Honduras has a little-known Investor Visa program that will get you residency in Honduras if you invest $50,000 USD in a certificate of deposit with a Honduran bank. In addition, you must deposit $5,000 USD with the Honduran Central Bank. You also need to register with the Registry of Investors with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Once the Residence Permit is granted, the renewal of the Residence Card (every year) has to be supported with the renewal of the Certified Deposit. This means that if you want to get citizenship in Honduras (after 3 years of residency) you will need to keep your $50,000 in Honduras for at least 3 years.
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Requirements for Honduras Investor Visa Application
Applicants must provide the following documents:
1. An original police report (notarized and apostilled), then authenticated by a Honduran Consulate.
2. Medical report / medical certificate
3. Copy of your passport + passport photos
4. Invest at least $50,000 in a Certified Deposit in a Honduran Bank.
5. Cash deposit of $5,000.00 in the Central Bank of Honduras, to guarantee the investment. This will be returned within a year after Residency is granted.
Can I Included Dependents Under this Residency?
Yes, dependents can be included under the Honduran Investor Visa. You will need a notarized/apostilled birth certificate or marriage certificate for any family members who will be applying as dependents.
Where Should I Live in Honduras as a Digital Nomad or Expat?
Honduras has a few different spots that are well-suited to digital nomads and expats. For most people, the highest standard of living will be on the islands of Utila and Roatan. The party town of La Ceiba could be a good option for people who want to stay on the mainland. San Pedro Sula is not recommended for most foreigners, it’s a very progressive city with many American-style restaurants and bars. Note that you don’t need to actually live in Honduras to maintain residency, but spending more time in Honduras will benefit your citizenship application.
Do I need A Lawyer to Apply for the Honduran Investor Visa?
Yes, you will need a Honduran lawyer to apply for residency. Residency cannot be applied for personally. You must apply through a lawyer who has duly registered with the Honduran Bar. The lawyer will present your documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Gobernacion) for approval. Once approved, you can obtain a residency card from Honduran Immigration.
Is Honduras a Territorial Tax System?
Yes, Honduras has a territorial system of taxation. That means that only income sourced from within Honduras is taxed by the Honduran government. Honduran-sourced income is taxed at a top rate of 25%. Any income coming from overseas is not subject to taxation. Foreign-source income is not taxed in Honduras.
What Are the Physical Presence Requirements to Maintain Residency?
As a resident, you cannot spend more than 12 consecutive months outside of Honduras. This means that you will need to visit Honduras at least once every 12 months to maintain your residency. A resident should visit Honduras every 11 months. It is possible to obtain an official exception from the Institute of Migration. If you leave Honduras after obtaining your Residence Card, then your should return before 12 months go by, counting from your date of departure from Honduran soil. You only need to spend one day in Honduras to keep your residency status active. We recommend you spend the night in Honduras and not just enter for a few hours during the day.
Does Honduras Residency Lead to Citizenship?
Yes, residents of Honduras can apply for citizenship after 3 years of residency. After three years of holding residence, you can apply for citizenship. Honduras don’t not explicitly outline physical presence requirements in order to apply for citizenship, so it may be possible to spend less than 6 months a year here and still be on track for citizenship. Honduras residency allows you to qualify for citizenship with minimal physical presence. Please note that there is a physical presence requirement for maintaining the residency – you will need to visit Honduras once every twelve months for at least one day. The Honduran passport is surprisingly strong and definitely a passport worth having. As of January 2019, Honduran citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 137 countries and territories, ranking the Honduran passport 36th in terms of travel freedom. Honduras is also a member of the CA-4, providing rights of movement between the Central American countries of El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.
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