Honduras

Honduras visa and residence guide

6 visa types
checked 24 October 2026

How visas for Honduras work

Honduras applies the visa classification shared with El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua (CA-4), which sorts nationalities into categories: Category A nationals, for example those of Türkiye, are exempt from a visa, while other categories need a visa from a Honduran consulate, and a remarks column notes where Honduras treats a country differently. Visitors can extend their stay at the National Migration Institute (INM) until they complete 120 days in the CA-4 region, at the equivalent of USD 20 for each extra month.

Longer stays follow two tracks. The INM grants special stay permits (Permisos Especiales de Permanencia) in categories such as employees under contract, business owners and students, for USD 100 or USD 50 per year plus L.200. Residence for pensioners, rentistas, investors and family members of Hondurans is granted by the Secretariat of State for Human Rights, Justice, Governance and Decentralisation. Both are filed through a Honduran lawyer.

Common documents are a 6 x 5 cm photo, an authenticated passport copy, a legalised criminal record certificate from the country of origin and of last residence, a local police certificate and a medical certificate no older than six months. Documents in other languages must be officially translated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Several INM pages were retrieved from archived copies because the site was unreachable; this guide does not cover asylum.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday or short visit: no visa if your nationality is in CA-4 Category A, otherwise a visa from a Honduran consulate; extend up to 120 days in the CA-4 region.

Hired by a Honduran company: special stay permit for employees under contract.

Studying or doing a professional internship: special stay permit for students.

Living on a pension of USD 1,500 or income of USD 2,500 a month: pensioner or rentista residence.

Investing USD 50,000 in a lawful activity: investor residence.

Married to a Honduran by birth: residence for spouses and relatives of Hondurans.

Visa types for Honduras

Visits and short stays

Tourist visa Visitor entry and extension of stay (Prórroga de estadía)
Honduras applies the visa classification shared by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4): nationals in Category A are exempt from visa, and a remarks column lists the countries Honduras treats differently.
Maximum stay: Up to 120 days in total in the CA-4 region, including extensions

Business and self-employment

Investor visa Residence as investor (Inversionista)
Foreigners who invest at least USD 50,000 in lawful activities in Honduras can apply for residence as investors.

Study and training

Student visa Special stay permit for students (Permiso Especial de Permanencia, extranjeros estudiantes)
Foreigners who will study or do a professional internship in Honduras apply to the National Migration Institute (INM), through a legal representative, for a special stay permit in the student category.
Validity: Granted per year

Work

Work visa Special stay permit for employees under contract (Permiso Especial de Permanencia, empleados por contrato)
Foreigners hired by a private company in Honduras apply to the National Migration Institute (INM), through a legal representative, for a special stay permit in the category of employees under contract.
Validity: Granted per year

Family

Spouse and partner visa Residence for spouses and relatives of Hondurans
Spouses of Honduran citizens by birth, and their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity (the INM names grandparents, parents and siblings), can apply for residence in Honduras.

Residence

Retirement visa Residence as pensioner or rentista (Pensionado / Rentista)
Honduras grants residence to pensioners with permanent, lawful and stable pensions generated abroad of at least USD 1,500 a month, and to rentistas with permanent, lawful and stable income of at least USD 2,500 a month generated abroad or in Honduras.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Honduras?

It depends on your nationality's category in the CA-4 visa classification. Category A nationals are exempt; check the classification's remarks column for any exception Honduras applies, and ask a Honduran consulate if your nationality is in another category.

How long can a visitor stay?

Extensions are possible until you complete 120 days in the CA-4 region (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua together).

Do I need a lawyer for permits and residence?

Yes. Both INM stay permits and residence applications are filed through a legal representative with a power of attorney.

Must I extend my stay while a permit is pending?

Yes. Applicants must keep extending their stay at the INM until the resolution and their registration in the National Register of Foreigners.