John M. Says:
My wife and I love the Caribbean. We are both retired, with a house in Arizona, but we’d like to move somewhere along the Caribbean with great beaches, that is safe and has a reasonable cost of living. Do you have any suggestions?
I read online that I would need to buy a condo that cost $500,000 or $750,000 or more to get residency anywhere in the Caribbean. Is this true?
IL Belize Correspondent Shane Kenny Says:
Hi John,
If the beach is what you’re looking for then Placencia, Belize should be at the top of your list.
We have 16 miles of white Caribbean sands to enjoy. The main beach that runs parallel to Placencia Village is a little over a mile long with a good mix of private and commercial properties.
There is no requirement in Belize that you own property in order to establish residency.
You’re welcome to stay as long as you would like on a “tourist visa” that’s good for 30 days at a time, renewable at a local immigration office (you can usually renew for up to three months at a time).
Once you have lived in Belize for 50 out of 52 weeks you can apply for permanent residency, or you can see if you fit the requirements for our Qualified Retirement Program.
I recommend that you rent before purchasing. There is a decent market here in Placencia for rental property for just about any budget. Living on the beach will be more expensive than off the beach, and the closer you are to the action will be more expensive.
Renting allows you to experience the area, decide if Placencia is a good long-term fit, and experience the cost-of-living before committing to purchasing property.
You can get a feel for Placencia by checking out the dedicated page on the IL website.
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