Belize gun laws treat firearm ownership as a privilege rather than a right, and every firearm must be tied to a valid license issued for a specific purpose. Since late 2023, licensing decisions are made by the Firearms and Ammunition Control Board (FACB), which replaced the Commissioner of Police as the licensing authority under the Firearms Act, Chapter 143 of the Laws of Belize.1National Assembly of Belize. Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2023 The Board decides who gets a license, what type of firearm they can own, and on what conditions, and it has wide discretion to say no.
The FACB sits within the Ministry of Home Affairs and handles the full lifecycle of a license: applications, complaints, audits, and revocations. Applications now flow through the Ministry rather than exclusively through police stations, though stations may still hand out forms.2Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise. Renewal of Company Gun Licenses Older guidance that names the Commissioner of Police as the decision-maker is out of date.
Who Can Qualify
No license may be granted to anyone under sixteen under the Firearms Act, and in practice most categories are limited to adults.3Government of Belize. Belize Code CAP. 143 – Firearms Act Beyond age, the statute lists several automatic reasons for denial:
- Conviction for a violent crime or a crime against public peace within the three years before applying, unless the applicant can show a special reason.
- Already possessing an unlicensed firearm at the time of application.
- Failing the Board’s “fit and proper person” standard, which covers temperament, reputation, or any other concern about character.
- Having no reasonable need for a firearm.
- A history of losing a firearm, or having one stolen, through the applicant’s own negligence.
The “fit and proper person” standard gives the Board enormous latitude. An applicant with a clean record can still be denied if the Board doubts their stability or the sincerity of their stated need. If a license is refused, the statute allows the applicant to petition the Minister in writing; the Minister can either direct the Board to issue the license or decline to intervene.
License Categories
Belize does not issue a single all-purpose gun license. The 2018 amendment established ten categories, each tied to a specific use, and the category you apply for determines what you can own, where you can carry it, and how closely your application is scrutinized.4National Assembly of Belize. Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2018 The categories are: special protection licence (concealed sidearm for personal security), farmer gun licence (crop and livestock protection), sport hunter licence, company gun licence (business security), gun dealers licence, gun repair licence, shooting range licence, shooting club licence, Firearm Safety Instructor licence, and heirloom firearm licence (inherited or antique weapons that have been permanently disabled).
A special protection licence draws harder scrutiny than a farmer gun licence, so picking the right category from the start matters.
Allowed Firearms and Prohibited Weapons
The Board can refuse any application for a firearm it considers too dangerous for private hands.3Government of Belize. Belize Code CAP. 143 – Firearms Act Civilian caliber limits generally allow handguns up to 9mm, revolvers up to .43 caliber, and rifles under 7.62mm. Shotguns are commonly approved for hunting and agricultural work. The Board also matches the requested firearm to the justification: a farmer asking for crop protection will find a shotgun much easier to get approved than a high-caliber handgun.
Some weapons are off-limits to civilians entirely. Fully automatic weapons, machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, and homemade firearms are prohibited regardless of license type, and possession carries three to seven years in prison.
How to Apply
Applications go to the FACB at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Belmopan and can be submitted in hard copy or by email. Forms are also available at police stations.5Belize Police Department. How Do I Apply for a Firearm License The official form, “Application for Firearm Licence,” requires the following:6Government of Belize. Application for Firearm Licence
- A valid Certificate of Conduct (police record).
- A firearm training certificate from an accredited Firearm Safety Instructor. This is required for all first-time applicants and for renewals, except renewals of a farmer gun licence.
- Two copies of photo ID, at least one being a valid Belizean passport or Social Security card.
- A recent utility bill as proof of address.
- Two character reference letters, one from a Justice of the Peace and one from someone outside the immediate family.
- A written letter explaining the specific reasons a firearm is needed.
- Proof of payment of the application fee.
- For company licences or applications citing commercial reasons: business registration certificate, Certificate of Good Standing, and trade licence.
Making a false statement on the application is itself a criminal offense. Vetting can take several months depending on caseload, and once the license is approved the serial number of the specific firearm purchased must be registered.
How Long Licenses Last and Renewing Them
A firearm license in Belize is valid for up to three years, with the exact term set by the Board.4National Assembly of Belize. Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2018 Renewal means submitting a fresh application to the FACB along with a current training certificate; farmer gun licence holders are exempt from the training requirement at renewal. Heirloom firearm licences do not expire, since the weapon must already be permanently disabled.
Letting a license lapse is not a technicality. Possessing a firearm without a current license is a criminal offense under the Act even if you previously held one, so file renewal paperwork well before the expiration date.
Carrying, Storage, and Ammunition
How you can carry a firearm depends on the license type. A special protection licence authorizes a concealed sidearm, meaning the weapon must be hidden from public view while in transit. Openly displaying a handgun in public is a fast way to lose the license. Hunting rifles and shotguns can be carried more openly in rural areas, but in towns and villages they must be unloaded and kept in a case or wrapped in cloth.
Ammunition is regulated separately. Each license prescribes an ammunition limit specific to its category, and having more rounds than your license allows is its own offense.4National Assembly of Belize. Firearms (Amendment) Act, 2018 License holders are expected to store their firearms safely and prevent access by unauthorized persons, though the Act does not require a specific type of safe or container.
Penalties for Violations
Firearms offenses in Belize are prosecuted on one of two tracks. For possessing a firearm or ammunition without a license:3Government of Belize. Belize Code CAP. 143 – Firearms Act
- On summary conviction: a fine up to $5,000 BZD, imprisonment up to two years, or both. First offenses carry a minimum of six months, though a court can substitute a fine of at least $1,000 BZD in special circumstances. A second or subsequent offense carries a minimum of eighteen months.
- On indictment: a fine up to $50,000 BZD, imprisonment up to five years, or both. First offenses carry a minimum of two years, reducible to a $5,000 BZD fine in special circumstances. Repeat offenses carry a minimum of five years.
Prohibited weapons offenses are punished more harshly, with three to seven years in prison regardless of the track. Any firearm or ammunition involved in a violation can be forfeited by court order.
Household Members on a License
A license holder can include one or more household members on the license so they can lawfully use the licensed firearm, provided the Board is satisfied each named person is not otherwise disqualified. Every household member added is still measured against the same “fit and proper person” standard, so this provision does not bypass the eligibility rules.
Visitors Bringing Firearms Into Belize
Foreign visitors cannot bring firearms or ammunition into Belize without advance government approval. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives warns travelers: “Do not enter Belize with firearms or ammunition without prior express consent from the government of Belize.”7Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Traveling with Firearms Arriving at a Belizean port of entry with an undeclared firearm will lead to arrest and prosecution under the Firearms Act.
Cross-border movement of firearms is separately controlled under subsidiary regulations to Chapter 143, which require export and import certificates issued by the responsible Ministry.8The Subsidiary Laws of Belize. Belize Code Chapter 143 – Firearms (International Movement of Firearms, Firearms Parts, Components and Ammunition) (Control) Regulations Anyone planning to bring a firearm for hunting or sport shooting should contact the Embassy of Belize well in advance to arrange the required permits.