More and more illegal immigrants from Cuba choose to travel to Honduras before continuing their journey to the United States, going through Central America and Mexico. Honduras grants the illegal immigrants visas, and allows them to continue their journey rather than deporting them back to Cuba.

Visa Requirements for Entering Honduras

American citizens are not required to get visas prior to entering Honduras. A 30 day visa is granted upon entry. According to our information, visas are not required for citizens of the United States, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Guatemala, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Uruguay. Please confirm with the Honduras Consulate in your country of residence for definitive information.

Cruise Ship Visitors - Is A Passport Required?

Honduran law requires Americans entering Honduras to have passports. As of Feb 08, however, Honduras is waiving passport requirements for Americans for cruise ship passengers unless the passenger's trip originates or ends in Honduras.

Immigration Requirements for Prolonged Stays in Honduras

If you plan to stay in Honduras more than 30 days, you must pay to have your visa renewed.  The fee for visa renewal keeps rising.  The current fee is:  L 400 (Lempiras) per person per month.  The immigration office is just east of Casa Warren's, the major grocery store in Coxen Hole. 

Visitors that do not have residency must leave Honduras every 90 days for three days (as of Mar 07 ) or pay a substantial fee to waive the requirement.  The amount of time that nonresidents are permitted to stay in Honduras before leaving keeps being reduced by the government.  The continual reduction in allowable visit time is probably intended to generate more revenue for the country since the process of obtaining residency involves paying Honduran lawyers substantial fees.

Visitors leaving Honduras must pay about $33 per person (as of Apr 08 ) .  Exceptions are granted to those coming on Honduran aid missions in the case of national disasters.  The cost is less for Honduran citizens and Honduran lawmakers are exempted from paying the Honduras departure tax.

Honduran Minors Travelling from Honduras

Any Honduran citizen under 21 years old must have a parental authorization letter to leave the country. Immigration will stop you at the airport if you do not have this letter.

Honduras Residency

Several types of residency are offered.

• Rentista (one who lives on interest of bonds, dividends, etc) -
  Monthly income must be 2,500 USD.  Cannot include income due to employment.
• Investor - Must invest 50,000 USD or more in Honduras and meet other requirements.
• Retiree - Must have 1,500 USD monthly foreign income and convert that into Lempiras.  Allows duty free importation of personal items including a car.
• Special - Includes students, missionaries, aid workers, etc.  Proof of status is required.

A Honduran lawyer is very useful in getting Honduran residency.  The process can be time consuming and frustrating.  The current wait for residency can be 3-6 months.  It can be longer if you do not get a good lawyer.  Make sure you use a reputable lawyer.

Renewing Honduras Residency

The annual missionary residency renewal requires the following:

1. Carta de Trabajo (work letter)

This is a signed letter from the director of the sponsoring mission or school stating your function in the mission or school.  It must be stamped with an official mission or school stamp.

2. Dependency Letter

A lawyer must draft and a notary must authenticate this letter stating your family members are financially dependent on you. 

3. Copies of Your Resolucion

A government document given to you when you obtained your residency.

4. Copies of the Certificacion Documents

A government document given to you for each family member when you obtained your residency.

Residency renewal costs about $20 per person per year.

Pets

Immigration certificates ($75) for pets must be signed by the certified veterinarian, Dr. Santiago Soto in Coxen Hole, phone 9909-0595.

Fishing Dory from the Garifuna Village Rio Esteban