In a December 23, 2025 press release, the Government of Belize advised that the Trade License Act, No. 19 of 2024, has not come into force for the 2026 trade licensing year. As a result, the Trade License Act, Chapter 66 (Revised Edition 2020) remains the applicable law.

For 2026, only businesses operating in towns and cities are subject to trade license fee assessments. Businesses in rural areas, including Caye Caulker, are not required to pay trade license fees, and any application fees already paid will remain credited to those applicants.

What this means for businesses: the existing trade licensing framework continues to apply for 2026, with no new licensing obligations in rural areas until the Act comes into force.

For a general overview of the Trade License Act 2024, see our previous article here.