Refugees

A person is a refugee if

• he/she has a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion; if he/she is outside of his/her country of nationality; and, if due to such fear, he/she is unable or unwilling to avail himself of the protection of his/her country; or
• he/she is from a country where external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order exists in that country and he/she is compelled to leave it to seek refuge in another place outside of that country.

For details on Belize Refugee Laws see the Belize Refugees Act Chapter 165 Rev. Ed. 2011.

A person may apply for refugee status if he/she is within Belize and wishes to remain within Belize as a refugee in terms of the Belize Refugees Act Chapter 165 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011.

A person wishing to apply for refugee status must be in Belize and may present him/herself:

• directly to the Refugees Department in Belmopan
• to an immigration officer at any entry point or other location in Belize, who shall refer you to the Refugees Department
• to a police officer at a check point or other location in Belize, who shall refer you to the Refugees Department

Refugees Department

Mountain View Blvd.

Belmopan City,

Cayo District,

Belize, C.A.

Tel: + (501) 822-3212

Email: rd.reg.officer@ins.gov.bz

A person wishing to apply for refugee status must do so in person at the Refugees Department.

A person wishing to apply for refugee status may present the following the Refugees Department (if available):

• Identification (passport, nationality identification card, other photo identification)
• birth certificate
• evidence to support his/her claim for refugees status