Shipping From Canada
to Belize.

Documents Only

Belize customs allows the following items into the country as document shipments:

• Advertising literature and business cards
• Airline tickets
• Annual reports and intercompany mail
• Bids and proposals
• Blueprints
• Books, manuscripts, and publications
• Brochures and pamphlets
• Business cards and labels
• Calendars
• Cash letters, negotiable bonds, and drafts
• Catalogues and price lists
• Charts and maps
• Cheques and credit cards
• Computer print-outs
• Drawings
• Driver's licence
• Graphs
• Greeting cards and invitations
• Magazines, newspapers, and periodicals
• Passports and visa applications
• Photographs
• Specifications sheets

Belizean customs authorities will allow the following items into their country as a document shipment provided they abide by the restrictions below:

Sources:
https://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_CA

Shipping Gifts

All gift shipments entering Belize will incur duties and taxes regardless of their value. There are no thresholds below which customs authorities will not assess fees on gift parcels.

Shipments from Individual-to-Individual

Duties and taxes will be incurred on gift shipments sent from an individual in Canada to an individual in Belize. This includes parcels with a minimal value.

Shipments from Business-to-Business

Any gift shipment from a business in Canada to a business in Belize will have duty and taxes applied to it. There are no thresholds below which no fees are owed.

Shipments from Business-to-Individual

All shipments of gifts from a business in Canada to an individual living in Belize will be liable for duties and taxes no matter the value of the gift.

Gift Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time (see sample)
• List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
• Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.

Multiple Gifts in One Shipment

If your parcel contains multiple gifts, it is recommended that you wrap and tag each gift separately.

Sources:
https://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_CA
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Shipping Personal Effects

Non-belizean citizens and residents will incur duties on their personal effects when they move to Belize. (An individual may apply for duty relief from the Belizean Ministry of Finance.)

Belizeans (Citizens or Holders of a Belizean Residency Permit)

Personal effects and household goods* may be shipped to Belize exempt from duties provided:

• They are used
• They have been in the claimant's possession for a minimum of 1 year
• The items will not be sold or lent out to anyone
• The shipment arrives from 3 months before to 3 months after the arrival of the claimant

*May include tools and instruments required for a trade, profession, or employment if they are used and have been owned for a reasonable time period. (Permission by the Ministry of Finance will be required.)

For new and unused household and personal effects, they will be admitted into Belize duty-free up to a value of BZ$20,000 (about $12,850 CAD) as long as:

• The claimant has been outside of Belize continuously for 3 years or more
• The goods are for their use only, and will not be for sale or given away

NOTE:
Wooden furniture requires an importation licence from the Ministry of Trade prior to the entry of the items into the country.

Moving Temporarily

Students

There is no information at this time regarding students moving to Belize with their personal effects.

Non-students

No information regarding non-students moving temporarily to Belize with personal effects is available at this time.

Moving Permanently

Belizeans Citizens or Holders of a Belizean Residency Permit

New and unused household goods and personal effects of Belizean citizens will be allowed entry into Belize duty-free if:

• Their value is BZ$20,000 or less (about $12,850 CAD)
• The goods will only be used by the individual or his or her family
• The claimant has live outside of Belize continuously for a minimum of 3 years

Used household goods* and personal effects may enter Belize duty-free provided:

• They have been owned and used by the claimant for at least 12 months
• The goods arrive in Belize between 3 months before to 3 months after the individual or family
• They are for the use of the individual or his or her family exclusively

*Instruments and tools for a person's employment - profession or trade - can be claimed for a duty-free entry as long as they have been owned and used for a suitable length of time. (This will require approval by the Ministry of Finance.)

NOTE:
Furniture made of wood may enter Belize but must be accompanied by an importation licence issued by Belize's Ministry of Trade. This must be done before the items enter the country.

Non-belizean Citizens

Non-belizean citizens and residents will be liable to duties on their personal effects when they move to Belize. (Duty-relief may be granted by the Belizean Ministry of Finance; an application is required.)

Personal Effects Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided
• Documentation of a Belizean Residency Permit or citizenship (for those moving permanently)

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.bz/personal_household.html

Food, Chocolate, Candies

May foodstuffs entering Belize from abroad have restrictions.

You May Ship

• Candy
• Chocolate

The following are also allowed entry into Belize, but with restrictions:

• Peanut butter
• Jellies and jams
• Pasta
• Wheat flour
• Rice
• Pepper sauces and peppers
• Carbonated beverages

Do Not Ship

• Perishable items - meat, fish, and produce

Food, Chocolate, Candies Checklist

• Clearly indicate 'Food' on the commercial invoice in the General Description or Remarks section (see sample)
• Ensure that your food, chocolate, or candies may be imported into the country
• You are not shipping commercial quantities (for any duty & tax exemption)
• Check with your carrier that they will accept food shipments

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Samples

Commercial samples are shipped to promote products; they are not for sale. Therefore, they are to be rendered unusable - torn, perforated, etc. - before being displayed.

Commercial Sample Checklist

• A Commercial Invoice must be included with your shipment
• Clearly indicate 'Commercial Samples' on the commercial invoice in the General Description & Detailed Description of Goods (see sample)
• The item shipped has tearing, perforation, slashing, defacing, or has permanent marking clearing indicating the item as commercial sample

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.bz/tariffs_PDF/124_LIST%20OF%20CONDITIONAL%20DUTY%20EXEMPTIONS.pdf
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Advertising Material

Advertising materials may enter Belize duty-free except for:

• Penknives
• Playing cards
• Any item that is a replacement for an ordinary article in a commercial exchange

Advertising Material Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Promotional Material - Not for Resale' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.bz/tariffs_PDF/124_LIST%20OF%20CONDITIONAL%20DUTY%20EXEMPTIONS.pdf

Repairs

Instruments, machinery, and other equipment from Belize that is repaired in Canada will be liable to duty fees from Belizean authorities when they are returned to the country.

Items Under Warranty

No information regarding items under warranty that are repaired either in Canada or Belize, and returned to their country of origin.

Items No Longer Under Warranty

Machinery and equipment no longer under warranty that is repaired in Canada will incur Canadian duties and GST. These fees will be applied to the cost of repairing the item and on any parts used during the process.

Sending Product for Repair to Belize

There is no information at this time concerning sending products for repair to Belize.

Returning Repaired Product to Belize

Products repaired in Canada will incur Belizean duties on the cost of the repair plus parts required to effect the repair.

Repair Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return(see sample)
• Include repair contract with shipment
• Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
• Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Belize or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.bz/tariffs_PDF/124_LIST%20OF%20CONDITIONAL%20DUTY%20EXEMPTIONS.pdf

Temporary Imports

Goods shipped to Belize as a temporary import will be allowed a duty-free entry provided:

• A security payment is made to cover duty fees
• Goods* stay a maximum of 6 months in the country (this may be extended to a maximum time of 1 year in the country)

*Excluding cinematographic films for public exhibition

NOTE:
Belizean customs authorities do not accept ATA Carnets for temporary imports.

Temporary Imports Checklist

• Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods. (see sample)
• The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
• Stay no longer than the period listed above
• Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
• Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
• Any above listed items not listed in this checklist

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.bz/download/customsexcise_duties.pdf
https://www.atacarnet.com/carnet-countries

Permanent/Sold Goods

Sold goods with a value of $50 USD (about $65 CAD) or less will be exempt from duties and GST when they enter Belize.

Occasional Shipper

Occasional shipments of sold goods to Belize with a value of no more than $50 USD (about $65 CAD) will be allowed a duty- and VAT-free entry into the country

Regular shipper

If you regularly ship sold goods to Belize, we recommend you employ the services of a licenced Belizean customs broker. This is absolutely necessary when a shipment's value is BZ$200 or more (about $130 CAD).

Sources:
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/TPR/S353R1.pdf&Open=True