Belize Grants Permanent Residency to Asylum-Seekers in Historic Amnesty Ceremony

Seven asylum-seekers in Belize have been awarded Permanent Residency Cards, officially confirming their legal status in the country. The residency cards were issued during an Amnesty Ceremony on September 2 at the University of Belize Conference Center in Belmopan, Cayo District.

Prime Minister John Briceño, alongside key government and international officials, including Immigration CEO Tanya Santos, Nationality and Passports Department Director Dayna Blades, and Refugees Department Director Nikolai Zelaya, were present at the event. Also attending were Jose Samaniego, UNHCR Regional Director for the Americas, and Jose Egas, UNHCR Representative for Belize and other regional countries.

The Belize Amnesty Programme, which concluded its registration phase in March 2023, offers asylum-seekers and irregular migrants a path to permanent residency. Over 12,765 applications were submitted, including 737 from asylum-seekers. So far, nearly 400 asylum-seekers have been granted permanent residency cards, with the government working to finalize more approvals.

“UNHCR commends Belize for its leadership in providing durable solutions to forced displacement,” said UNHCR’s Samaniego. “With permanent residency, asylum-seekers can now fully integrate into Belizean society.”

UNHCR has supported Belize’s efforts to assist refugees and asylum-seekers since the 1980s. This recent amnesty is a major milestone in securing the rights and safety of vulnerable populations. During their four-day visit, UNHCR officials are scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister and other high-level officials, as well as refugee organizations and UN partners.