Belize Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program also known as the QRP Program

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Belize Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program also known as the QRP Program

Since the inception of the Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program also known as the QRP Program, Belize is rapidly becoming known as a prevalent retirement destination in Central America, the Caribbean and other Global Communities and was named one of the world's top ten retirement havens for 2011 by US News.

About The Program
The Retirement Program in Belize was created especially for those people who wish to live in Belize and can prove a permanent and consistent income from investment (abroad or in Belize), pension or other retirement benefits.

Who can qualify for this program?
The Retirement Program in Belize was created especially for those people who wish to live in Belize and can prove a permanent and consistent income from investment (abroad or in Belize), pension or other retirement benefits.
Our natural wealthy environment as well as our culturally diverse and hospitable people - our greatest asset - are only but a few reasons to retire in Belize.

To list even more enticing features...
• Tax Breaks
• Peaceful Nation
• English Speaking
• Good Educational System
• Sub-tropical Climate all Year Long
• Easy Access to Land for Development and Construction of Retirement Home
• Close Proximity to the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
• Strong Stable Belize Dollar
• Abundance of Natural Resources
• Breathtakingly Beautiful
• Friendly People

Qualifying Process
Anyone forty-five years and older can qualify for the program. A person who qualifies can also include his or her dependents in the program. Dependents include spouses and children under the age of eighteen. However, it can include a person up to the age of twenty-three if enrolled in a university.

INCOME FROM PENSION OR OTHER SOURCE

1. Qualified Retired Persons
To be designated a Qualified Retired Person under the program, applicants must receive a monthly income of not less than US $2,000 through a pension or annuity that has been generated outside of Belize.
2. Certification
i) When a company grants a pension, that company has to prove that it has been in operation for at least 20 years by submitting proof of registration.
ii) The company that grants the pension shall certify that the pension of no less than US $2,000.00 per month will be forwarded to a reputable financial institution within Belize. This letter must be signed by the manager, president, or by a legal representative of the company.
iii) Certification by a Certified Public Accountant independent of the company:
-Stating the date the company was established
-Verifying the authenticity of the above mentioned letter
-Certifying that the obligation signed in favor of the beneficiary is not less than US $2000.00 per month.
iv) The applicant must present two (2) bank references from the company that is sending the pension.
v) The company granting the pension must present a document outlining its pension scheme.
Requirement ii, iii, iv could be omitted where the company sending the pension is considered to be a Fortune Five Hundred Company.

3. Background Check
All applications are subject to a background check to be carried out by the Ministry of National Security.

Terms &Conditions
Below is a copy of the terms and conditions form. Please review.

1. All Qualified Retired Persons must adhere to the general procedures cited by the Customs Department for the clearing of all personal and household effects including 'Mode of Transportation'.
2. Qualified Retired Persons are not allowed to seek employment or work for pay while in this program or in Belize.
3. Qualified Retired Persons within this program must inform the Belize Tourism Board regarding any changes stated on the application form. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of applicant's status.
4. Qualified Retired Persons must adhere to all existing laws of Belize, in addition to the Retired Persons (Incentives) (Amendment) Act, 2001.
5. All benefits provided by this program will be exclusively used by the Qualified Retired Persons and his or her dependents.
6. The Belize Tourism Board has the authority to carry out any investigation with respect to the validity of any document provided by the applicant under this program.
7. Participants within this program must inform the Belize Tourism Board prior to leaving the country indefinitely so that the assets purchased under this program can be liquidated.
8. All documents presented to the Belize Tourism Board become the property of the Board.
9. The applicant must not have any criminal matters with the law at the time of application.
10. Applicants must present a listing with all the necessary information with regards to his or her dependents. If the applicant has a dependent over eighteen and in school, then he or she must present a proof of enrollment from that institution.
11. Qualified Retired Persons must submit a yearly bank statement showing compliance with the financial requirements of the program.
12. Qualified Retired Persons must spend an equivalent of one month in Belize annually to maintain their status as a Retiree Resident.

Acceptance of these terms and conditions must be endorsed with the signature of the applicant in the presence of a witness.

Application Process
Each application for the Retirement Program will be processed by the Belize Tourism Board and forwarded to the Department of Immigration and Nationality. Persons interested in the program must submit completed applications to the Belize Tourism Board with the following supporting documentation:

Birth Certificate:
A copy of a certificate for the applicant and each dependant

Marriage Certificate:
(if married and spouse is a dependant)

Authentic Police Record:
An authentic police record from the applicants last place of residency issued within one month prior to this application

Passport:
Clear copies of complete passport (including all blank pages) of applicant and all dependents that have been certified by a Notary Public. The copies must have the passport number, name of principal, number of pages and the seal or stamp of the Notary Public.

Proof of Income:
(a.) An official statement from a bank or financial institution certifying that the applicant is the recipient of a pension or annuity of a minimum of Two Thousand United States Dollars (US $ 2 000) per month.

Medical Examination:
Applicants should undergo a complete medical examination including an AIDS test. A copy of the medical certificate must be attached to the application.

Photos:
Four front and four-side passport size photographs that have been taken recently of applicant and dependents.

The Application

FOR REGISTRATION AS A QUALIFIED RETIRED PERSON

IMPORTANT
Please read all the instructions carefully before completing the form.
All particulars must be fully stated in block letters.
Incorrect or incomplete statements may result in delay or refusal of the application. If any error is discovered after status has been granted the applicant status may be revoked.
Applicants may use the services of a local attorney or accountant when processing the application.

For more informatioon you can take a look at the Retirement Section of Belize Tourism Board website.

If you are looking to Retire in Caribbean you can choose to Retire in Belize.
For a list of Retirement Homes in Belize make sure to contact:
Platinum International Real Estate
Phone: +501-664-1630
Email: info@platinumrealestate.biz

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Facts to know about BELIZE

Belize

Have you ever wondered what paradise looks like? Do you like to look at breathtaking views? Have you ever wondered what it feels like to walk in the past? Do you want to experience Caribbean culture and cuisines at its very best? Are you looking for adventure? Are you looking for your getaway location? You can find all this and more in Belize with the help from Platinum International Real Estate and Investments.

Belize is a small, unspoiled country located in Central America and is fast becoming a world-renowned destination for tourists and international investors alike. It is the only English speaking Central American country due to the historical influences of the British Buccaneers and Colonialists that settled in the country for over a century. It is home to a multi-cultural society made up of Creole, Mestizo, East Indian, Chinese, Arabs, Garifuna, Maya, and Mennonites just to name a few. It is a country rich in Culture and rooted in beliefs of working together for a strong economy. The Belizean people are very friendly and a simple hello is given everywhere you go no matter who you are or what you do.

People that visit Belize keep coming back to immerse themselves in the rich cultural diversity and the well preserved forests and barrier reef that we call paradise. People enjoy soaking in the cool azure Caribbean waters; taking day trips to the fishing, diving or snorkeling preservation sites or taking a hike in the lush protected rain forests that keep the country so serene. The preservation of such beautiful places in Belize is essential for generations to enjoy it even after we move on and leave our legacy behind.
Platinum International Real Estate and Investments, vows to stand firm, work with everyone to bring Belize to a recognizable International Real Estate Level unsurpassed by most in the industry. We look forward to bringing you to a place you can call Home in Belize.

Life in Belize

For many years Belize has gone under the shadows of many other Central American countries. Belize has it unique features that famous celebrities have come to appreciate. You need to understand the geography, history, the people, the economy and the atmosphere to truly appreciate this inspiring place called Belize.

Geography

Belize is positioned in both the northern and western hemisphere. Located in North America on the northern edge of the Central America isthmus 16º 13' N, 88º 48' W - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Guatemala, Mexico, the Gulf of Honduras and the Caribbean Sea. Belize is the 23rd country on the list according to world atlas for the lowest density of people to land per square mile. With 240 miles of coastline, 8,805 square miles of land and 62 square miles of water rights it’s easy to see why people are flocking to Belize to call it home.

Belize's diverse landscapes include hundreds of islands, subtropical rainforests, fertile savannas and mountains. It is internationally recognized as a leader in environmental preservation and conservation.

Belize is divided into four main geographic regions, including the relatively low Maya Mountains of the south that dominate all but the narrow coastal plain; the northern lowlands and its many rivers and streams; the flat and swampy coastal plain, and the almost countless cayes, islands and lagoons that fringe its Caribbean coastline. More than 50% of Belize is covered by tropical rain forest that's dissected by a network of rivers, mostly small in length. The largest and most significant river is the navigable Belize River that stretches from the Guatemala border all the way to the Caribbean Sea. Second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coastline of Australia, a 175 mile long barrier reef fronts the Belize coastline, intermixed with literally hundreds of islands and cayes. This great site has been recognized as a World Heritage Site, the other site is located 58 miles direct east of Belize City in the Carribean Sea, the Blue Hole; more than 1,000 feet across and some 400 feet deep, it's the opening to a former Ice Age cave, and is today one of the world's most popular dive sites. Belize is divided into six districts; including Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo.

History

Archaeological evidence in Belize indicates that the famed Maya culture began to emerge in this lowland area of the Yucatan Peninsula around 1000 BC. That Maya civilization flourished here for eons; great cities were formed, massive ceremonial buildings, palaces, temples and personal dwellings were constructed, and the people farmed the land with great proficiency. Remnants of this extraordinary people and a quite sizeable population of direct descendants still exist in Belize and all across the Yucatan today, despite hundreds of years of European colonization of the area.

Spain aggressively controlled most of the colonies on the fringes of this New World, when the first English settlers arrived in the early 1600s. For the next two centuries military conflicts (mostly naval) between the British and Spanish raged, as both countries desired this land. Regional power struggles continued in the area over the next 50 years, and then in 1862, the Settlement of Belize was officially declared a British colony, and named British Honduras. Similar to all European colonies in the Americas, British Honduras also craved independence, but Guatemala continued to claim the entire area, and the British were reluctant to release their firm grip. By the 1960s the British began to soften their position, and though they still controlled the entire defense and foreign affair of the settlement, its name was changed to Belize in anticipation of the independence, which finally did come in 1981.

The People

Today you can see the remnants of the original settlers in Belize namely the Maya, British and European people. Today Belize offers a multi-cultural society made up of Creole, Mestizo, East Indian, Chinese, Arabs, Garifuna, Maya, and Mennonites just to name a few. Belize is a country rich in Culture and rooted in beliefs of working together for a strong economy. The Belizean people are known for their cultural tolerance, diversity and friendliness and it’s not uncommon to see the Belizean people smiling and waving at anyone passing by.

Spirituality in Belize life is diverse in a way that it will suit many nationalities. Majority of the citizens are Catholics while a fourth of the population are Protestant (Pentecostal, Anglican, Seventh - day Adventist, Mennonite, Methodist, and Jehovah’s Witnesses). Other religions present are Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.

The Economy

Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth and is governed by parliamentary democracy. It then became an independent nation in 1981 and has a stable and progressive political history. Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are key elements of its economy. Belize enjoys close ties with the U.S. and UK and steady economic growth.

The national currency of Belize is called Belizean Dollar (BZD) and is approximately worth a half of U.S. Dollar, depending on the inflation. It comes in denominations of 2 dollars, 5 dollars, 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 50 dollars, and 100 dollars. One Belizean dollar is a coins and a 25 cent coin is called a shilling.

Foreign investors enjoy a range of incentives in Belize, outlined in its Fiscal Incentives Act of 1990. Foreign-owned real estate privileges, offshore banking and a lack of capital gains tax attract international business to Belize. With Houston airport just over two hours flying time away and Miami airport an hour and a half, the country's proximity to the U.S. is another attractive feature for foreign investors.

The Atmosphere

The laid back atmosphere of Belize life actually comes from a unique blend of nationalities. Belize enjoys a nice tropical weather. It rains a lot during the months of May to November, while dry season is on February to May.

PLATINUM INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE AND INVESTMENTS would love to welcome you to share in our experiences. Selling real estate is what we do best and with our various departmentalized services we offer everyone looking to buy or sell real estate in Belize unmatched services amongst our competitors.

Please take the time to read, comment and share about your experiences.

Thank you,
Platinum International Real Estate
Management and Staff

Written by:
Will Moreno
Copyrighted 2009

Sunday, February 13, 2011