Company Registration in Belize - Business Starting & Setup

Want to set up a firm in Belize? We can assist you in starting a business or in buying a shelf company in Belize with a full package of necessary documents, legal advice and follow-up support. Incorporation of a firm in Belize includes provision of a registered office (for at least 1 year in any of our service plans), an apostilled set of constitutional documents, secretarial services and assistance with compliance fee and pre-approval for opening an account in banks of Belize. The total price of company formation in Belize includes all necessary fees and charges for the first year of operation, as well as full one-year nominee service (package Optimum).

Expand description »
Service packages Legislation Tax System Audit Services
Service packages
Express
Standard
Optimum
Company registration
+
+
+
Legal address per year
+
+
+
Secretarial services for the first year
+
+
+
Fees and duties for the first year
+
+
+
Apostilled bound set of incorporation documents
+
+
+
Nominee service per year
+
+
Bank Account Pre-approval
+
Price
1 790 USD

2 910 USD

3 520 USD

Your Consultant
Поиск консультанта...

Поиск консультанта...

Corporate information

Legal system

Legal system of Belize is based on English common law, supplemented by local laws. Economic legislation is aimed at attraction of foreign investment. The country is one of the centers of offshore business.

Among the main corporate laws are Companies Act, International business companies act, etc.

Types of entity in Belize

Under the legislation of Belize, the following types of commercial entities may be established in Belize to carry on business:

  • Sole Proprietorship;
  • General Partnership;
  • Limited Partnership;
  • Private Company;
  • Limited Life Company;
  • Public Investment Company;
  • International Business company;
  • Trust Fund;
  • Joint Venture and Cooperative;
  • Branch;
  • Representative office.

The most common structure is the International Business Company (IBC). It is possible to buy a shelf company of this type or to incorporate a new one. The Registry timescale to incorporate a new company is 24 hours. The timescale for a new turnkey entity is two weeks.

Registration

Company Name

The requirements to the company names in Belize are the following:

  • the name of a company should include a suffix to denote the type of entity: “Limited”, “Corporation”, “Incorporated”, “Society Anonyme”, “Sociedad Anonima”, “Aktiengesellschaft” or the related abbreviation: “Ltd.”, “Corp.” “Inc.”, “S.A.”, “A.S.” or “A.G.”;
  • it shall be registered in Roman script, but a company may elect to register as an alternative name an accurate translation of the name registered in Roman script, and which name may be expressed in any script;
  • it should not be identical or similar with an existing company name;
  • it should not contain the words “Building Society”, “Chamber of Commerce”, “Chartered”, “Cooperative”, “Imperial”, “Municipal”, “Royal”, or a word conveying a similar meaning, or any other word that, in the opinion of the Registrar, suggests the patronage of Her Majesty or that of a member of the Royal Family; or a connection with the Government of Belize or its department, except with the approval of the Registrar in writing;
  • it should not be indecent, offensive or, in the opinion of the Registrar, objectionable;
  • it should not contain the words “Assurance”, “Bank”, “Insurance” or “Trust”, or any or their derivatives or cognate expressions, unless it is licensed to carry on such business or activities.

Procedure of a Company Registration in Belize

To register an IBC company in Belize, you need to go through the following procedure:

1. Obtain an approval of a company name from the Registrar

A company has a right to reserve a name for 90 days for future adoption.

If business name is available, a Certificate of Business Name Registration will be issued.

2. File Articles and Memorandum of Association to the Registrar

The Memorandum must include:

  • the name of the company;
  • the full address within Belize of the registered office of the company;
  • the name and full address within Belize of the registered agent of the company;
  • the objects or purposes for which the company is to be incorporated;
  • the currency in which shares in the company shall be issued;
  • a statement of the authorised capital of the company;
  • information on shares.

The Articles and Memorandum must be subscribed to by a person in the presence of another person who must sign his name as a witness.

Upon registration a Certificate of Incorporation signed and sealed by Registrar is issued.

After registration a company which employs one or more persons must register for social security with the Belize Social Security Board. The application must be made within 7 days of employing an employee.

Restriction of Activities

There are a number of restrictions on the activities of business companies. The IBC act prohibits an IBC from:

  • carrying on business with persons resident in Belize;
  • owning an interest in real property situated in Belize, except lease property for office purposes;
  • carrying on banking business, insurance or reinsurance business;
  • carrying on the business of providing offices for companies.
  • carrying on trust business;
  • carry on collective investment schemes;
  • other.

A company that willfully contravenes the above requirements is liable to a penalty of USD 500 for each day or part of it during which the contravention continues, and a director who knowingly permits the contravention is liable to a like penalty.

Local registered office

Every Belize company must maintain a registered office address in Belize. The Registrar will receive notice of the situation and any change of the registered office. Failure to comply with this requirement will subject the company to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars per day for each day of non-compliant business.

The following information and documents shall be kept at the registered address: Register of shareholders and directors, Register of UBO, minutes, resolutions, including resolutions consented by directors, shareholders and officers, Memorandum and Articles of association, and common seal imprint. According to the latest changes in the Belizean law, it is also required to keep accounting records at the registered office or a resolution on another place within or outside Belize.

Seal

From the date of incorporation mentioned in the certificate of incorporation the body corporate known by the name in the memorandum shall have a common seal, its imprint should be kept at the registered office. Failure to comply with this requirement will subject the company to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars per day for each day of non-compliant business.

Redomicile

The redomiciliation of companies either to or from Belize is permitted.

Company Structure

Directors

A Belize company is required to have a minimum of one director who can be a natural person or a body corporate, resident or non-resident.

There is no requirement to hold directors’ meetings in Belize or elsewhere.

Director’s details are disclosed to the local agent but do not appear on the public file.

Secretary

A company secretary is not a requirement.

Shareholders

Belize companies may have one or more shareholders, individuals or corporations of any nationality or residence. Nominee shareholders are permitted.

The law does not require to hold Annual General meetings. If necessary, meetings of shareholders (and directors) may be held by phone or other electronic means. Shareholders (and directors) may vote by proxy.

Shareholders’ details are disclosed to the local agent but do not appear on the public file.

Beneficiary

In 2017, Belize adopted a series of amendments to the International Business Companies Act, which introduced the Beneficiary Registry. Registration agents are required to maintain and keep the registers. And in accordance with the latest amendments to the legislation, the Register of Beneficiaries must be filed with the relevant state body.

Access to the Registry of beneficial owners of the company remains non-public and is available to the competent authorities of Belize on request.

The following information is collected about the beneficiary: full name; date on which the person became a beneficiary; address and place of residence; date of birth; position held; details of the beneficial interest.

There is a fine of USD 500 for each day of violation for failure to provide or maintain the data. For intentional submission of invalid information about the beneficiary, there is a fine of USD 50 000.

Share capital and shares

The share capital of an IBC can be denominated in any currency. There is no minimum authorized share capital and no mandatory timeframes for it to be paid up, also, there are no requirements to the size of issued share capital and paid share capital, but shares must be paid up at their issue. Usually the share capital is USD 50 000 which is divided into 50 000 shares of USD 1 each. Shares with no par value are permitted, as well as bearer shares, but the latter can only be held in custody of a local registered in Belize.

Frequently Asked Questions about Company Registration in Belize

How much does it cost to register a company in Belize?
The cost of opening a company in Belize depends on the type of company to be registered and the type of activity you will be engaged in. The minimum package of services costs USD 1 790 and includes: registration of the company on a turnkey basis, lease of the registered office for a year and secretarial services, payment of all necessary duties and fees, as well as apostilled translation of the constituent documents.
Is Belize an offshore?
Belize is considered a tax haven and offshore financial center. It offers low taxes and bank secrecy laws, which attract foreign investment and international business activities. However, it should be noted that in recent years, Belize has been working to improve its reputation and comply with international tax and transparency standards. This may have changed some of the advantages that Belize offered as an offshore financial center, and it may be subject to increased scrutiny by international tax authorities.
Can a foreigner start a business in Belize?
Yes, a foreigner can start a business in Belize. The process of starting a business as a non-resident in Belize is similar to that of a resident. This includes registering the company with the Registrar of Companies, obtaining any necessary licenses, and following other regulatory requirements.
How much are taxes in Belize?
Belize has a relatively low tax regime. The standard corporate tax rate is 25%. Personal income tax ranges from 0% to 25% depending on the amount of income. The standard value-added tax (VAT) rate is 12.5%. There are also other taxes such as stamp duty and property tax, but they are typically lower in Belize compared to other countries.
Can I buy citizenship in Belize?
Yes, Belize offers a Citizenship by Investment program where an individual can obtain citizenship in return for investing in the country's economic development projects.
Who incorporate companies in Belize?
Registrars of international business companies in Belize are licensed registered agents or firms specializing in offshore company formation and management services. These agents provide services for filing the necessary documents, compliance and procedures.

Core Services and fees for the formation of a company in Belize

— Incorporation

Price1 790 USD

the full cost of the Company's purchase services consists of registration services, its maintenance (paid in advance for one hour at the time of registration), the cost of a set of documents and their courier delivery to the destination

— Annual government fees

Priceвключены

Stamp Duty and Registrar incorporation fee

— Corporate legal services

Price1 480 USD

government fee + payment for registered agent services (including legal addresses), excluding Compliance fee

—Delivery of documents by courier mail

Price250 USD

DHL or TNT, at cost of a Courier Service

— Apostilled set of Statutory documents

Pricefrom 850 USD

Basic set of documents for setup of a company in Belize

Certificate of Incorporation

Memorandum and Articles of Association

Apostille of the bound set of copies of constitutive documents

Subscriber’s Resolution

Resolution of first shares allotment

Share Certificates

Compare Jurisdictions

    Nominee Director

    Price640 USD

    Paid-up “nominee director” set includes the following documents

    Resolution effecting the issuing of Power of Attorney

    Consent Letter

    Director Resignation Letter

    Nominee Director’s Declaration

    Resolution effecting the change of Director

    Nominee Shareholder

    Price480 USD

    Paid-up “nominee shareholder” set includes the following documents

    Deed of Trust

    Instrument of Transfer

    Compliance fee in Belize

    Compliance fee is payable in the cases of: incorporation of a company, renewal of a company, liquidation of a company, transfer out of a company, issue of a power of attorney to a new attorney, change of director / shareholder / BO (except the change to a nominee director / shareholder), signing of documents

    Basic

    Price250 USD

    simple company structure with only 1 physical person

    For legal entity in structure under GSL administration

    Price150 USD

    additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

    For legal entity in structure not under GSL administration

    Price200 USD

    additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure NOT under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

    For client with high risk Status

    Price350 USD

    Signing of documents

    Price100 USD

    Need a consultation from a specialist?
    Share on social media:

    Banks of Belize

    Bank
    The cost of opening an account, $
    Global rating
    Countrywide rating
    GSL rating
    2 200
    N/A
    N/A
    RU EN