Belize – A Modern Passport to Make Citizens Proud

The 2022 Belize ePassport series, the first ever from a from a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to be nominated for an HSP Regional Passport of the Year award, represents one of the most modern and secure travel documents within the Caribbean region.

Located on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize is a small but vibrant country with a rich history and diverse culture. It is characterised by a varied landscape encompassing pristine beaches, coral reefs, lush rainforests, and the magnificent Maya Mountains. The country is home to the second-largest coral reef system in the world, known as the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its natural beauty attracts tourists and nature enthusiasts from around the globe.

The region was once a thriving centre of Mayan civilization, with numerous archaeological sites, such as Caracol and Xunantunich, providing glimpses into this ancient past. European powers, including the Spanish and British, contested control over the territory, with the British eventually gaining dominance.

With a population of approximately 400,000, Belize is one of the least densely populated countries in Central America. Its population is a mix of various ethnic groups.The official language is English, reflecting the country’s historical ties to the British Empire. It gained independence in 1981.

The Government of Belize set out to replace its aging Machine-Readable Passport design and partnered with Canadian Bank Note (CBN) to embark on a full redesign program, which reflects its unique and diverse landscape, history and culture. Working in close collaboration with CBN artists and border security experts, Belize has successfully launched the nation’s first series of electronic passports.

This partnership resulted in an attractive, modern, and secure suite of ePassports which capture the impressive imagery of the country’s Mayan heritage, flora, fauna, marine life, and historic landmarks. The vibrant design series strikes the perfect balance between artistic creativity and the effective integration of security elements to deter malicious attacks.

Data page Belize ePassport.

Visual highlights include an innovative cover design, complex multi-colour ultraviolet artwork, and a custom mould-made watermark substrate. An array of enhanced security features integrated throughout the design include see-through register images, intaglio with latent images, Spark® OVMI, and a sophisticated holographic laminate.

Front cover of the regular ePassport.

The Government of Belize made significant investment in the 2022 passport series, in accordance with the technical specifications set forth by ICAO, and further joined the global Public Key Directory (PKD) to coincide with the launch. With this modern and attractive ePassport, it says that Belizean citizens can proudly present their travel documents while traveling abroad and leverage the increasing availability of self-validation technology which requires the use of an ICAO-compliant ePassport.