Traveling to Belize is only the beginning of a great experience. Lush rainforests, powdery-white beaches, and fantastic food await your arrival. No holiday is complete however without a little duty free shopping.
Many travelers find it hard to resist the perks of tax-exempt stores and duty free shops selling alcohol, tobacco, perfume, electronics, and even snacks, but is everything a deal? With 10 Duty & Tax Free Ltd locations around Belize, we know Belize Duty Free Shopping. From airport terminals to cruise ship ports, we’re giving you a comprehensive guide to duty free shopping in Belize.
Before we get started, let's cut to the chase. You're probably reading this because you want to know: What is the duty free allowance in Belize?
Duty free shopping is an option for travelers to buy untaxed goods while travelling internationally, usually when departing a destination. Since imported products are taxed, duty-free shops waive local taxes and duties on merchandise when sold to travelers who will immediately take the items out of the country.
Belize duty free is unique in that we have duty free purchases upon arrival, that customers can take with them to enjoy their Belize vacation experience. The Belize duty free experience means taxes are waived from shops typically found after security checks in the international airport, cruise ports, and land border crossings.
"Duty" is the tax you pay for bringing a product across international borders. Shopping in a duty free zone or belize duty free shop avoids you having to pay taxes twice.
For example, when you buy something in Belize, it’s not uncommon that you’ll see the local General Sales Tax (GST) added to the price tag, which is charged at 12.5%. Since the perk is specifically for international travelers, Customs requires airport duty-free shops to verify that a customer is, in fact, leaving the country. Shops inside the departures gate at Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) ask for a boarding pass as evidence that you’re eligible to shop for duty free items. Similarly, you will be asked to show your passport and boarding pass when purchasing duty free goods on arrival in Belize.
Duty free stores can be found in the departures and arrival gates of the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA:BZE), at international cruise ports like Harvest Caye, inside the ferry ports of Fort Street Tourism Village & Punta Gorda Ferry Terminal, and at land border crossings, including free zones at the Western border of Guatemala-Belize (Benque Viejo Del Carmen) and the Northern border of Mexico-Belize (Santa Elena).
Belize has a number of duty free zones placed strategically around the country. Here’s a list of the best Belize duty free zone options to know about for your upcoming trip to Belize.
Among the largest and most established duty free shops in Belize is Duty & Tax Free Ltd, operating since 1986 with 10 stores in 5 locations across the country.
Ultimately, world-class alcohol, cigars, fragrances, confectionery, and even apparel are closer—and more affordable—than you think.
Here’s a breakdown of all of Belize duty free zones in which Duty & Tax Free Ltd operates:
With multiple duty-free retail stores, you can find one branch inside the Departures gate and two branches inside the Arrivals gate. However, we do operate a Cuban Cigars & More store at the Arrivals gate as well. The Philip Goldson International Airport is the one and only point of entry for international air travelers to Belize, landing on the outskirts of Belize City in Ladyville.
The 75-acre privately-owned island in Southern Belize is exclusive to Norwegian Cruise Line's port calls and its guests. Here, we operate one duty-free retail store, an official Belize apparel & gift shop, an official Harvest Caye apparel & gift shop, and 10 kiosks featuring arts and crafts from local artisans.
Maritime travelers anchor and go ashore via tender to Belize Southern Border Station, marking your point of entry into Belize’s southernmost district. Inside the Punta Gorda Ferry Terminal, we operate one duty-free retail store.
Separating the Belizean town of Benque Viejo del Carmen and the Guatemalan town of Melchor de Mencos, the Western Border also holds a Free Trade Zone—a class of special commercial zone with multiple tax benefits. Though smaller than the Corozal Free Zone, we operate one duty-free retail store, the Benque Viejo Free Zone.
Separating Belize’s Corozal District from the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Campeche, the mexico free trade zone along Belize’s Northern Border in Santa Elena not only includes a commercial-free zone but also the Princess Hotel & Casino Free Zone. We operate one duty free retail store and one casino store in the Corozal Free Zone, Belize.
When considering whether you should bring your own booze, tobacco, etc, many wonder what's available in Belize duty free stores?
Here's a list of what you can expect to find in Belize duty free shops around the country:
Our advice: you should focus on purchasing items that would normally be the most heavily taxed. Luxury products, like tobacco, alcohol, and perfume, tend to be taxed at a higher rate.
Each individual traveler entering Belize can purchase up to 4.5 Liters of wine & spirits, up to 3 cartons of cigarettes (200 cigarettes per carton), up to 150 cigars, and up to 3 100mL bottles of fragrance into Belize duty free in a single trip.
When departing Belize, you can also buy duty free products, however the amount you can carry depends on the limits that you can legally carry into your destination country. We recommend checking before flying.
Easy: by choosing to shop at a Duty & Tax-Free Ltd. branch! But besides already great prices, you can shop and save even more by signing up with us ahead of your visit.
Visit us at www.dutytaxfree.bz and sign up for our email list to save 10% on your next purchase. You’ll get an on-screen confirmation that’s also sent via email, but you can present your coupon at the airport, land border crossings, and even the cruise ship port on Harvest Caye at any Duty & Tax-Free Ltd. branch across Belize.
All that’s left is to picture yourself arriving in Belize and what drink you’d like to be sipping on the beach.
Duty free items which are tax free are generally more affordable compared to regular retail store prices, including Belize liquor stores. Before shelling out for a duty free purchase, it’s worth shopping around and checking more than one store if you have the time. Especially when shopping for international brands, duty free shopping can definitely translate into better prices than what you’d find at an average retail store outside of the Belize duty free zone near you. All in all, talk to sales reps and share what you like — they might even be offering specials that aren’t advertised.
Generally speaking the cost of duty free liquor in Belize, when compared to US pricing, Belize duty free liquor is more affordable. Save on Tito’s Vodka, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Patron, Tanqueray Gin, Grey Goose Vodka, and more. For more info on pricing of Belize duty free liquor, check out our price comparison below.
Source for US Pricing: dutyfreeamericas.com
Duty free allowances for visitors entering Belize include 1 liter of alcohol and one carton of cigarettes per person. If you bring anything more, you risk being fined or having your goods confiscated. That said, you can buy alcohol at the duty free shops in the arrivals gate at the Belize airport to carry into the country. Travelers can purchase up to 4.5 Liters of wine & spirits, up to 3 cartons of cigarettes (200 cigarettes per carton), up to 150 cigars, and up to 3 100mL bottles of fragrance into Belize duty free in a single trip.
There is no federal limit on the amount of alcohol someone may bring into the United States for personal use, but any amount that would suggest commercial purposes would need an Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) import permit. Generally, one liter per person may be entered into the U.S. duty-free by travelers who are 21 or older.
Yes, the international airport in Belize City has duty free stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars inside both arrival and departure lounges. For example, Duty & Tax-Free Ltd has one branch inside the Departures gate and two branches inside the Arrivals gate.
It depends on the alcohol. If travel time allows, shop around to compare prices of different duty free stores to see which shop will give you your best deal.
Since duty free stores are found after airport security, you won’t need to. Duty free purchases are packaged and distributed at the gate before departure.
Yes, but since bags are checked before going through airport security and customs, you won’t be able to add any duty free purchases to your luggage before flying. If traveling to the United States, TSA limits alcohol in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging.
Belize is best known for Belize rum, Belize coconut rum, Belize blackberry wine, and Belize Cashew Wine.
The legal drinking age in Belize is 18 years old. In order to buy alcohol or tobacco at Belize duty free shops, you must be at least 18 years old. Note that if you are traveling to a country with a different legal drinking age, you may not be able to import your duty free alcohol or tobacco purchase. Example: the legal drinking age in the United States of America is 21 years old.
Yes, you must declare anything bought abroad when arriving at your final destination’s customs. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.
Yes, a non-resident may bring gifts totaling $100 in value to the U.S. duty free. Each person can return to the U.S. with up to $800 tax & duty free including alcohol and tobacco. They may also purchase in excess of their allowance which U.S. Customs may ask them to pay a small amount of tax & duty on.
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