When traveling to Honduras, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Honduras, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

• » Attend business meetings
• » Buy goods for sale outside the country
• » Tour a company facility
• » Attend a trade show or seminar convention

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Honduras?

Nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in Honduras. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver, you must obtain a Consular Visa or a Consulted Visa for restricted nationals, from a Honduran Embassy or Consulate prior to travel.

Additionally, foreign nationals who have permanent residence in, or a valid visa to enter, the United States, Canada, or the Schengen Area are permitted to enter Honduras to conduct business activities without a visa. Please obtain an individual assessment before traveling to determine your eligibility for a visa waiver.

Honduras is a signatory of the Central America 4 (CA-4) Border Control Agreement along with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. In many cases, foreign nationals who enter any one of the CA-4 countries with a visa waiver or an entry visa are free to travel to any of the other CA-4 countries without obtaining additional documentation and may stay for up to 90 calendar days. Please obtain an individual assessment before traveling to determine your eligibility.

What types of activities require work authorization?

Foreign nationals may work in Honduras with a Consular Visa, Consulted Visa, or visa waiver on a short-term basis without obtaining work or residence authorization, as long as they are not remunerated in Honduras and their intended scope of work falls under designated permitted activities. The following are examples of professional activities permitted under the exemption:

• » System installation
• » After-sales service
• » Technical training
• » Hands-on technical work
• » Consulting
• » Software development

Foreign nationals are advised to consult with their immigration counsel prior to travel to verify that their intended activities are permitted without obtaining work authorization.

If I am traveling to Honduras for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Honduras. All foreign nationals seeking employment in Honduras must obtain a Special Stay Permit (Permiso Especial de Permanencia) and a Residence Card.

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

Honduras does not offer long-term work authorization exemptions.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

Copyright © 2020 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.