Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the Registrar's certificate, including banking and payment rails.
Belize trust: international trusts under the Trusts Act, Cap. 202.
A Belize trust for non-residents is an international trust under Part X of the Trusts Act, Cap. 202, and registration is compulsory. The application goes to the Registrar of International Trusts, the Director General of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), within 90 days of creation, and an unregistered international trust is invalid and unenforceable. A licensed trust agent resident in Belize is required. We run it from Belize City.
30 yrs
of experienceof experience
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated · Reviewed by the Prifinance team
Belize in brief
Belize trust: compulsory registration, a resident agent and the 2023 rules.
A Belize trust rests on Part X of the Trusts Act, Chapter 202 of the Substantive Laws of Belize (Revised Edition 2020, law as at 31 December 2020), as amended by the Trusts (Amendment) Act, 2023, Act No. 40 of 2023. The 2023 Act replaced the definition of an international trust in s.64(1). At least one trustee must now be a Belize Companies Act corporation or a licensed trust company doing business in Belize, neither the settlor nor any beneficiary may be resident in Belize, and the trust property may not include land in Belize. Registration is compulsory. The settlor, a trustee or the trust agent applies within 90 days of creation (s.65B(1)); the Director General of the FSC, as Registrar of International Trusts, enters the trust's name, its trustees and any protector (s.65B(4)(a)); and the filing goes through the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR). The register is closed to public inspection (s.65C(1)).
Government fees are modest: US$100 to register under SI No. 68 of 2007, US$150 if late, and no annual fee for the trust itself in that schedule or BCCAR's. The work lies in the duties the 2023 Act added. Records must be kept up to date, kept in Belize and retained for at least five years (s.27(7B)). The trustee discloses its status to a reporting entity before a business relationship begins (s.30A), and the trustee or trust agent files an attestation report on beneficial ownership and control with the FSC by 31 March each year (s.30B). Section 7(6) is the firewall: a Belize court will not apply foreign law or a foreign order to vary or set aside a Belize-law trust, or to uphold claims against its property, on marriage, succession or creditors in an insolvency. For an international trust it applies only once the trust is registered (s.65B(7)).
An international trust under Part X of the Trusts Act, Cap. 202: a Belize trustee, a licensed resident trust agent, registration within 90 days, invalidity if unregistered, and a register closed to the public.
US$100 to register, no annual trust fee in the schedules, 120 years at most. Since Act No. 40 of 2023: records in Belize and an attestation report to the FSC by 31 March.
The two builds
Two ways to put a Belize trustee in place.
Since Act No. 40 of 2023 at least one trustee of an international trust is a licensed trust company in Belize or a Belize Companies Act corporation. A licensed trust agent resident in Belize is appointed either way (s.65E).
An FSC-licensed trustee and agent, or the family's private trust company under SI No. 154 of 2022.
01 - FSC-LICENSED TRUSTEE AND AGENT
Professional trustee and agent
A trust company or registered agent licensed by the FSC holds the trusteeship and is also the resident trust agent who accepts service of legal process (s.65E). It files the registration with its affidavit and keeps the records in Belize.
A trust company or registered agent licensed by the FSC holds the trusteeship and is also the resident trust agent who accepts service of legal process (s.65E). It files the registration with its affidavit and keeps the records in Belize.
- ✓Licensed under the FSC Act 2023
- ✓Trustee and trust agent in one
- ✓Affidavit filed with registration
- ✓Records kept in Belize
- ✓Agent updates within 30 days
- ✓90 days' notice absent a successor
02 - PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY
A trustee company of its own
A Belize Companies Act corporation registered with the FSC under SI No. 154 of 2022 holds the trusteeship and needs no licence for connected trust business (reg 8(1)). It needs US$10,000 of capital, a Special Director and a licensed registered agent, and may not solicit public contributions.
An FSC-registered Belize Companies Act corporation, no licence needed for connected trust business: US$2,500 to register, US$2,500 a year.
- ✓US$2,500 to register
- ✓US$2,500 annual renewal
- ✓US$300 on surrender
- ✓Late surcharge 10% a month
- ✓Licensed registered agent required
- ✓Trust agent still FSC-licensed
Reflects Cap. 202, Act No. 40 of 2023 and SI No. 154 of 2022 as of 2026; whether the family's trusts fall within connected trust business is checked before a private trust company (PTC) is formed.
Why Belize
What the Belize statute gives a non-resident settlor.
✓
A closed register
The Register of International Trusts is not open for public inspection (s.65C(1)). Inspection needs the written authority of the trustee or trust agent; the prosecution, police, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) or another enforcement authority obtain disclosure on a written request for a criminal case.Inspection only with written authority.
✓
A firewall in s.7(6)
Section 7(6) stops a Belize court from varying or setting aside a registered Belize-law trust under foreign law or a foreign order on marriage or its end, succession rights or creditors' claims in an insolvency.Three foreign claim types not recognised.
✓
120 years, no perpetuity rule
A trust may last up to 120 years and ends on the 120th anniversary of its creation unless it ends sooner. The rule against perpetuities does not apply, and income may be accumulated for the full term (s.6).Up to 120 years, accumulation allowed.
✓
A protector with set powers
Where the terms create the office, the protector can by default remove a trustee and appoint a new or additional one (s.16). A settlor, trustee or beneficiary may hold the role.Removes and appoints trustees by default.
✓
Settlor in several roles
The settlor may also be a trustee, a beneficiary or the protector (s.9(2)). The trustee may have regard to the settlor's letter of wishes but is not bound to (s.13).Settlor may also benefit or protect.
✓
US$100 to register
SI No. 68 of 2007 sets US$100 for registering an international trust and US$50 more for late registration. An amendment or a change in the Trust Register costs US$50.US$100, plus US$50 if late.
How it compares
How Belize differs from other trust jurisdictions.
Two lines decide the comparison: whether the trust is registered, and how long it may last. Jersey and the BVI register no trust; Belize registers every international trust and caps a Belize-law trust at 120 years.
Belize vs other trust jurisdictions
| Feature |  Belize | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Trust registration | Compulsory, within 90 days | None in Jersey or the BVI |
| Fee at set-up | US$100 registration | BVI: US$200 duty stamp |
| Maximum duration | 120 years (s.6(1)) | Malta 125; Jersey unlimited |
| Perpetuity rule | Disapplied (s.6(3)) | BVI: up to 360 years |
Trust registration
BelizeCompulsory, within 90 days
Other jurisdictionsNone in Jersey or the BVI
Fee at set-up
BelizeUS$100 registration
Other jurisdictionsBVI: US$200 duty stamp
Maximum duration
Belize120 years (s.6(1))
Other jurisdictionsMalta 125; Jersey unlimited
Perpetuity rule
BelizeDisapplied (s.6(3))
Other jurisdictionsBVI: up to 360 years
Country by country
| Country | Instrument | Trustee regulation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | International trust - Cap. 202 | FSC-licensed trust agent | Filed within 90 days; 120 years |
 BVI | BVI trust - Trustee Act | Licensed BVI trustee | No registration; US$200 stamp |
 Jersey | Jersey trust - 1984 Law | JFSC trust company business | No registration; unlimited |
 Malta | Trust - Cap. 331 | MFSA · Article 43 | 125-year maximum |
BelizeInstrumentInternational trust - Cap. 202
Trustee regulationFSC-licensed trust agent
NotesFiled within 90 days; 120 years
BVIInstrumentBVI trust - Trustee Act
Trustee regulationLicensed BVI trustee
NotesNo registration; US$200 stamp
JerseyInstrumentJersey trust - 1984 Law
Trustee regulationJFSC trust company business
NotesNo registration; unlimited
MaltaInstrumentTrust - Cap. 331
Trustee regulationMFSA · Article 43
Notes125-year maximum
Before you establish
What a Belize trust actually requires.What a Belize trust requires.
The registration line decides whether the trust is valid at all; the record, disclosure and attestation lines come from Act No. 40 of 2023.
01
Written instrument - an international trust may be created only by an instrument in writing (s.65(1)).
02
Belize trustee - at least one trustee is a Belize Companies Act corporation or a licensed trust company in Belize (s.64(1)(a)).
03
Non-residence - the settlor and every beneficiary are not resident in Belize, and no Belize land is trust property (s.64(1)(b)-(d)).
04
Trust agent - licensed, resident in Belize at all times, appointed by the trustee and served with all legal process (s.65E).
05
Registration - application within 90 days of creation with the trust agent's affidavit on the information it holds (s.65B).
06
Trustees - one at minimum and, except in charitable trusts, four at most (s.18).
07
Records in Belize - accounts and records kept up to date in Belize and retained at least five years (s.27(7B)).
08
Status disclosure - a trustee states its capacity to a reporting entity before a business relationship or above-threshold occasional transaction (s.30A).
09
Attestation report - beneficial ownership and control reported to the FSC by 31 March for the year ending 31 December (s.30B).
10
Agent updates - changes to the information the trust agent holds reach the Registrar within 30 days (s.65A(5A)).
01
Written instrument only.
02
At least one Belize trustee.
03
Non-resident settlor and beneficiaries.
04
Licensed resident trust agent.
05
Apply within 90 days.
06
One to four trustees.
07
Records kept in Belize.
08
Trustee status disclosed.
09
Attestation by 31 March.
10
Agent updates in 30 days.
Reflects the Trusts Act, Cap. 202 (Revised Edition 2020), Act No. 40 of 2023 and the FSC notices of 2023 and 2024 as of 2026.Cap. 202 and Act No. 40 of 2023, as of 2026.
Verify it yourself
Official sources
Regulator pages, legal texts and public registers the figures on this page are based on.
- LawTrusts Act, Chapter 202 (Revised Edition 2020, law as at 31 December 2020) - Financial Services Commissionbelizefsc.org.bz
- LawTrusts (Amendment) Act, 2023, Act No. 40 of 2023 - Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registrybccar.bz
- RegisterBCCAR - Fees Schedule, international trustsbccar.bz
- RegulatorFSC - Public Notice: Duty to Submit Attestation Report (14 February 2024)belizefsc.org.bz
How it works
From the first call to a registered trust.
01
Residence check
Settlor and beneficiaries tested against s.64(1): nobody resident in Belize, and no Belize land in the trust fund.No Belize residents or land.
02
Trustee and agent
A licensed trust company in both roles, or a private trust company as trustee with a licensed registered agent and a licensed trust agent.Licensed trustee or PTC appointed.
03
Instrument drafting
Written instrument under Cap. 202 with the proper law, protector powers under s.16, a letter of wishes and revocation terms under s.43.Instrument under Cap. 202.
04
Registration filing
Application to the Registrar within 90 days with the trust agent's affidavit; a numbered certificate goes to the trustee and the trust agent.Filed within 90 days.
05
Yearly cycle
Attestation report by 31 March, records kept in Belize, trustee status disclosed to reporting entities, agent updates within 30 days.Attestation every 31 March.
Quick facts
Amending ActAct No. 40 of 2023
FilingBCCAR Online Business Registry System
Public accessRegister closed (s.65C)
Trust agentLicensed, resident in Belize
Attestation reportBy 31 March each year
RecordsIn Belize, 5 years
PTC feesUS$2,500 + US$2,500 a year
Breach of trust claims (s.56)3 years; fraud excepted
The statute gives the applicant 90 days from creation to file. We confirm the Registry's timing case by case and lodge early, since an unregistered international trust is invalid and unenforceable.
On the ground in Belize
Run from our Belize City office.
Prifinance - Belize
Belize City · Belize
Belize City, Belize
01
Agent and trustee
We line up an FSC-licensed trust company or registered agent and check its licence on the FSC's LicenSys public search.Licence checked on LicenSys.
02
Deed and registration
Instrument drafted under Cap. 202 and the registration lodged through BCCAR's online system well inside the 90 days.Lodged through BCCAR within 90 days.
03
PTC formation
Where the family wants its own trustee, the private trust company registered under SI No. 154 of 2022 with a licensed registered agent.PTC under SI No. 154 of 2022.
04
Annual compliance
Records kept in Belize, the attestation report filed by 31 March and trust agent updates sent within 30 days.Attestation, records, updates on time.
We also have offices in
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Tax position of a registered Belize trust.
The whole Belize position sits in s.65D of the Trusts Act and lasts while the trust stays on the register. Beneficiaries' home-country tax is a separate question.
Income and Business Tax Act
A duly registered international trust is exempt from the Income and Business Tax Act for as long as it continues to be registered (s.65D(1)(a)).Exempt for as long as registered.
Death duties
No estate, inheritance, succession or gift tax or duty is payable on trust property by reason of any person's death (s.65D(1)(b)).No death duties on trust property.
Stamp duty
Instruments relating to trust property, or to transactions the trustee carries out for the trust, are exempt from stamp duty (s.65D(1)(c)).No stamp duty on trust instruments.
Exchange control
For trust property and trust transactions, the trustee of a registered international trust is regarded as not resident under the Exchange Control Regulations, 1976 (s.65D(2)).Trustee treated as non-resident.
Beneficiaries abroad
Section 65D contains no separate rule for beneficiaries or distributions. How a distribution is taxed depends on the beneficiary's own country, which we model per structure.Home-country rules decide distributions.
Economic substance
The Economic Substance Act, Cap. 273:01 (Revised Edition 2020) is framed around a commercial entity and does not mention trusts. Companies under the trust carry their own analysis.Act names commercial entities, not trusts.
Tax summary
Income and Business Tax ActExempt while registered
Estate, inheritance, gift taxNone on trust property
Stamp dutyTrust instruments exempt
Exchange controlTrustee non-resident
ConditionRegistration kept in force
*As of 2026 per the Trusts Act, Cap. 202, s.65D and the Economic Substance Act, Cap. 273:01. Beneficiaries' positions abroad are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Belize deed and registration file, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a registered international trust.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Belize · FSC
Set up your Belize trust with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from the residence check and the deed to registration within 90 days and the yearly attestation - run through our Belize City office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is a Belize trust right for your family?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, structure, or route fits your situation.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
Belize trusts: registration, agents, tax.
What is a Belize international trust?+
A Belize international trust is a trust under Part X of the Trusts Act, Cap. 202 with at least one Belize trustee, a settlor who is not resident in Belize, no resident beneficiaries and no Belize land among its assets (s.64(1), as replaced in 2023). It must be created in writing (s.65(1)).
What happens if the trust is not registered in 90 days?+
The Registrar may extend the 90 days if the failure was inadvertent (s.65B(2)); late registration costs US$50 on top of the US$100 fee. A trust that stays unregistered is invalid and unenforceable, and the s.7 firewall never applies to it (s.65B(7)).
Does a trust in Belize need a Belize trustee?+
Yes. Since Act No. 40 of 2023 one trustee at least must be a licensed trust company in Belize or a Belize Companies Act corporation, which can be the family's private trust company under SI No. 154 of 2022. A licensed trust agent resident in Belize is appointed as well (s.65E(1)).
How long does it take to set up a Belize trust?+
The statute gives 90 days from creation to apply for registration (s.65B(1)), and s.7 applies only after registration. We plan the deed, the trust agent's affidavit and the filing as one sequence, and confirm the Registry's current timing on each file before giving a date.
What does a Belize trust cost?+
Government fees are US$100 to register an international trust, or US$150 if late; SI No. 68 of 2007 and the BCCAR schedule list no annual fee for the trust. A private trust company adds US$2,500 at registration and US$2,500 a year. Our fee is fixed in writing after a free assessment.
What does s.7(6) of the Trusts Act cover?+
For a registered Belize-law trust, the Belize Court will not vary or set aside the trust, or uphold claims against its property, under foreign law or a foreign order on marriage, succession or insolvency creditors (s.7(6)). The Court can still declare a trust invalid if it was set up by fraud, duress or misrepresentation (s.7(2)(b)), and the trust stays on the FSC's register.
What did the Trusts (Amendment) Act 2023 change?+
Act No. 40 of 2023, assented on 5 September 2023, requires a Belize trustee, records kept in Belize for five years, disclosure of trustee status to reporting entities, information within 30 days of a written request and a yearly attestation report. The FSC gave licensees, trustees and other reporting entities until 31 December 2023 to comply.
Who can see the Register of International Trusts?+
Not the public: the Register is closed to inspection (s.65C(1)). A person authorised in writing by the trustee or trust agent may inspect it, and the prosecution, police, FIU or another enforcement authority obtain disclosure on a written request for criminal cases (s.65C(2)). A competent authority also receives information from the trustee within 30 days of a written request (s.28(1)).
Belize or the BVI for a family trust?+
The BVI does duration better: a perpetuity period of up to 360 years may be chosen for instruments taking effect after 15 May 2013 (Trustee Act s.68), and the trust is not registered, only stamped with a US$200 duty stamp within three months. Belize registers every international trust, keeps its register closed and stops a Belize-law trust at 120 years.
Why Prifinance for a Belize trust?+
We run the residence test, line up an FSC-licensed trustee and agent or form the family's private trust company, and file the registration well inside 90 days. The attestation and records cycle then runs from our Belize City office.
International trust?+
Part X trust with a Belize trustee.
Missed 90 days?+
Extension for inadvertence, US$50 late fee.
Belize trustee needed?+
Yes, since Act No. 40 of 2023.
How long?+
90 days to file; timing confirmed per file.
Government fees?+
US$100 registration; US$150 if late.
s.7(6) scope?+
Foreign-law claims; fraud still voids a trust.
2023 changes?+
Belize trustee, records, attestation report.
Who sees the register?+
Not the public; authorities on request.
Or the BVI?+
BVI: no registration, up to 360 years.
Why you?+
Residence test to attestation, from Belize City.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Belize trust.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: whether the trust qualifies as international, and what registration and the yearly attestation involve.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.