Website of the Belize Tourism Board

Information Page for Aviators Flying to Belize by
Private Aircrafts

This background shall provide an overview of the clearance procedures for entry and exit at the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) and the various charges levied for the services rendered by the relevant government and non government agencies.

Private flights-Advance Notification of Arrival

An advance notification of arrival must be submitted to the Department of Civil Aviation which is commonly done through a flight plan. Such information must be transmitted at least two hours in advance of arrival. The landing must be carried out at the PGIA (ICAO MZBZ).

The PGIA operates from 1200-2400 UTC (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) every day.

Entry

The clearance procedure for entry of private aircrafts is a five-step process involving five agencies, namely, Immigration, Customs and Excise; Belize Agriculture Health Authorities (BAHA); the Belize Airport Concession Company Limited (BACC) and the Department of Civil Aviation.

Immigration
Customs
Persons are required to present travel documents to the said agencies. Upon landing, they are required to remove all baggage from the aircraft to be screened for security purposes. Coming off the apron, Immigration has two stations with two officers per station to check 'Citizens of Belize and CARICOM' and the other to check 'All Visitors'.
Documents to be presented to the relevant authorities are:

passports
General Declaration forms (6 in total) click here for more info.
a list of crew names
customs clearance from airport of departure
and if required, the aircraft’s journey logbook
a manifest of goods carried in duplicate
a passenger manifest in duplicate and a list of stores carried in duplicate

The third step involves BAHA as well as Customs. The pilot would then proceed to the office of the BAHA to pay the necessary fees for quarantine. Quarantine involves searching the aircraft for any prohibited agricultural products. During this time a customs officer is also present to conduct a general security search. Also, personnel from the Organismo Int’l Regional Sanidad Agro de Pecuaria (OIRSA) spray the aircraft with pesticides.

The fourth step, involves the BACC. The pilot then proceeds to the office of BACC where he pays the necessary landing fees. When leaving the country, this office also collects passenger fees for departure.

The fifth step involves visiting the Air Traffic Services Reporting Office of the Civil Aviation Authority where the pilot must close his flight plan. Civil Aviation ensures that the pilot has been through the other government facilitation agencies by ensuring that they have approved and certified the entry by placing the appropriate stamps on the aircraft clearance certificate form. This procedure safeguards that the criteria for entry are met by the pilot of the aircraft before Civil Aviation gives final approval.

pilot license
valid medical certificate
certificate of airworthiness
certificate of registration of aircraft
copy of third party insurance for flights to Central America

These required documents ensure flight safety oversight as recommended by the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Weather Reports

Preflight and weather briefings are also available at this office.

Office Locations

Visiting offices of BAHA and the Civil Aviation in different locations may appear to be frustrating, but due to the small size of our airport, one will realize that the walk takes less than five minutes and uniformed officers are readily available to give directions if necessary.

Fuel

Should fuel be required, the Air Traffic Control Office may be able to assist in calling the fuel providers if requested by the pilot.

Exit

Upon exiting the country, private aircrafts need to go through a similar process, lodging a departure flight plan and checking in with all the agencies for documentation of departure.

Ground Handling

The service of ground handling for private aircrafts is optional as oppose to commercial aircrafts. The authorized agent of ground handling is the Aero Dispatch Services. Their charges depend on the size and type of aircrafts. Pilots are discouraged to use the services of unauthorized individuals.

Fees

As mentioned above, the operating hours of the PGIA are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Belize Airport Concession Company and Civil Aviation works seven days a week; whereas, Customs, Immigration and Quarantine works Monday through Friday, thereby, charging overtime to work on weekends in addition to working outside the operational hours of the airport.

The following are private aircraft fees charged by the various facilitating agencies at the PGIA:

BACC (Belize Airport Concession Company)

Landing fees are $9.75 for the first 6,000 lbs. of the aircraft’s weight, and $1.60 per 1,000 lbs. or part thereof.

For parking fees the first three hours are free and $4.00 for each 24 hours or part thereof per 10,000 lbs.

Passenger charges are: $2.50 per int’l passenger and $1.50 per domestic passenger for security fees; $30.00 for departure tax; $7.50 for PACT fee (foreigners only) and $30.00 for airport development fee (foreigners only).

Overtime fees are $394.00 for the first hour and $254.00 for any additional hour.

The Belize Airport Concession Company adds a 10% General Sales Tax on landing and parking fees.

CUSTOMS
Customs overtime fees are $40.00 for int’l arrival & $40.00 departure outside operating hours and on weekends the overtime fees are $80.00 arrival & $80.00 departure.

IMMIGRATION
Immigration overtime fees are $80.00 int’l arrival and departure for outside operating hours and weekends.

QUARANTINE
Quarantine overtime fees are $30.00 for each hour outside operating hours and on weekends.

CIVIL AVIATION
Civil Aviation overtime fees are $150.00 for each hour outside operating hours. Note: An operator desiring the provision of Air Traffic Services must request the services to the Belize Airport Concession Company Limited´s Duty Manager no later than 2300 UTC (1700 / 5:00 pm local).

CENTRAL AMERICAN COOPERATION AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES (COCESNA)
charges a fee per nautical mile flown in accordance with the aircraft’s weight. The charges are:

Category of Aircraft Maximum Take Off Weight lbs Coast Per Nautical Mile Flown US$

I 170,001 or more 0.55

II 110,001 to 170,000 0.36

III 50,001 to 110,000 0.28

IV 12,500 to 50,000 0.13

Aircrafts exempted from the above mentioned charges are: state, military or official aircrafts; private aircrafts on official missions; private aircrafts involved in humanitarian missions; aircraft in emergency situations or involved in search and rescue activities; and aircrafts whose maximum take off weight is below 12,500 lbs.

Contact Information:

Immigration and Nationality Services
Plaza Building
Bliss Parade
Belmopan, Belize
Tel: 501-822-2611 / 2423
Fax: 501-822-2662

Customs
P.O. Box 146
Customs House, Ceasar Ridge Road
Belize City
Tel: 501-227-7092 or 501-225-2065
Fax: 501-225-2490
Email: cusnet@btl.net

Belize Agriculture Health Authority
P.O. Box 169
Agriculture Show Grounds
Belompan, Belize
Tel: 501-822-0818/ 1378/ 0197
Fax: 501-822-0271
Website: www.baha.bz
Email: baha@btl.net

Department of Civil Aviation
Phillip S. W. Goldson Airport
Ladyville
Tel: 501-225-2014 or 501 225-2052
Fax: 501-225-2533
Email: dcabelize@btl.net

Belize Airport Concession Company
Ladyville, Belize
Tel: 501-225-2045
Fax: 501-225-2439
Email: bacc@pgiabelize.com

Aero Despatch Services Ltd.
PGIA
P.O. Box 244
Belize City
Tel: 501- 225-2163
Fax: 501- 225-2453.
Email: aerodispa@btl.net

FORMS

Below are two downloadable forms and a link for more information on customs:

Aircraft Clearance
General Declaration

Click here for more information regarding entry requirements and customs in Belize.