Duration of and application for a new Belize passport

(1) A Belize passport shall be valid for a period of– (a) ten years from the date of issue if it is issued to a person who is at least sixteen years of age; or (b) five years from the date of issue if it is issued to a child, and upon expiration an application for a new Belize passport in accordance with these Regulations may be submitted. (2) Notwithstanding subregulation (1) above, a person who intends to travel outside of Belize prior to the date on which his Belize passport is due to expire, may make an application for a new passport accompanied by all relevant information and in accordance with these Regulations for a new passport, prior to such expiration, and shall submit his existing passport for cancellation upon the issuance of a new passport. 14 (3) A person who makes an application to be issued with a Belize passport where the previously issued passport had been lost, stolen or mutilated shall not be issued with a new Belize passport until six weeks has elapsed from the date of the application for the new passport or the date on which such loss, theft or mutilation was reported to the Police Department, whichever is later. (4) Notwithstanding subregulation (3) above, the Minister may where it is expedient to do so and in circumstances that are urgent and exceptional, waive the period of time required under subregulation (3) above for the issue of a new passport and provide for a shorter period of time for the issue of a new passport, depending on the circumstances in question.