What should I know before traveling to Honduras and how to get there?
Honduras has a visa policy in place that determines who can enter the country and under what conditions. It's essential to understand this policy before planning your trip.
Visitors to Honduras must have a valid passport with at least three months of validity remaining.
Entry Requirements & Visa
📌 How do I know if I need a visa to enter Honduras? → You can use this tool to check your country's visa requirements.
Those who do not need a visa to enter Honduras can stay there for up to 90 days (Visitors must have a valid passport for three months.)
Please note that once you go through immigration, they will let you know how long you can stay and other details – More info on the duration of stay is below.
- There are 112 countries whose citizens can travel to Honduras without a visa. Check the list here.
Those who require a visa to enter Honduras may apply for a Honduran visa.
Honduran visas can be obtained for business, tourism, and other purposes. There are both single-entry and multiple-entry visas available for Honduras. Applicants are not required to obtain a long-term visa; they simply obtain a regular visa when they travel to Honduras.
- There are 84 countries that require a visa to enter Honduras. Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Check the list here.
To read further details about the policy on getting a Honduran visa, read here.
đź’ˇTip! Show the vitalia.city website with the dates to hopefully get a 60-day visa. (We strongly recommend having it ready offline on your phone, especially if coming without a return ticket.)
đź’ˇTip! Show the vitalia.city website with the dates to hopefully get a 60-day visa. (We strongly recommend having it ready offline on your phone, especially if coming without a return ticket.)
Note: Please check if there are vaccine requirements specific to your country.
Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Honduras. The CDC and WHO recommend (or *require*, depending on your country) the following vaccinations for Honduras: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza.
All COVID-19-related requirements to enter Honduras have been lifted, and Honduras has no quarantine requirements.
If you're coming from some specific countries (like from South America or Africa), you need a yellow fever vaccine. For more information, read here.
Pre-Check Application
Before entering Honduras, it helps to apply for the Pre-Check Application, though this hasn’t been requested of all inbound Vitalians.
American Airlines staff did request to see the pre-cheque QR code, but didn’t validate it. A glance at the form was sufficient.
When arriving at the Honduran airport, you might be asked for this Pre-Check with your passport.
With this document, the Immigration officer checks your personal information and lets you enter the country without issues. Keep in mind that in case you have COVID-19 symptoms, the authorities will help you according to the information you offer in the Pre-Check.
âś… You can fill out the application here.
- Destination Address / Place of Stay: Las Verandas, Pristine Bay.
- State: Bay Islands / Islas de la BahĂa
- City: Roatán
- Time of Stay: 60 days
- Travel Reason: Tourism / Convention
- For the Immigration Office, those who arrive in Roatán directly should select "Juan Manuel Galvez Airport”
When you arrive at Roatan Airport, you may be given a customs form. This is a formality (you’d likely answer “No” to all questions) and the immigration officer won’t request the form, but it might be requested by customs (this happened 1 out of 2 times for the author).
Stay Time & Extensions
Although citizens from 112 countries do not require a visa and can stay up to 90 days in Honduras, Customs Officers will determine how many days tourists are allowed to remain in the country according to their travel plans.
💡Tip! The easiest way to get a longer-term visa is to show the immigration officer an onward/return ticket with your desired date less than 90 days in the future. You can buy this flight ticket (e.g. to Miami) the day you arrive in Roatan from a US site like Orbitz or Expedia, which are obligated by law to offer instant full refunds if you cancel the ticket during the same day it was purchased (note: this may be shorter than 24 hours). Once you get the visa stamp in your passport, cancel the flight (or keep it if you actually intend to return on that date and are sure you won’t want to extend your stay).
- An alternative is to book a “fake” ticket through a service like https://onwardtickets.com/ or https://bestonwardticket.com/, which will charge $7 - $12.
Note: if you do not have a return ticket, the immigration officer might only grant you a couple of weeks.
Stay Extension Request
- Upon your arrival in Honduras, check the duration of your stay granted to you by customs officers (stamped in your passport).
- Visit an immigration office 5 business days before your initial departure date (the one stamped in your passport). Roatán Immigration Office location.
- Bring the required documents:
- Have a valid passport with your entry stamp.
- Tip: Get a return ticket before going to the immigration office, and be certain about the duration of your stay so Customs Officers feel inclined to grant the necessary days for your trip.
- Pay the extension fee of $20 USD per month that you wish to extend your stay.
- Request Extension: Present your return or exit flight ticket and explain your intention to extend your stay in Honduras. Submit the necessary documents and pay the extension fee.
- Wait for Approval: Wait for the Immigration Officers to process your request for an extension. They will review your documents and determine the duration of the extension they can grant.
- Receive Extended Stay: If approved, you will receive an extension on your stay in Honduras, allowing you to remain in the country for the additional period granted by Immigration.
Flight Information & Tips
Step 1: Choose Your Departure Location
- Determine your departure location, as it may influence your travel options (ie, you might need to travel to a “connecting point” from where you are to a point that connects with Honduras). Most travelers from the United States find it convenient to fly to Roatán. Common departure cities include Houston, Miami, Dallas, and Atlanta.
Step 2: Find Direct Flights
- Check for direct flights from your departure city to Roatán. If you are traveling from cities like New York City (NYC) or Washington, DC, you may find direct flights with just one stopover.
Step 3: Explore Alternatives via Honduras
- Consider flying to major Honduran cities like San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa if you can't find direct flights to Roatán from your location. Note that this option may be more challenging for travelers from Europe, with limited direct flights to San Pedro Sula from Madrid.
Step 4: Use Online Search Portals
- Utilize online travel portals to search for the best flight options. Consider using Kiwi.com, which can provide various flight choices and connections (consider Kiwi just to get the information you’re looking for, and then book your flight directly with the airline).
Step 5: Research Airlines
- Research airlines that operate flights to Roatán, including:
- CMAirlines (local airlines with the mainland to Roatán and some regional options)
- Volaris (offers some regional options with generally high-quality online service)
- Aerolineas Sosa (local airline connecting Honduras mainland to Roatán)
- Avianca (provides some regional options)
- United Airlines (often considered the best option from the United States)
- American Airlines
Step 6: Be Mindful of Layovers and Interruptions
- When booking your flights, pay close attention to layover times and potential flight interruptions, especially if you're using online services like Kiwi.com. Consider purchasing additional services for added convenience and security if needed.
Step 7: Once in Honduras, You're Set
- Once you arrive in Honduras, connecting airports are generally decent, and you'll have a smoother journey to Roatán.
Step 8: Enjoy Your Welcoming View
- After you make it to Roatán, enjoy the beautiful island and its welcoming view!
Remember that travel options and conditions may vary, so it's advisable to check for the most up-to-date information and consider factors like your location, budget, and travel preferences when planning your trip to Roatán.
âś… Fill out your ESTA application on the official website here. Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours prior to departure.
- What is the difference between an ESTA and a Visa? An approved travel authorization is not a visa. It does not meet the legal or regulatory requirements to serve in lieu of a United States visa when a visa is required under United States law. Individuals who possess a valid visa will still be able to travel to the United States on that visa for the purpose for which it was issued. Individuals traveling on valid visas are not required to apply for travel authorization.
For individuals traveling from Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa who encounter challenges with flights requiring a US transit visa, Turkish Airlines could be a solution to not go through the US, offering flight routes from Istanbul through Panamá and to SPS, Honduras.
FYI, the Honduras Roatán airport is small and doesn’t have screens to tell you easily where your gate is. When you check your bag there, ask specifically for your gate number and when it boards. They don’t make any announcements; just one staff member opens a door and walks you through it. You need to be on the lookout for it.
Info To Request Honduran Residency
Information about types of Special Permanence Permits, for those that may want to request their residency in Honduras.
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