One of the most common inquiries we receive from foreigners and local companies is related to the type of visa that foreigners must obtain to properly enter any Central American country. That is why, in this opportunity, we will delve into the different types of visas, procedures and common and additional requirements to enter each country.
Throughout the region, there are special visas such as tourist visas, traveler visas, business visas, visas for residency purposes, visas for investors, artist visas, etc. In view of this great variety of visas, the ideal is to consult with an expert lawyer in the matter to determine the type of visa suitable for the foreigner who will visit the country (either personally or by invitation of a company).
On this point, it is important to mention that, in the Central American region, foreigners who wish to obtain residences normally enter as tourists or businessmen, and when they get to know the country and agree on the conditions of hiring and relocation, they request their residence with the power to work before the competent entity, complying with the requirements established in the legislation in the time of stay granted by the competent authority.
However, in some cases it is necessary to initiate a visa application procedure prior to entry. In the case of Nicaragua, it is not possible to carry out this procedure through a representative in the country; the foreigner must apply in person at the nearest consular representation. However, in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, the foreigner is allowed to grant a power of attorney to a representative to obtain certain visas before the immigration agency.
The most common requirements for obtaining an entry visa in the region are:
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- Visa application.
- Used passport pages.
- Photocopy of the travel itinerary.
- Hotel reservation.
- Commitment to take care of the foreigner’s expenses.
- Invitation letter
- Criminal record.
- Documents that demonstrate the economic solvency of the foreigner.
- Contact information in the country of entry.
Likewise, depending on the type of visa, the application may be made to the nearest consular representation or to the immigration agency through a representative.
In addition to the procedure required to obtain the entry visa, several requirements must be completed in the Central American region:
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- In Guatemala, an electronic traveler’s affidavit must be submitted at least one week in advance.
- In El Salvador, depending on the type of visa, special documents are required.
- In Honduras, the Regional Traveler’s Affidavit form must be completed.
- In Nicaragua, the Application Form for Entry and Exit to Nicaragua must be completed at least ten days in advance.
Finally, it is important to consider that, in countries such as Guatemala and Honduras, the process of obtaining a consulted visa can take up to 8 months, while in El Salvador there is a special entry permit, which is more agile, online, and meets the same requirements as the traditional procedure.
