Costa Rica and Honduras impose mutual visa requirements

Costa Rican authorities on October 10 began requiring all Honduran citizens entering the country to show a travel visa, with the sole exception of passengers with layovers at Costa Rican airports.

The decision was explained by Security Minister Mario Zamora, who said it is taking place for “reasons of security and national sovereignty,” as the country detected the entry of “criminal groups” from Honduras.

Dealing with an unprecedented peak of cartel-related violence, with homicides breaking new records in 2023, Costa Rica has been taking security issues very seriously of late.

The government’s measures did not go unanswered. On the same date, Costa Ricans will no longer be visa-exempt when entering Honduras, being required to ask for consular authorization even for tourism and business purposes. In a brief statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Tegucigalpa said that “there will be no exceptions” to the rule.

The decision was criticized by figures such as former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who condemned what he called an “ill-advised measure” that “disrupts Central American trade, tourism, and investment.” 

Incumbent Rodrigo Chaves, however, said such commercial concerns are “secondary” compared to the need to suppress violence.The new restrictions also go against recent partnerships signed by Central American nations to deal with the unbridled migration flow through the dangerous Darién jungle in Panama, where over 420,000 crossings were registered so far this year.

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• #honduras
• #latinAmerica
• #visa