One of the questions we often get from frequent visitors to our island is, “Can foreigners buy property in Roatan?”  Happily, the answer to that question is, “Yes!”  Foreigners have been able to own property in Roatan since 1991.  To learn more about the possibility of owning a holiday home, a permanent residence, business property or land in Roatan, check out the information available in this post.

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There are several reasons for wanting to move to Honduras.  Some want to make the move because they’ve fallen in love with a local.  Others are following their sense of adventure and looking to create a new phase in their lives.  Some are searching for a cheaper place to retire, whereas others simply want to get away from cold and freezing winters.  Whatever your reason for becoming an expat in Roatan – how to get residency is something that you’ll need to tackle to be able to follow through on your plan.  In this article, we’ll cover the various pathways to obtaining Honduran residency.

What You Need To Know About The Honduran Residency Process

Of course, every country has their own unique residency process and Honduras is no exception.  That said, Honduras is more amenable to foreign residents than most.

The main thing you should know is that every Honduran residency application must be completed and tabled by a Honduran lawyer who is a member of the National Bar Organization.

It’s also important to understand that if you arrive in Honduras on a tourist visa, you are allowed to stay in the country for 90 days, but you are not allowed to legally work.  It is possible to get a 30 day extension to your tourist visa by applying in person at the Immigration Office, but it still doesn’t give you the right to work.

If you want to work in Honduras, you’ll need to apply for residency.  However, it is possible to enter the country on a tourist visa and begin the residency visa process from within the country.

That said, completion of the residency visa process can take up to nine months or longer.  If you’re in the country on a tourist visa, you will need to leave for a minimum of 72 hours before the expiry of that visa.  This is a very common practice among expats who are engaged in a residency visa application and it often requires them to leave the country several times before the process is complete.

The five types of Honduran residency visas are listed below:

Rentista

To qualify for a Rentista visa, you have to prove that you have a foreign income of $2500 (all monetary sums in this article are in US dollars) or more per month from a foreign or external source that isn’t related to employment.  This could be composed of rental income, dividends from capital investments or interest income.  This must be verified with Apostilled or authenticated documentation from your home country.

 

Pensionado

The Pensionado visa is open to retirees who have a permanent pension income of at least $1500 per month.  This needs to come from a verified source such as a government or business pension plan or a financial institution.

 

Inversionista

The Inversionista visa is for foreign investors who can invest a minimum of $50,000 in a Honduran business or venture.

 

Kinship/Relative

This is the visa that’s used by those who have married a Honduran or who are directly related to a Honduran resident such as a parent or child.

Permiso de Permanencia de País como de Empresario de Extranjero

This visa uses work permit laws to allow a foreigner to become a resident by creating a Honduran corporation and applying for residency as the owner of that corporation.

To learn more about the specifics about how to get residency and become an expat in Roatan, feel free to drop us a line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those looking to move abroad for retirement, to get away from harsh winters or simply for a change of pace, the Honduran island of Roatan has become a popular option.  The 31 mile-long island off the north coast of the Honduras mainland in Central America is divided into East and West communities.  The Western side is a popular tourist destination for travellers from all over the world.  The well-established tourist infrastructure makes it a prominent stop for cruise ship day-trippers and longer-term holidayers alike.  The East End, on the other hand, features a much slower-paced lifestyle.  It also offers the crystal clear ocean water and white sand beaches that have made the West End and West Bay areas so popular.  But what it lacks is the infrastructure to support an overwhelming number of tourists.  So, why buy property on the East End of Roatan?  In this article, we’ll spell it out.

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It’s no secret, living on Roatan has its perks! From the world’s 2nd largest coral reef at your doorstep to unbeatable happy hour sunsets, there’s a reason so many visitors quickly transition to residents. But despite the many perks, those who call Roatan home still struggle with the age-old debate…“What are we going to eat tonight?!” Luckily, commercial development has quickly adapted to accommodate the population’s social demands. Move aside, baleada. There’s some new cuisine in town!

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If you’ve ever lived on an island, you know first hand how incredible the quality of life is. Nothing quite compares to having the magic of the ocean at your doorstep. On top of the year round tan, abundance of pina coladas, and daily interactions with endangered wildlife (like sea turtles), there is also income producing opportunity, lower cost of living, and more! Let’s dive in to our top reasons to invest in a tiny beach house on Roatan.

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Rather than buy an existing property you have decided to build a brand-new home to your exact specifications. This is exciting but perhaps also overwhelming. There are many decisions to be taken and your choices can’t be easily changed once you start to build. So whether you are working with an architect or collaborating directly with your builder, it helps to start with a clear definition of your requirements.

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