost of the test?

  Yes, we recommended that you bring along one of the accepted COVID tests as this will provide for a ‘fast track’ arrival process.  Depending on the results of your health screening, you may be randomly selected for secondary testing.

  If you are unable bring along a COVID test, you will be required to test upon arrival; the cost is US$50.00. Only cash is accepted at this time; credit card machines and ATMs are not available in the Health Testing Unit.

  Note: To date no approval has been granted by the Ministry of Health for the importation of Antigen Home Tests by any manufacturer. Therefore, these results from these tests are not accepted for entry to Belize.

• No.  All arriving passengers who test positive at the international airport will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 14 days at the passengers’ expense.  It is therefore recommended that you obtain travel insurance prior to your trip to Belize.

• Yes.  Currently children aged 5 years and older are being tested in Belize.  As the situation remains fluid, protocols are subject to change

• Yes.  Your hotel may offer airport pick-up services depending on their location.  Only approved transportation providers are permitted and at this time include the two domestic airlines, car rentals and taxis.  We recommend that you liaise with your hotel to learn more about how you will arrive at your hotel.

• Enhanced health and safety measures have been adapted to protect both officers and arriving passengers.  Some of these measures include protective barriers to reduce contact between the officers and the passengers, kiosks for scanning of passports upon entry, luggage scanners in the Customs Hall, and safety barriers where inspection of luggage is required.

• Processing time varies depending on the result of your health screening and Covid-19 test results

• At this time, all tourists should book their stay at a Gold Standard hotel.   The list of Gold Standard hotels can be found at https://www.travelbelize.org/health-safety

• Yes.  By law, all citizens and visitors to Belize must wear a face mask when in public spaces.

• Tourists visiting Belize can move about freely, however it is recommended that they remain within the Tourism Safe Corridor.  The Safe Corridor includes Gold Standard certified accommodations, tour operators, tourism transportation providers, restaurants, tourism sites and attractions, and gift shops.  These Gold Standard and certified entities have all been trained and have implemented enhanced health and safety measures.

  • A curfew is in effect countrywide during the hours of 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. from Sundays to Thursdays and 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 
  • Indoor restaurants may offer dining-in services by reservation only for up to 50% of its seating capacity. 
  • Outdoor restaurants may offer dining-in services by reservation only for up to 75% of its seating capacity. 
  • Special permission from the Ministry of Health is required for events of more than 10 persons.  
  • Casinos and gaming establishments are open to immunized patrons only at 50% capacity.

• An official email or other correspondence from the facility where your COVID test was taken with your name clearly indicating your result will suffice as proof of your negative test.

  We highly recommend that you take a screenshot of the test results to facilitate processing with Health Officials.

• Yes. You can spend time at several different Gold Standard resorts during your time in Belize.  Transfers to each resort can be arranged by the property and carried out by a Gold Standard tour operator or certified provider.

• Yes, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is now offering COVID testing for passengers travelling to the US, Canada, and other destinations that require proof of a negative COVID test for entry.  For information on testing sites and cost, please contact dhsoffice@health.gov.bz