Registration of spouse, widow or widower of citizen of Belize

(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Part, no person who is the spouse, or the widow or widower, of a citizen of Belize by descent or registration shall be registered as a citizen of Belize under this Act, except in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this section. (2) A person who desires to be registered as a citizen of Belize under this section shall send an application in the prescribed form and manner to the prescribed officer. (3) After the receipt of the application under sub-section (2), the prescribed officer shall send the application to the Minister, if he is satisfied that the applicant has the following qualifications, (a) that the applicant has the qualifications specified in section 10(1)(a) and (c); (b) that the applicant has been resident in Belize throughout a period of one year immediately preceding the date of the application of such applicant; and (c) that the applicant is the spouse, or the widow or widower, of a citizen of Belize by descent or registration. (4) For the purpose of the residency requirement specified in sub-section (3) (b), if any applicant marries a Belizean citizen, such applicant shall be deemed to have been legally resident in Belize from the date of such marriage, notwithstanding that he might have entered Belize illegally. (5) The Minister may, in his discretion, refuse an application sent to him under subsection (3) of this section on any of the grounds specified in sub-section (3) (a), (b) or (c) of section 10. 14 (6) Where the Minister grants an application for registration made under this section by any person, such person shall be registered as a citizen of Belize. (7) The Minister’s refusal under subsection (5) of this section to allow the application of any person for registration as a citizen of Belize shall be final.