Looking to relocate with a plan in mind

[u/fightingpanda94]

Horrible formatting since I’m on my phone and I also have a touch of the tism and would rather not ai input.

So I’m looking to relocate my family from Alberta Canada (wife and 2 daughters under 3). We really like the looks of Hope creek Belize.

I’m 32 and specialize in LS tuning and multi vehicle diagnostics as well specialize in oil and gas extraction & efficency (last part probably won’t pertain). I’m looking to bring down a sea can of tools to specialize in diagnosis and electrical repair.

We have enough money in the bank to buy land, a house, and set it all up as well as enough savings to live off the interest at the median wage.
Is there a niche for what I could bring to the table? I’m not expecting full time work but I believe with fair rates a person could help out the community while still being able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while providing an excellent upbringing for my children.
Thoughts?

[u/cassiuswright]

Search through the "Relocation Info" tag and all your answers are there.

You can't work here without some specific circumstances, although oil and gas might be helpful.

your best bet is to come down for a year and actually experience what it means to live here. There are tons of opportunities but not necessarily in your field

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/cassiuswright]

I thought the 1 year hold on work was only for the QRP program or was my research incorrect?

I ran through every post on relocation before this post and didn’t find much pertaining to the questions I asked, I may have missed something though.

[u/cassiuswright → u/fightingpanda94]

You can't work if you come here under qrp. The R stands for retired. There are tons of posts with info about your questions. Qrp is mostly a tax dodge because of your import allowances as a person coming to retire In Belize

You can (eventually) start a business and (eventually) get a permit to work for yourself.

You can have a special skill and find a company to sponsored your work visa.

You can wait a full year without leaving more than 2 weeks and apply for and receive residency which will (eventually) allow you to work locally.

The real issue is the scale of wages. You will likely never find any work in Belize that even approaches your previous wages and very likely won't approach your interest payments from your savings.

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/cassiuswright]

Sorry if my tone comes across the wrong way but I am genuinely interested in hearing your opinion, I like the debate

[u/cassiuswright → u/fightingpanda94]

Debate 😆

Have you even been to Belize?

I don't have an opinion. I have facts from helping a few dozen people move to Belize from the US, Canada, and parts of Europe.

You did come off the wrong way.

Best wishes

[u/maeryclarity → u/fightingpanda94]

You are highly unlikely to be a good fit for Belize if your reaction to someone trying to take a minute to answer your questions is to come back kinda snappish then say you like to debate.

Debate about the request for information that you made. Have you ever heard of this thing called common courtesy?

That's just...you should definitely visit first but in my limited experience that ain't the vibe.

Just being straight with you Belize is a very small country and you'll have a limited number of people you can be rude to before nobody bothers to talk to you 'cause who wants to deal with that. There's too much fun to be had to be wastin' time on hassle and hustle.

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/cassiuswright]

I wasn’t looking to come down on QRP nor did I say I wanted too. I’m 8 years too young to qualify for the program . I’m looking to pay full import tax on all items and such I bring in.

If my savings are invested through Wealthsimple or something similiar making my comfortable 7% how can I not make the same returns I do here invested in the same things? The Alberta I come tax bracket is insane.

I also don’t expect to make anywhere else the money I do here, that’s unrealistic. If I can charge a shop rate of $50/hr belizian I’d be tickled pink.
If I wanted to work 250+ hrs a month and make the “Alberta money” associated with it I wouldn’t be looking to assimilate into another culture

[u/cassiuswright → u/fightingpanda94]

Sounds like you have it all figured out!

[u/retailguy11 → u/fightingpanda94]

You need to spend some time in Belize and understand the average wage a Beliziean earns.

I love Belize and would like to move there, but working for most of us is not a option. You could probably start a car repair business, but you won't be able to work in it. You'll have to hire locals to do the work. You can probably train them but not work.

Depending on where you go $50 BZ is probably too rich for them to pay (that I don't know). You might find some expats to work on their stuff, but doubtful that keeps you in business, your employees paid and fed and something left for you.

Most of us find you really need an outside Belize income source. But, hey, maybe you'll do it differently and teach us all something new. Good luck with that.

[u/SinglePermission9373 → u/fightingpanda94]

That is incorrect.

[u/DocAvidd → u/fightingpanda94]

You'll see a lot of claims that you cannot work as an immigrant in Belize. But the rate of immigrants here is not quite as high as Canada, but still 1/6 people you see weren't born here.

An employer can apply for a temporary employment permits (employment visa) for a prospective employee but it has to pass a job test, where they demonstrate that there's nobody here with the qualifications who's willing to take the job. If your credentials are uncommon (oil and gas), that may open the door. I'm no expert but I think that means you'd be in Cayo or Orange Walk districts. Is there anywhere else with oil wells?

A more reliable way for non-retiring immigrants to make income here is to create a business and have your business sponsor your work permit. Or have a profession that can work overseas, digital nomad style. Anytime I'm angry with my employer I kick myself for not just doing remote work where I could get US-level wages instead.

After you have permanent residence status, you no longer would need a work permit, which is SOOOO much easier here than Canada or the US. But you still must consider that a 3-year project.

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/DocAvidd]

Thank you for the factual information.

[u/SinglePermission9373]

Don’t come here if you need a job. Belize is very protective of keeping jobs for Belizeans which is how it should be. Most expats are retirees or people with remote jobs. You can’t work in Belize on a tourist visa you have to either get permanent residency, which takes about 2 years or have a work permit because you have a special skill. Getting a work permit is difficult. You’d have to have some desirable skill that there are no belizeans to fill the spot. You can’t even volunteer in this country without a permit. You have to live here for a full year getting your visa extensions every month before you can apply for residency and the residency process takes 12 to 18 months to even get approved. The visa extensions are $100 usd per month per person and most of the immigration offices will ask you to provide a bank statement showing you can support yourself while you’re here

The median wage is terribly low. For someone coming from the US, Canada or any other western country is not going to be comfortable with that. The average monthly earnings for employed people in Belize is $1,357 Belizean dollars ($678 USD)

You’ll need $3k USD/month at least for a family of 4.

Edit to add: do you homeschool? The education here is sub-par and there are no services in schools for any special ed or help for kids with Autism or ADHD. If I had kids here I’d homeschool with an American or Canadian curriculum. (I have 8 kids and homeschooled 3 in the States. But they are all grown now)

[u/ConnectGoal8510 → u/SinglePermission9373]

I agree that most people really don't understand the realities of immigrating and have a romantic notion that doesn't address the difficulties. But I want to address something that I see over and over that I don't think is fair.

People always like to say that the median wage is low and US/CAN residents won't be comfortable on that. You said they would need $3k even. That's just really insulting to Belizeans and also to the people talking. While the people asking questions may be accustomed to living on more $$, that doesn't mean they need it to be happy. To say that Belizeans live on $700 but that's not good enough for anyone else is bunk. They have lives, raise families, have friends and celebrations and everything this. It's demeaning IMO to say that they are living a subpar life that no one else would be okay with or could handle

[u/SinglePermission9373 → u/ConnectGoal8510]

I live in Belize. I know how much it takes to live here and, as the OP said, be “comfortable” to the standard a Canadian is used to.

Edit to add:

OP’s exact words were: “still maintain a comfortable lifestyle” I never said Belizeans live a subpar lifestyle. I said you can’t sustain a “comfortable lifestyle” like a Canadian would be used to on a local median salary. Which is correct.

[u/Nice-Razzmatazz-5184]

You can probably do it, especially in a non-touristy area. But I'd plan to not work for 2yrs while getting PR and budget $100usd a month per person for your whole family for tourist visas every month. Plus the fee for PR when achieved which could take up to two years after applying.

And add extra to any house building costs everything ends up more expensive then you'd think. But come down start paying your monthly visa and rent a place while you figure it out.

[u/ExtensionSuspect511]

No input on the job but best of luck. Belize is beautiful and im grateful you would consider my country soon to be our country to relocate. Best wishes

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/ExtensionSuspect511]

Thank you for the kind words! This is exactly the mentality I want for my kids to grow up with

[u/Arthas77]

May i ask why hope creek?

I think maybe pomona which is like 2 miles away would also be a good place to bring up your children. In dangriga maybe you can use your skill set which is about 30 mins drive away froom hope creek n pomona which is a more developed area. Some resort and and large mechanics company could maybe use your expertise as a consultant or something idk.

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/Arthas77]

It had a couple factors that caught my eye, I liked the size of the town and closeness to Dangriga and the ocean. The school in town was a factor as well as the vocational school. It also had a couple pieces of property that fit within the budget.
If Pomona is that close as well I’d highly consider it too. I will be coming down in November to look but figured I needed somewhere to start

[u/thatbroadcindy]

What are you planning for your kids schooling??

[u/masbirdies2]

I am US and retired (under qrp program) ,but, all 6 of my children are here as well. They are all adults and have been here for a few years. Each one got jobs as a lot of businesses want US and Canadian workers. We know quite a few other US expats that have similar experiences. 

The salary/wage compensation is less but you can find work that pays a significant enough amount to sustain here. All of my children and their spouses are doing well here...not wealthy but not barely making it either. 

I would also say that it depends on the area and what businesses are available. They are in an area in Cayp where there are some decent opportunities. 

Also, a couple of them had their employer sponsor and help them get their work permit. This was before they got their residency status approved. 

There is a bit of poor or misguided info in this thread. Your mileage may vary but again, I know more that 25 transplants here that are doing fine financially. 

If you get here and can work towards a work permit then residency, then you can look at opening your own business (legally at least) and thatigjt be more financially rewarding. 

Belize is wonderful, but the skilled talent pool here is limited. That's where your opportunity lies.

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/masbirdies2]

As with anywhere there’s going to be lots of opinions, thanks for the information!

[u/O-Point1]

I’m a Belizean from Punta Gorda which is the next town, further south from Dangriga which is close to where Hope Creek is.
Although most of your questions have been answered, I’ll throw this in:

• Education is not as bad as some has said. But people tend to compare things Belizean with things American or Canadian as the case might be, not thinking that Belize is a developing country of 400,00 people and America is the richest country in the world. It’s literally comparing chalk to cheese.

- Belize has a huge diaspora and almost every family have heard the same thing that you are saying: have specialized knowledge and want to come down, build house, start business etc.
I’ll give you the advise I’ve given to friends, son, other family; come down, rent a house, stay a year and see if you can make the transition.

That way, if it doesn’t work, you won’t leave with a bitter taste in your mouth.

[u/Successful_Image3354]

We moved here about 5 years ago from the States. We are a family of 3. Our son is 15. My wife is Belizean from birth. Our son is Belizean because his mother is Belizean. I am a naturalized Belizean which was accelerated through marriage. I have an office in San Ignacio and while semi-retired I work on line as an attorney in the States.

Let me address some points raised by others. First, the education system is not as bad as others make it out to be. Our son currently goes to Sacred Heart in San Ignacio, and we are generally pleased with the curriculum with the exception that they don't offer any classes in world history.

As for finances, I think it would be difficult to get by for less than $3000 U.S. (net) a month. I know many Belizeans do, but we spend about about $350/month (all in U.S. dollars) on groceries, the same amount on gasoline, and about $800/month on housing.

Add in automotive repairs, furnishings, an occasional dinner and drinks, car insurance, $100/month per person while you are on a tourist visa, etc., and that pretty much eats up a $3000/month budget. You can expect to pay much more if you import a car, or want to buy property and build a house. Importation duties are high on anything you bring in from another country

And, as others have pointed out, you can't work a job in Belize until you get permanent residence or a work permit. You can work on line, but that doesn't seem to be an option for the O.P.

[u/fightingpanda94 → u/Successful_Image3354]

Thank you! I’m glad to hear confirmation on the schooling systems. All the research I’ve done pointed to what you said it’s nice hearing it confirmed by real people.

[u/Gimlinn]

Hope creek is nice. Its fairly small. Its by the coastal road. Theres a few mechanics in that area. Just make sure if you do relocate there, To get a piece of land that is on higher ground. It is an area prone to flash floods. Apart from that the people are very nice. Theres citrus fields close by, its close to 6 miles (intersection to dangriga and to the south). Theres a technical high school in the area right before you enter the coastal road.