Your first 90 days in Honduras: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The CA-4 90-day allowance is shared with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, so hopping between them does not reset anything — and Honduran overstay fines accrue daily. Personal-security planning by city and neighbourhood also matters more here than most of the region; take local advice seriously.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
File for residencia with the Instituto Nacional de Migración and register in the Registro Nacional de Extranjeros
Before your CA-4 stay expires — 90 days across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua combined, extendable once at INM
Residency is granted by the Secretaría de Gobernación and the special permanence permit by INM; whichever route you take, the final step is enrolling in the National Registry of Foreigners maintained by INM. The file wants apostilled birth and police certificates plus a Honduran medical certificate.
Get your RTN (Registro Tributario Nacional)
Employment, invoicing, property and every filing with the SAR key off it, and banks ask for it at onboarding.
Registered with the Servicio de Administración de Rentas (SAR); the carnet de residencia number from INM is the everyday identifier alongside it.
Open a bank account
Banco Atlántida, BAC and Ficohsa open accounts on the residence card and RTN. Honduras applies exchange controls and the lempira is managed, so US-dollar accounts are restricted in practice — keep cross-border money on an account held outside the country.
Enrol in healthcare
The public network and IHSS (social security) cover contributors, but capacity is limited and unevenly distributed; foreign residents use private hospitals in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, which are affordable relative to the US. Roatán and the Bay Islands have limited facilities and evacuation to the mainland or Miami is the plan for anything serious.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for the initial stay; residents convert through the Instituto de la Propiedad Vehicular, with a medical check and, for most applicants, a test. Driving is on the right.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Honduras: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Honduras?
File for residencia with the Instituto Nacional de Migración and register in the Registro Nacional de Extranjeros — Before your CA-4 stay expires — 90 days across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua combined, extendable once at INM. Residency is granted by the Secretaría de Gobernación and the special permanence permit by INM; whichever route you take, the final step is enrolling in the National Registry of Foreigners maintained by INM. The file wants apostilled birth and police certificates plus a Honduran medical certificate. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the RTN and do I need one?
RTN (Registro Tributario Nacional) is Honduras's personal tax/ID number. Employment, invoicing, property and every filing with the SAR key off it, and banks ask for it at onboarding. Registered with the Servicio de Administración de Rentas (SAR); the carnet de residencia number from INM is the everyday identifier alongside it.
Can I drive in Honduras on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for the initial stay; residents convert through the Instituto de la Propiedad Vehicular, with a medical check and, for most applicants, a test. Driving is on the right. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Honduras?
The public network and IHSS (social security) cover contributors, but capacity is limited and unevenly distributed; foreign residents use private hospitals in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, which are affordable relative to the US. Roatán and the Bay Islands have limited facilities and evacuation to the mainland or Miami is the plan for anything serious. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Honduras's system treats foreign residents.