Application for indefinite stay to engage in gainful employment etc

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, a national who seeks to remain in Belize beyond the period stated in section 3, for the purpose of engaging in or finding gainful employment with an employer or as a self-employed person shall, within that period, submit an application to the department in the approved form, together with– (a) the qualifying certificate issued by the competent authority of a qualifying Caribbean 10 Caribbean Community Act Community State certifying that the national is recognised by the Government of that qualifying Caribbean Community State as a (b) a valid passport, valid for at least six months from the date of entry, issued to the national by a qualifying Caribbean Community State; (c) the approved fee; and (d) a police record of– (i) the national; (ii) the spouse of the national; or (iii) any dependant, above the age of seventeen, of the national. (2) The department shall submit the qualifying certificate submitted under sub-section (1) (a), to the Ministry responsible for trade for verification of its validity. (3) A national under sub-section (1), the spouse or any dependant of the national, may engage in gainful employment with an employer or as a self-employed person, pending the verification of validity of the qualifying certificate. (4) Subject to section 5, the department shall, within thirty working days of submission of an application, refuse or approve the application. (5) Where an application is approved, the department shall grant to the applicant, the spouse or any dependent of that applicant, indefinite stay. (6) Where an application is refused, the department shall notify the applicant of the refusal. Caribbean Community Act [CAP. 17:02 11