I will be traveling from Mexico to Guatemala next month and was wondering if I will be hit with the Belize “Exit Tax” even though this time I will only be in Belize for as long as it takes for the bus to get me from the Mexican border to Belize City and then another bus to the Guate border. If I remember right, that trip should only be 8 hours or so.
Is there any special deal for someone just passing through or will I be hit with the full amount?
Thanks!
There is US$18.75 land exit tax you'll pay when leaving Belize at the Guatemala border. I think you will have to pay, regardless of the fact that you're just passing through, but I may be wrong about that.
--Lan Sluder
According to the Belize Tourist Board (BTB) website, same day passengers pay a Conservation Fee of BZ$7.50 (US$3.75), payable in BZ$ or US$.
Another fee of BZ$30.00 (US$15.00) is shown as Overnight Passengers-Border Processing Fee, so should not be charged in your case.
http://www.travelbelize.org/plan-your-visit/getting-to-here/visitor-fees.html
However, I've heard conflicting accounts that the fee of BZ$30.00 is not charged only when visiting border towns, so Maury, please report back about your experience.
3 Replies - 3 Answers.
Guess I will find out next month.
Will add my reoprt when I get back.
Thanks.
By the way, it wouldn't be the first time that the BTB website has been incorrect with its information.
I've already alerted them about 3 corrections!
Qwovadis, this is the second time you've been wrong in this one thread! First of all, the exit fee and taxes now totals US$39.25 when leaving Belize by air. Payment can now be made by credit card in addition to U.S. cash. Second, by land or sea the total exit fee and taxes is US$18.75. (Again, as noted above it's not completely clear whether the land exit fee applies to those just transiting Belize.)
--Lan Sluder
After posting remebered that the Belize Tourist Office (or whatever it is called) has a direct line - local call from NYC that connects dorectly to Belize City. Called them and got a completely dofferant amount for the exit fee (or tax or.............).
Apparently, while it is free to enter Belize,it is gonna cost something to get out. The question is still how much.
So, me thinks the only sure place to find out is at the border.
Tune in next month.
s: if happen to run out of money in Belize, will I be forced to live there forever?
Yes, for certain nationalities, it is free to enter Belize, but I don't think that was ever the question.
I just remembered that I have the link to the Border Management Agency:
http://www.bmabz.com/
And guess what! The information shown is opposite to the BTB information.
According to the Border Management Agency ...
"Foreigners less than 24 hrs (1 day): Pay ONLY Departure Fee (BZ$30.00).
Foreigners more than 24 hrs: Pay Departure and PACT Fees (BZ$37.50)"
DEPARTURE Fee is the fee charged to Foreigners once they are passing through or exiting Belize at the Belize Western Border or the Belize Northern Border less than twenty-four hours. The departure fee is BZ$30.00 or US$15.00. Foreigners should have a stamp that verifies that they have entered into the country legally.
"PACT Fee is charged to all Foreigners that have been in Belize for more than twenty-four hours. This fee goes to the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and is used help in the maintenance of the protected areas in Belize."
I think I'd trust the BMA site here, but I still hope you report on your actual experience, Maury. The BTB have been incorrect before.
RESOLVED
I have contacted both BMA and BTB regarding the discrepancy, and both have replied.
The BMA information is correct on their website.
The BTB will update their site.
The BMA also said that currently, the fees can not be paid by credit/debit card at the Northern & Western borders or at Punta Gorda.