802 West Georgia Street

      Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3H1

      Tel. (877) 256-3754

      Email: support@immigration-club.info
 
15.05.03
Special offer
For Asian, Middle East and other applicants with poor visa-free travel opportunity       wishing to live and work in Europe:
easy immigration and relocation in Switzerland.  more
 
24.03.04
Special offer
For citizens with poor visa-free travel opportunity wishing to reside in European Union.  more

Honduras Through History.  Economy Overview.

 

 

  THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY,   Honduras has been an   underdeveloped area. Its rugged   topography and lack of good ports on   the Pacific coast have combined to   keep it relatively isolated from the   mainstream of social and economic   development. The capital,   Tegucigalpa, is located high in the   central mountains, removed from the   isthmus's main north-south   transportation routes.

  The rugged topography and semi-  isolation have provided Honduras   some advantages as well as   disadvantages. Unlike the   neighboring republics of El Salvador   and Guatemala, Honduras did not   produce a totally dominant   landholding oligarchy. It also   escaped the turmoil over   transisthmian transit routes that   plagued Nicaragua and Panama.   Finally, Honduras, alone among   Central America's republics, is not   dominated by a single city. The   isolation of the capital led to the rise   of San Pedro Sula in the twentieth   century as the nation's commercial   and industrial center.

  However, lack of development   produced, for much of Honduras's   history, relatively weak social and   political institutions. Much of the   nation's history has been marked by   long periods of political instability,   frequent military coups, and   considerable government corruption   and inefficiency. External powers   have consistently exploited and   aggravated these problems.   Neighboring Central American   nations have repeatedly intervened in   Honduran internal affairs, giving   Hondurans a strong fear of foreign   attack. Countries outside the region   also have manipulated Honduran   politics from time to time to suit their   own national interests. During the   first half of the twentieth century, the   Honduran economy was so   dominated by the United Fruit   Company and the Standard Fruit   Company that company managers   were frequently perceived as   exercising as much power as the   Honduran president. Increased   nationalism and economic   diversification have changed this   situation in recent decades, but in   the early 1990s, Honduras remained   a nation highly sensitive to   and dependent on external forces.   Despite both national and   international efforts, Honduras   remained poor and vulnerable. In the   1980s, security concerns centered   on the Nicaraguan border; in the   early 1990s, concern centered on El   Salvador because of its insurgency   problems and its boundary dispute   with Honduras.

  Both a product and a victim of its   past, in the mid-1990s, Honduras   was striving to find some means of   gaining the benefits of modernization   while avoiding the violent conflicts   that wracked its neighbors in the   1980s.

  Part of Spain's vast empire in the   New World, Honduras became an   independent nation in 1821. After two   and one-half decades of mostly   military rule, a freely elected civilian   government came to power in 1982.   During the 1980s, Honduras proved a   haven for anti-Sandinista contras   fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan   Government and an ally to   Salvadoran Government forces   fighting against leftist guerrillas. The   country was devastated by Hurricane   Mitch in 1998, which killed about   5,600 people and caused almost $1   billion in damage.

 

  Economy.

  Honduras, one of the poorest   countries in the Western   Hemisphere with an extraordinarily   unequal distribution of income, is   banking on expanded trade privileges   under the Enhanced Caribbean   Basin Initiative and on debt relief   under the Heavily Indebted Poor   Countries (HIPC) initiative. While the   country has met most of its   macroeconomic targets, it failed to   meet the IMF's goals to liberalize its   energy and telecommunications   sectors. Growth remains dependent   on the status of the US economy, its   major trading partner, on commodity   prices, particularly coffee, and on   reduction of the high crime rate.

 

  Legal system.

  rooted in Roman and Spanish civil   law with increasing influence of   English common law; recent judicial   reforms include abandoning   Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the   oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ   jurisdiction, with reservations

  Administrative divisions.

  18 departments (departamentos,   singular - departamento); Atlantida,   Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua,   Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,   Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios,   Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz,   Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho,   Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro.

 

  International disputes.

  In 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation   of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along   the El Salvador-Honduras border, but   they still remain largely   undemarcated; in 2002, El Salvador   filed an application to the ICJ to   revise the decision on a section of   bolsones; the ICJ also advised a   tripartite resolution to a maritime   boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca   with consideration of Honduran   access to the Pacific; El Salvador   claims tiny Conejo Island, not   mentioned by the ICJ, off Honduras   in the Golfo de Fonseca; Honduras   claims Sapodilla Cays off the coast   of Belize but agreed to creation of a   joint ecological park and Guatemalan   corridor in the Caribbean in the 2002   Belize-Guatemala Differendum;   Nicaragua filed a claim against   Honduras in 1999 and against   Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a   complex maritime dispute in the   Caribbean Sea.

 

  Political parties and leaders.

  Christian Democratic Party or PDC   [Dr. Hernan CORRALES Padilla];   Democratic Unification Party or PUD   [leader NA]; Liberal Party or PL   [Roberto MICHELETTI Bain];   National Innovation and Unity Party-  Social Democratic Party or PINU-SD   [Olban F. VALLADARES]; National   Party of Honduras or PN [Raphael   CALLEJAS].

 

  Political pressure groups and   leaders.

  Committee for the Defense of Human   Rights in Honduras or CODEH;   Confederation of Honduran Workers   or CTH; Coordinating Committee of   Popular Organizations or CCOP;   General Workers Confederation or   CGT; Honduran Council of Private   Enterprise or COHEP; National   Association of Honduran   Campesinos or ANACH; National   Union of Campesinos or UNC;   Popular Bloc or BP; United   Federation of Honduran Workers or   FUTH.

 

  Judicial branch.

  Supreme Court of Justice or Corte   Suprema de Justicia (judges are   elected for seven-year terms by the   National Congress).

 

  Legislative branch.

  Unicameral National Congress or   Congreso Nacional (128 seats;   members are elected proportionally   to the number of votes their party's   presidential candidate receives to   serve four-year terms). 
  Elections: last held 25 November   2001 (next to be held NA November   2005). 
  Election results: percent of vote by   party - NA; seats by party - PN 61,   PL 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU-SD 3.

 

  Executive branch.

  Chief of state: President Ricardo   (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January   2002); First Vice President Vicente   WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27   January 2002); Second Vice   President Armida Villela Maria DE   LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January   2002); Third Vice President Alberto   DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002);   note - the president is both the chief   of state and head of government
  Head of government: President   Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27   January 2002); First Vice President   Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since   27 January 2002); Second Vice   President Armida Villela Maria DE   LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January   2002); Third Vice President Alberto   DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002);   note - the president is both the chief   of state and head of government
  Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by   president.
  Elections: president elected by   popular vote for a four-year term;   election last held 25 November 2001   (next to be held NA November   2005). Election results: Ricardo   (Joest) MADURO (PN) elected   president - 52.2%, Raphael PINEDA   Ponce (PL) 44.3%, others 3.5%.

 

  Ports and harbors. 

  La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto   Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto   Lempira.

 

 

 

Honduras Immigration. Background and Legal Considerations.

 


  I. Entry to Honduras.

  Anyone entering Honduras is required to   have a valid passport with its respective   visa issued by a Honduran consulate   overseas, except in those cases in which   the persons are citizens of a country with   which Honduras has agreed to eliminate   the visa requirement. i.e. Canada, the   United States, Guatemala, El Salvador,   Panama, Chile, Uruguay, Spain, certain   countries of Western Europe, Australia,   New Zealand and Japan.

  II. Immigration for Investors. 

  The following procedures have been   developed to facilitate the entrance to   Honduras of foreigners who wish to invest   in agricultural, agribusiness, industrial,   tourism and export projects, in   accordance with government promotion   and investment policies and the Export

  Processing Zone law .

  The most important articles of the law are:

  Art. 3: Eligibility is applied to all those   citizens of countries with which the   Government of Honduras has established   diplomatic relations, or sponsored by   private and public enterprises.

  Art. 4: The Classification of the "Investor's   Visa" is as follows:

  Investor's Type 1 Visa : issued to the   investor and dependents.

  Investor's Type 2 Visa : issued to   technicians and specialized workers, their   spouses and economic dependents.

  Art. 6: The application for the visa must   be submitted personally or by legal   representative, and must contain the   following specific information:

  1) Complete name of the applicant.
  2) Nationality and permanent residence.
  3) Purpose of the visit.

 

  The following documents must be   included in the application:
  1) Current passport.
  2) Bank or Commercial references.
  3) Evidence or proof of investors or   technicians' intentions.

  Art. 8: The bearer of Type 1 visa will be   granted a three month visa to remain in   the country. This visa may be extended   up to a maximum of one year (investors   and their spouses and economic   dependents). Those with a Type 2 visa will   be authorized an initial period of one   month, which can be extended up to a   maximum of six months (technicians and   their spouses and economic dependents).

  Art. 12: Bearers of such visa will be able   to receive all the benefits established   under the Export Processing Zone (EPZ's)   Law.

  III. Residence. 

  The application for residence, according   to the established procedures, must be   done outside of Honduras through a   Honduran consulate.

  Among the documents required to apply   for Honduran residence are:
  a) Health Certificate (original and copy).
  b) Police Department Certificate (original   and copy).
  c) Letter of employment (original and   copy).
  d) 2 pictures.
  e) Payment of consular fees.

  The residence registration process in   Honduras takes about two or three   months, then the applicant must go   personally to the migration offices in our   country in order to sign the respective   documents.

  * The residence card has to be renewed   every year, and the employment   permission every two years. No foreign   citizen will be given an employment   permit without having his Honduran   residence.

  * The Investor's visa will have the same   effects as the application for residence   during the follow-up of the procedures   established by the Migration and   Population Law.

  A.- Investor’s Residence. 

  Investor's residence registration process   from the country of origin of the foreign   investor:

  1.Present to the Honduras Consulate at   the investor's country of origin the   following documentation:

  a. Fullfill pre-established form, 3 (three)   photographs, health certificate and police   department certificate.

  b. Affidavit in which the investor   compromises to comply with the   Honduras legislation and another one in   which declares does not belong to any   communist party.

  c. Payment of fiscal stamps.

  2. Name a legal representative to continue   this procedure in Honduras, who must   receive the documentation at the Foreign   Affairs Secretary (Ministerio de   Relaciones Exteriores) in representation   of the foreign investor.

  3. The legal representative must present   the documentation to the Government and   Justice Secretary (Secretaria de   Gobernacion y Justicia) and request the   Investor's Residence. The requisition must   be accompanied by the original copy of   the deposit made at the Central Bank of   Honduras for Lps. 1,500 as well as an   original copy of the deposit made in any   banking institution for the amount of Lps.   450,000.

  4. Register the investment at the Ministry   of Industry and Commerce, Direccion   General de Gestion Empresarial,   Ventanilla Unica de Inversiones.

  Procedures be done in the Honduras   territory to acquire the Residence:

  1. Application of Residency at the   Direccion General de Migracion y Politica   Migratoria de la Secretaria de   Gobernacion y Justicia (Immigration   offices).

  2. Description of the Investment Project   which should not be lower than One   Million Lempiras and should be applied to   the acquisition of Fixed Assets.

  3. Copy of the deposit made at the   Central Bank of Honduras for a minimum   of One Thousand Five Hundred Lempiras.

  4. Prove to have deposited at a   Commercial Bank of the country the   equivalent of Four Hundred Fifty Thousand   Lempiras and to present an Execution   Calendar of the Investment.

  IV. Work Permit.

  All the following procedures, must be   done through a legal representative:

  1. Obtain the residence.

  2. If the residence has not been obtained,   it is necessary to apply for it. However,   while it is in process, a temporary work   permit can be requested through a local   office of the Labor Ministry.

  3. To obtain a permanent work permit, the   following information is required by the   Labor Ministry:

  List of all workers of the company. Must   specify foreigners and hondurans.

  Letter of Employment. Describing the   type of work the foreign employee will do,   emphasizing that it will be a specialized   work, which cannot be done by the local   personnel. 

 

  Honduran Investment Law. 

  This document reflects the Government's   new policy of reducing to a minimum its   intervention in the nation's economic   activity to induce national and foreign   private investment, in order to promote   production, transfer of technology,   increase of exports and creation of jobs.

  Its purpose is to promote and guarantee   national investment, foreign investment   and co-investment, to stimulate economic   growth and social development of the   country.

  All private enterprises in Honduras will be   treated equally, with no distinction   between Honduran and foreign capital.

  Among the investors' guarantees are:

  Access to foreign currency in the Banking   System, at money-exchange offices and   at other institutions or agencies   authorized by the Central Bank of   Honduras, for specific purposes like the   import of goods and services, and   repayment of loans obtained abroad;

  Property rights without limitations other   than those established by law;

  Participation, without limits, in   percentages of social capital of the   company, except in the cases   established in the Constitution of the   Republic;

  Freedom to import and export goods and   services, without requirements of prior   administrative authorizations or permits,   except as corresponds to statistical   registrations and the respective custom   procedures;

  Free negotiation of their investment in the   country in accordance with the law.

  LIMITATIONS:

  For the purpose of Article 292 of the   Constitution of the Republic, arms,   ammunition and similar items will be the   following: Ammunitions; war airplanes;   military rifles; pistols and guns of any   kind, caliber 41 or more; Honduran Army   Regulation pistols; Silencers for all kinds   of firearms; cartridges for firearms;   equipment and other accessories   essential for cartridge loading; gunpowder,   explosives, primers and fuses; masks for   protection against asphyxiating gases;   and air guns.

  Small-scale industry and commerce is   exclusive patrimony of Hondurans and of   business partnerships totally made up by   Hondurans, ie: Basic health services;   telecommunications; air transport; fishing,   hunting and aquaculture; exploitation of   forestry resources; investigation,   exploration, and exploitation of mines,   quarries, petroleum and related   substances; agricultural and agro-  industrial activities exceeding land   tenancy limits established by the   agricultural modernization law of 1992 and   the land reform law of 1974; insurance   and financial services; private education   services.

  Note: Small-scale industry: Commercial   enterprise belonging to a natural or   juridical person with capital no less than   One Hundred and Fifty Thousand   Lempiras (LPS.150,000.00),which   excludes land, buildings and vehicles.

  Click here to check what services are   included in our fees.

  If you are intersted in any particular   country or procedure -  contact us for   relevant application forms and   requirements.

Copyright © Immigration Club.

Immigration Club® is a Registered Trademark.

All rights reserved.