Belize grants citizenship to 111 people from 22 countries

By Zoila Palma: A total of 111 people from 22 countries officially became Belizean citizens on Thursday during a nationality ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour.

The new citizens hailed from countries including Honduras, El Salvador, the United States, India, Bangladesh, Cuba, Canada, Nigeria, Mexico, Nicaragua, and several others, reflecting Belize’s diverse and multicultural society.

Honduras accounted for the largest number of new citizens with 32 recipients, followed by El Salvador with 28.

The ceremony also welcomed eight new citizens from the United States, seven from India, six each from Bangladesh and Cuba, four each from Canada and Nigeria, three each from Mexico and Nicaragua, and one recipient each from Belgium, Bolivia, China, France, Ghana, Haiti, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

Minister of Immigration, Governance and Labour Kareem Musa said the ceremony highlighted Belize’s long tradition of welcoming people from different backgrounds who have chosen to make the country their home.

He told the new citizens that they bring valuable skills, experiences and ideas that strengthen Belize’s communities and contribute to the nation’s future. “Today you join not only by law, but as equal partners in shaping the next chapter of Belize’s story,” Musa said.

During the ceremony, Musa also outlined improvements made by the Nationality and Passports Department over the past year, including reducing application backlogs, expanding staffing, increasing Scrutinizing Committee meetings, developing a digital archive for nationality records, and preparing to launch online passport application services. He said the reforms are aimed at making nationality services more efficient while preserving the integrity of Belize’s citizenship process.

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