Costa Rica: Visa Exemption Revoked for Nationals of Honduras
October 9, 2023
Countries / Territories
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At a Glance
- As of October 6, 2023, nationals of Honduras are no longer visa-exempt when entering Costa Rica for tourism and business and must instead obtain a Consular Entry Visa for entry.
- As a result, Honduran nationals seeking to enter Costa Rica for tourism or business may encounter administrative hurdles, additional costs and potential delays.
- Certain Honduran nationals may still be visa-exempt if they hold an eligible visa or immigration status from another country.
The situation
On October 6, 2023, the government of Costa Rica published a resolution that effective immediately revoked the visa exemption for nationals of Honduras. These foreign nationals must now obtain a Consular Entry Visa for transit or entry for tourism and business.
A closer look
As Hondurans must now obtain Consular Entry Visas, they are subject to the following:
- Visa validity and maximum stay. The Consular Entry Visa is generally issued for a single entry (within 60 days from when the visa is issued) and typically allows a maximum stay of up to 30 calendar days, extendable for up to a total of 90 calendar days.
- Passport requirements. Nationals of Honduras must have a passport valid for at least 180 calendar days at the time of entry to Costa Rica.
- Other general entry requirements. As a reminder, all foreign nationals entering Costa Rica as visitors must provide proof of financial means during their stay (at least USD 100 per month), and a return or onward airline or other travel ticket.
- Exceptions. Certain Honduran nationals may still be visa-exempt if they hold an eligible visa or immigration status from another country. These include holding eligible visas or legal residence in Canada, an EU Member State, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
- Residents of Costa Rica. The Consular Entry Visa requirement applies only to foreign nationals entering Costa Rica as visitors for tourism or business, who do not otherwise qualify for an exception. Foreign nationals who are residents of Costa Rica and who hold a valid Resident Identity Card (DIMEX) do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica and should enter with their DIMEX card.
Impact
This visa requirement adds administrative hurdles, possible additional costs and potential delays to Honduran nationals seeking to enter Costa Rica for tourism or business.
Background
Though the government has not confirmed the underlying reason of this change, the measure is likely in response to the significant increase of foreign nationals entering Costa Rica for purposes other than those allowed under the visa exemption, such as irregular transit to a third country. The president of Costa Rica recently declared a state of emergency due to this issue, in addition to an increase in organized crime in certain areas of the country.
Looking ahead
Costa Rica is the first country in Central America to impose a visa requirement for Honduran nationals. As a result, the visa-exemption revocation has been highly publicized in the media and prone to political contention. According to news sources, the government of Honduras is considering a reciprocal visa-exemption revocation for nationals of Costa Rica. Additional immigration restrictions or changes may be forthcoming.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
