Costa Rica and Honduras have both implemented mutual visa regulations for travelers coming from one another’s nations.
Costa Rica first introduced the visa obligation last week, citing security concerns as the main motive behind the decision. This decision, prompted by the growing presence of criminal organizations in Costa Rica and the arrival of Honduran assassins, was postponed for a while, VisaGuide.World reports.
Honduras responded to the measure by describing it as “surprising.” Meanwhile, the Minister of Security of Costa Rica, Mario Zamora, emphasized that the visa requirement was considered essential to be implemented, mainly for security reasons.
According to CNN, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco told his Honduran counterpart that the visa requirement was implemented in response to an increase in criminal gangs in the coastal city of Limon and the arrival of Honduran killers.
Shortly after Costa Rica implemented the policy this month, Honduras filed a parallel request, citing the “principle of reciprocity.” The regulations of both countries become operational on October 10.
Costa Rica’s recent decision to implement visa requirements makes it a pioneer country in Central America to adopt such an immigration measure. Meanwhile, Honduras finds itself among the nations that will now need a consular visa to enter Costa Rica.
After the visa is stamped, there will be a 60-day window for Honduran travelers to enter Costa Rica. Hondurans, on the other hand, will be allowed a maximum stay of 30 days, which can be extended up to 90 days.
Moreover, data provided by the government revealed that about 25,900 Hondurans entered Costa Rica this year. However, most do not stay in the country but move elsewhere, as only 353 Hondurans applied for asylum there last year.
In addition, Costa Rica’s migration institute issued a statement clarifying that visas will not be mandatory for Hondurans in transit.
As of October 2023, the Costa Rican passport is ranked 58th in the VisaGuide Passport Index. As a result, Costa Rican citizens have the privilege of visa-free entry to 117 countries around the world. However, for the remaining countries, individuals holding a Costa Rican passport must undergo a visa application process in advance.
To embark on visa-free travel, it is essential that travelers have a valid passport, usually with at least six months of validity beyond the planned date of departure. Many destination countries may also require the purchase of travel health insurance as a mandatory requirement.