Belize Currency and Safety Features

What is the unit of currency in Belize? The Belize Dollar. One U.S. dollar equals two Belize dollars. For several decades now the Belize Dollar has been tied to the U.S. dollar at an official rate of two Belize Dollars to one US dollar. However, increased borrowing by government has led to growing pressure on this official exchange peg. A lively parallel market usually gives BZ$2.05 for U.S.1.00 Dollar. US dollars are gladly accepted throughout Belize. Thus visitors with US dollars do not need to worry about changing their money into Belize dollars - it doesn't make much sense.

Belize Dollars are generally worthless outside Belize and the few places that might change them, for example a foreign exchange abroad will offer little for it. Belize dollars are readily accepted in the towns immediately across the borders of Belize, at Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala and at border of Chetumal in Mexico. Strangely, the Belize Dollar is not accepted at the Corozal Free Zone inside Belize at the Northern Border. Only Mexican Pesos and the U.S. dollar are negotiable there.

Amber Alert For Travelers to Belize

Belize Law allows travelers entering Belize to bring with them a MAXIMUM of U.S. $5,000. be it in cash, checks or negotiable instruments. This limit is per adult individual. You MUST declare the total sum of money on your disembarkation card before presenting to the Belize Customs Authority at all air, sea or land entries. Sadly the current United Democratic Party government is severely strapped for cash to the point that some travel writers are classifying Belize as the equivalent of small town speed traps in the U.S.A. Violation of the the above mentioned restrictions can lead to fines of TRIPLE the amount of undeclared funds that you bring in. This information you will not easily find on Belize Government or Belize Tourism Board websites but we include it here for your protection.

Belize Currency - Print The Money

Belize currency is printed at the British firm of Thomas De La Rue Ltd. All Belize bank notes feature a prominent image of Queen Elizabeth II on the front. Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth and has the Queen of England as Head of State.

Nationals of Belize are prohibited by law from holding U.S. dollar accounts - this is one way the government tries to shore up its Belize dollar. Belizeans - from the ordinary citizen to businessmen, must fill out special forms and apply to purchase foreign exchange for whatever reason - be it for emergency medical treatment abroad, or to pay for imports. To add insult to injury, government also taxes these purchases and the banks of course charge a commission. At times of high demand, the banks simply have no foreign exchange for regular customers. Belize dollars are usually sold by the banks at a rate of 2.0175 Belize dollars for one U.S. dollar.

Visitors arriving by land from Mexico or Guatemala will encounter free-lance money changers, sometimes called "peseros" who will usually give you a better exchange compared to the banks. You will not have to fill out long forms with personal information or stand in line at a bank to get foreign exchange. These money changers are frowned upon, but tolerated by the authorities.

Belize Currency Converter

There is no need for a Belize Currency Converter as the Belize Dollar by law is tied to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of Two Belize Dollars for One U.S. Dollar, i.e. One U.S. Dollar equals Two Belize Dollars.

Belize Currency and Security Features

Belize One Hundred and Fifty Dollar Notes

Belize Twenty and Ten Dollar Notes

The principal security features of Beize banknotes are: 1. Watermark 2. Windowed security thread 3. See-through feature 4. Novel numbering 5. Intaglio 6. Intaglio over-foil feature 7. Multi-redundant Hologram 8. Actual Size: * $100 and $50 is 150mm x 75mm * $20 and $10 is 140mm x 70mm - source Belize.com Research and Central Bank of Belize.

Belize Currency History

Section 62 of the Central Bank of Belize Act empowers the Bank to issue those notes and coins issued under the Monetary Authority of Belize. “The Monetary Authority of Belize” notes, therefore are the liability of the Central Bank of Belize and are legal tender. On 1st January 1981, the Monetary Authority of Belize demonetized all those notes issued under the Currency Ordinance 1965 by the Board of Commissioners of Currency. “The Government of British Honduras” notes and “The Government of Belize” notes, therefore are not legal tender and are redeemable only at the Central Bank of Belize.

While the first Belize currency notes under the Central Bank of Belize were issued in 1983, they maintained the design of those notes issued under the Monetary Authority. In May 1990, however, the Central Bank of Belize put into circulation a new family of Belize currency notes. This family, captured the rich variety of Belizean wildlife, national culture and historic sites and highlighted some of the rare and endangered species of the birds and animals of Belize.

Since then, this family has twice been upgraded to enhance its security; in 1998 and in this year, 2003. The main enhancements on the 1998 upgrade included two different sizes (one size for the $100 and $50 and another for the lower denominations), two different watermarks; the Jaguar and the Sleeping Giant, a hologram on the $100 denomination, a foil feature on the $50 denominations and a stardust windowed security thread on all denominations. The 2003 upgrade consisted of an intaglio overprint (the periwinkle flower) on the hologram on the $100 denomination only, a wider security thread and the denominational value (under the watermark) incorporated in the notepaper of all denominations.

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