Belize Airport Departure Tax and Border Exit Fees

April 11, 2023
by Larry Waight +

For individuals with an American, Canadian, EU, or CARICOM passport, there is no visa to enter the country. Entering Belize involves zero fees or taxes.

However, when non-residents of Belize leave the country, there is a mandatory departure tax.

How the Tax Is Paid

If you are flying out of Belize, the departure tax may be included in the price of your airfare. It is recommended that all visitors investigate whether their airfare includes the mandatory departure tax because if it is not included, it must be paid upon leaving the country.

Confusingly, some taxes are quoted in American dollars (USD) and some in Belizean dollars (BZD) but all foreigners are required to pay in American currency.

For individuals who spend less than 24 hours in Belize (i.e. travelers transiting through Belize), there is no conservation fee. Any visitor spending more than 24 hours in the country must pay a conservation fee of BZD 7.50 upon exiting the country.

Every traveler departing from the Philip S.W. Goldson airport outside of Belize City, including those who have spent less than 24 hours in the country, must pay the departure tax.

For Belizean citizens and individuals with residency in Belize, the departure tax is $35 BZD. There is also a security fee of $0.75 USD that must be paid for a “security screening.”

For non-citizens and non-residents of Belize, the departure tax is $35.50 USD plus the “security screening” fee of $0.75 USD.

For travelers leaving Belize via land/water crossings to Guatemala or Mexico, the departure tax is BZD 2.50 for a “border development” fee, BZD 7.50 for the conservation fee, and BZD 30 for the departure tax itself. In total, travelers must pay BZD 40 to leave the country via a land/water crossing.

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