Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Honduras, you are subject to its laws.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.  Persons violating Honduran laws, even unknowingly, may be arrested, imprisoned, or deported.   Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Honduras are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Honduras, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you. If you break local laws in Honduras, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with minors or for possessing or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest Notifications in Host Country: While some countries will automatically notify the U.S. Embassy if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: U.S. citizens should be aware of the following special issues and regulations:

Marine Safety and Oversight: The Gulf of Fonseca is the subject of maritime border dispute between Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.  The Honduran Navy patrols this area and all private vessels transiting Honduran territorial waters should be prepared to be hailed and possibly boarded by Honduran military personnel to verify documentation.  While the Honduran Navy previously used private craft as patrol vessels, this is no longer the case. Additionally, the Atlantic coast of Honduras is a transit point for drug traffickers from South America.

In the event that any vessel is hailed in Honduran waters in the Caribbean by a non-military or suspicious vessel and directed to prepare for boarding, the vessel should immediately contact the U.S. Coast Guard Operations Center by radio or INMARSAT at (305) 415-6800.  Anyone needing more information can also contact the U.S. Embassy during working hours and request to speak with the U.S. Office of Security Cooperation.

There have been incidents of armed assaults against private sailing vessels by criminals posing as fishermen off the northeast coast of Honduras, particularly in the numerous small islands northeast of the Department of Gracias a Dios.  Sailors should contact the U.S. Coast Guard and yacht facility managers in their areas of travel for current information.

Real Estate Investment: U.S. citizens should exercise extreme caution before entering into any form of commitment to invest in real estate, particularly in coastal areas and the Bay Islands.  U.S. government officials may not act as agents, attorneys, or in a fiduciary capacity, and the Embassy staff is prohibited from providing legal advice.  U.S. citizens who own property abroad and who have assumed responsibilities concurrent with ownership of property in a foreign country should take steps on their own initiative to safeguard their interests and to employ private legal counsel when the need arises.

Honduran laws and practices regarding real estate differ substantially from those in the United States, and fraudulent deeds and titles are common.  U.S. citizens considering investing or buying real estate in Honduras should be aware that rights to such property do not enjoy the same level of protection as in the United States.  Approximately 80 percent of privately held land is either untitled or improperly titled.  Inadequate land title procedures have led to numerous investment disputes involving U.S. citizens who are landowners.

Historically, title insurance has not been available in Honduras.  Some U.S. insurance companies have begun offering title insurance in cooperation with Honduran attorneys. In addition, there are complaints that the Honduran judicial system often prolongs disputed cases for many years before resolution. U.S. citizens have spent thousands of dollars in legal fees and experienced years of frustration trying to resolve property disputes, even in cases where local attorneys and Honduran and U.S. real estate agents had given assurances to the investor. Threats and violence have been used against U.S. citizens involved in disputed property cases. Potential investors should engage competent local legal representation before making any commitments. Investors should also thoroughly check the references of attorneys and real estate agents.

Honduran law places certain restrictions on land ownership by foreigners in coastal and border areas.  Squatters have claimed a number of properties owned by U.S. citizens.  For further information on investing in property in Honduras, please review the State Department’s Investment Climate Statement, the Country Commercial Guide for Honduras, and the U.S. Embassy’s information page on purchasing property in Honduras.  For information on contracting Honduran legal representation, please check with other investors.  You may also refer to the list of attorneys available on the U.S. Embassy’s website.

Financial Market Investment: Due to poor regulation and lack of guarantees, investment in the Honduran “Bolsa de Valores,” or securities market, as well as banking institution bonds, “fideicomisos” (trusts), and certificates of deposit from uninsured financial institutions pose high risks to investors.  Exercise extreme caution before and while undertaking such activities, as U.S. citizens have lost large sums of money through investments in such markets.  For further information on investing in Honduras, please review the State Department’s Investment Climate Statement, part of the Country Commercial Guide.

Corruption: Many U.S. firms and citizens operating in Honduras have found corruption to be a serious problem and a constraint to successful investment.  While some U.S. firms have satisfactorily resolved cases through the courts, many have difficulty navigating the legal system.  There are complaints that the Honduran judicial system exhibits favoritism and is vulnerable to external pressure and bribes.  Corruption appears to be most pervasive in government procurement, government permits, and in the buying and selling of real estate (land titling).

Customs Regulations: U.S. citizens who intend to stay in Honduras for an extended period and who bring vehicles or household goods into the country should consult Honduran customs officials prior to shipment to inquire how much lead-time is required in order to plan accordingly.  With the exception of “antique” cars, all cars imported into Honduras by foreigners must be less than ten (10) years old.  Buses, pickup trucks, and dump trucks must be less than 13 years old.  For specific information regarding customs requirements, please contact the Embassy of Honduras in Washington, DC.

There are strict regulations concerning temporary import and export of items such as antiquities, medications, and business equipment.  Honduran law prohibits the export of antiques and artifacts from pre-colonial civilizations. To protect the country’s biodiversity, it is illegal to export certain birds, feathers, and other flora and fauna.  For specific information regarding exportation requirements, please contact the Embassy of Honduras in Washington, DC and see our Customs Information page.

Firearms: No one may bring firearms into Honduras, except for diplomats or individuals participating in shooting or hunting sport events who have obtained a temporary firearm importation permit from the Honduran Ministry of Security prior to their travel to Honduras.  The contact information for the Ministry of Security is:

Secretario de Estado en el Despacho de Seguridad Pública
Secretaría General
Cuartel General de Casamata
Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., Honduras, C.A.
Fax: (504) 2229-0172/2229-0049

Firearms for personal safety or for purposes other than those mentioned above must be purchased locally through a store named “La Armería.”  These stores are regulated by the Honduran Armed Forces and are located throughout Honduras.

Firearms that arrive without the requisite Honduran permit will be confiscated and the bearer could be prosecuted to the full extent of Honduran law.

Adventure Sports: Honduras’ growing tourism industry attracts a number of people interested in adventure sports such as whitewater kayaking and rafting, scuba diving, and canopy tours. Travelers should be warned that in addition to the inherent risk of injury and death in these activities, there is little or no oversight of safety standards for adventure sports operators in Honduras. Travelers planning to swim, snorkel, dive, or participate in other water sports should never do so alone and should take appropriate safety precautions. The U.S. Embassy has recorded six drowning deaths of U.S. citizens since 2012. Travelers should be diligent in researching adventure sports providers to make sure they are using internationally acceptable or certified equipment, guides, safety measures, and instruction. Please see the section titled “Medical Facilities and Health Information” for more information on access to medical care when injured.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) events in Honduras.  Honduran law prohibits discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.  Despite this, many Honduran LGBT equality and human rights activists report that many crimes committed against the LGBT community go unpunished.  There are several LGBT nightclubs in major Honduran cities such as Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba.  Though rare, there have been cases of police harassment of patrons in some of these establishments.  LGBT public events are held regularly without incident.  Nonetheless, LGBT travelers should consider exercising caution when visiting Honduras, especially with regard to expressing affection in public.  According to local advocacy organizations, many LGBT persons are reluctant to display affection in public (including holding hands) because of societal intolerance of same-sex relationships.  For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Honduras, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013.  For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Honduras, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what is found in the United States. Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, in practice few buildings are accessible.  If you are traveling with a disability, please review the information on the State Department’s Traveling with Disabilities website.