LEAVING BELIZE
When departing Belize, there is an exit fee for all visitors. When traveling via the International Airport, this airport departure tax may be included in your airfare, so it is worth checking to see whether it has already been apdi along with your airfare. It not, it is payable in cash at the International Airport. The total exit fee is US $55.50. There is also a $.075 security fee for domestic security screening. When departing Belize through the Guatemala or Mexico border, the border fee to be paid on departure is US $20.00.
DEPARTING BELIZE - Belize International Airport
- Arrive on Time - You are required to arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure for your international flight. You will check in at the far-right end of the building, the first entrance you encounter when you drive into the compound. Standard procedures apply just as with most airports. Make sure you have your departure paperwork filled out. You should have filled this out when you arrived, and sign it. If you lose it, you can fill it out again.
- Exit Immigration - It's a bit of an oxymoron (and not all too common), to have to go through an immigration screening when you are leaving a country. Belize has exit immigration, so you will clear immigration after you've checked in at your airline counter. This is a quick process to get an exit stamp, and they will take your signed departure form. Are there any departure fees? Don't worry, all your exit fees are already paid for via your airline tickets.
- Departure Terminal - After you've cleared security screening, you'll be in the main departure terminal. Make sure you take a quick note of where your gate is. It's a really small airport so it's no stress to find your gate. There are several duty-free stores, snack shops, and gift shops in the departure terminal. This is your last chance to get rid of the extra Belize currency you didn't spend and buy that last-minute gift for your friend back home. The terminal also has a few cell phone charging stations you might want to use to juice up your cell phones, so you have enough charge when you get back home.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR TRAVELING BACK TO THE USA
Travelers shopping in Belize should keep in mind these tips for getting through customs:
- Keep receipts for all items you buy in Belize;
- If you have any questions or complaints about your customs experience, write to the port director at your point of re-entry;
- Upon departing, keep your purchases in an easily accessible spot in case your home country's customs officials requ3est an inspection.
- You may bring back to the United States up to one liter of alcohol (if you are 21 or older) or perfume containing alcohol, up to 200 cigarettes, and up to 100 non-Cuban cigars. If you stay fewer than 48 hours, you may bring home up to 150 ml of alcohol, 50 cigarettes, and 10 non-Cuban cigars;
- You may send packages home duty-free, with limit of one parcel per addressee per day, with the exception of alcohol or tobacco products, or perfume worth more than $5.USD
- You may bring home original works of art such as paintings, drawings, and sculptures, and antiques (officially defined as objects more than 100 years old) duty-free;
- You can mail up to $200(USD) worth of goods home to the United States for personal use; be sure to write "Personal Use" on the parcel and attach a list of its contents and their retail value;
- You may send up to $100 (USD) worth of goods as a gift ($200 from the USVI) to someone in the United States provided you write "UNSOLICITED GIFT" on the package;
- If you send home a parcel containing personal belongings that have been used, write "AMERICAN GOODS RETURNED" on the package to avoid a duty fee.
