Here are some of the questions we hear most often. If you have a question that is not answered here, please send us an email at info@belizefsc.org.bz
Frequently Asked Questions
A person who holds the relevant licence from the Commission to act as a registered agent. For any doubt, a person includes a sole practitioner or a legal entity.
A sole practitioner includes any natural person (‘individual’) or licensed professional who meets the Commission’s fit and proper requirements, such as an attorney-at-law or an accountant for example, who operates an office or firm without any other partners. In such a practice, there may be a number of support staff to assist the individual or professional.
A legal entity includes a company, partnerships, trust, association, and any other organised group, whether corporate or incorporate.
The business of financial services, including registered agent is a regulated service by virtue of section 6 of the Financial Services Commission Act, Chapter 272 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020 (FSCA). Section 7(1) of the FSCA prohibits persons from carrying on or transacting any financial services, including registered agents without a licence from the FSC; and doing so without a licence would constitute a criminal offence.
A licensed registered agent may provide the services listed under section 4 of the Guidelines to Apply for a First-Time Registered Agent Licence ‘FSC/1/EG/015(2)’.
These services include:
(a) forms, registers or manages a Belize Company;
(b) acts, or arranges for another person to act, as a director, secretary, officer, or shareholder of a Belize Company;
(c) provides registered office services for a Belize Company;
(d) forms, registers, or acts as an agent for an international foundation registered under the International Foundations Act;
(e) forms, registers or acts as an agent for an international trust or provides trustee services for an international trust registered under the Trusts Act;
(f) forms, registers or acts as an agent for an international limited liability company under the International Limited Liability Company Act;
(g) is appointed as the registered representative of a private trust company established under the Belize Companies Act; and
(h) is the representative of a segregated portfolio company registered under the Belize Companies Act; For more information refer to the Guidelines to Apply for a First-Time Registered Agent License that can be accessed on the Belize FSC website.
There is no change. Licensees currently authorised may continue to operate under their existing valid licence granted by the FSC.
An application for a first-time registered agent licence shall be made to the Commission via the application form, accompanying the biographical affidavit for each principal of an applicant company. These forms are to be submitted electronically via the Payment Information Form on our webpage
The non-refundable application fee of US$500.00 and an annual licence fee of US$1,500.00 apply to an applicant sole practitioner, while for a legal entity, it is US$1,000.00 non-refundable application fee and US$5,000.00 annual licence fee.
Every licence granted by the Commission is subject to renewal on or before the annual renewal date (i.e. 31st December in any given year).
An application for renewal of a registered agent licence shall be made in the prescribed form ‘Licence Renewal Application Form (A)’ and accompanied by the ‘Licence Renewal Application Form (B). These forms are to be submitted electronically via the Payment Information Form on our webpage.
A licence may be granted by the Commission for a fixed period of one (1) year but not exceeding three (3) years.
The Commission is responsible for the licensing, regulation and supervision of persons engaged in the conducting of business for financial service providers, including registered agents in and from within Belize pursuant to the Financial Services Commission Act, Chapter 272 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020.
The Belize Companies Act, 2022 establishes that a company shall, at all times, have a licensed registered agent in Belize, except where specifically exempted.
A list of the names of registered agents and publication of its contact information is available on the Commission’s webpage, https://www.belizefsc.org.bz/license-service-provider/?wdt_column_filter[0]=a
With the enactment of the Economic Substance Act and the publication of the Economic Substance Guidance Notes, registered agents as “included entities” are required to comply with the Act and have substantial economic presence in Belize.
Compliance with a physical address in Belize is just one aspect of satisfying the Economic Substance Test.
Capital requirement means the requirement in respect of capital which must be met by a person licensed by the Commission.
Where the applicant is a company, the capitalisation requirement may be met via the request for approval for either of the following methods in an amount proportionate set out in the Financial Services Commission (Capital Requirement) Regulations, 2020 (the ‘Capital Requirements Regulations).
- Method 1: Bank or licensed financial institution
- Method 2: Parent Company Guarantee
Where the applicant is a sole practitioner, the capitalisation requirement may be met via the request for approval to accept proof of indemnity insurance by an insurance provider licensed under the Insurance Act or International Insurance Act and the proposed indemnity insurance coverage must be in an amount appropriate to the activities, scale and complexity of the operations or business activities of the applicant.
The requirement for indemnity insurance is waived for a sole practitioner who is an attorney-at-law or accountant possessing a valid practicing certificate in Belize.
Requests for compliance with the capitalisation requirement must be submitted to the Compliance Department at complianceandinspections@belizefsc.org.bz as a separate cover to its application package.
A licence shall not be granted unless the applicant satisfies the Commission that it has met the requirements of the Capital Requirements Regulations and the Economic Substance Act.
Further information on the compliance with the capital requirement are set out in the Guidelines to Apply for a First-Time Registered Agent Licence and the Guidelines to satisfy the requirements of the Financial Services Commission (Capital Requirement) Regulations, 2020.
