Peruvian Consul Visits Belize to Provide Services for Nationals

The Peruvian Consul accredited to El Salvador and Belize, Carlos Ortega, is on an official visit to Belize to assist Peruvian nationals with essential civil and travel documents that require renewal or registration. Belize currently does not have a resident ambassador for Peru, but rather an honorary consul in the name of Rene Villanueva Senior.  As such, consular services for Belize-based Peruvians are normally handled through the Peruvian Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador, which oversees the jurisdiction and provides formal consular services. Ortega’s visit is intended to bring those services closer to the local community, including assistance with passports, birth registrations, and marriage certificates, particularly for nationals who may face challenges accessing those services abroad. He is working closely with the Honorary Consul Villanueva, who has long served as the primary local point of contact for Peruvians in the country. According to Ortega, the honorary consul has provided significant humanitarian support and assistance to nationals, despite the limited scope of authority attached to an honorary post. Speaking during his visit, Peruvian Consul Carlos Ortega explained the purpose of the mission and the importance of maintaining a consistent consular presence in Belize.

Belize is currently home to a small but growing Peruvian community, estimated at between 60 and 70 people, and officials say improved coordination is key to meeting their needs. Ortega stated that the near future could possibly see a Peruvian Embassy in Belize.

Consul Ortega also expressed hope that visits like this could become more frequent, helping to establish a more visible and consistent Peruvian presence in Belize, as discussions continue about strengthening diplomatic and consular engagement in the country. At present, the Peruvian Embassy in San Salvador remains the closest full diplomatic mission serving Peruvians in Belize.