Moving to Mexico from Honduras: Visas, Regional Visitor Card, Residency and Citizenship

Yes, for a regular tourist or business visit. Honduran citizens need a Mexican visitor visa unless they hold an accepted exemption, most commonly:

• A valid visa from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan or a Schengen country, or
• Permanent residence in one of those countries.

The exempting document must be valid for your whole trip. If your nationality needs a visa, you generally also need one to connect through a Mexican airport. See Mexico visa requirements.

The National Migration Institute (INM) issues the Tarjeta de Visitante Regional (TVR) to nationals of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador, and to permanent residents of those countries. With a TVR you can:

• Visit Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán.
• Stay up to 7 days per entry, with multiple entries.
• Use the card for 5 years.

The TVR does not allow paid work or travel to other states. Honduran nationals apply in person at designated INM points on Mexico's southern border with a valid passport or travel document. Minors need a recent birth certificate and authorization from both parents.

Mexico also has a border worker card for work in the southern border states. It was created for Guatemalan and Belizean nationals, and Mexico has at times announced plans to extend it to Hondurans. Check with INM whether it is available to you before you rely on it.

For the financial route in 2026, you need about 79,770.80 pesos a month in income for 6 months, or an average balance of about 1,344,372.60 pesos over 12 months, plus 25,808.20 pesos for each dependent. Use the solvency calculator.

In general, you cannot change from visitor to resident inside Mexico, except in some family and humanitarian cases. See change of status.

• Embassy of Mexico in Tegucigalpa, consular section.
• Consulate of Mexico in San Pedro Sula, for people in northern Honduras.
• If you live legally in another country, such as the United States or Spain, apply at the Mexican consulate there. See Mexican consulates.

Documents. Honduras is a member of the Apostille Convention, so Honduran birth, marriage and police certificates can be apostilled for use in Mexico. Ask how recent the documents must be.

After a residency visa is issued, enter Mexico within 180 days and apply for your residence card at INM within 30 days. See the canje.

• Spouses and children of a temporary or permanent resident can apply for residency through family unity. When you qualify by solvency, the consulate adds 25,808.20 pesos (220 UMA days in 2026) to the financial test for each dependent.
• Spouses of Mexican citizens have a direct family route and a shorter path to permanent residency.
• Children born in Mexico are Mexican citizens by birth. Their parents can use that tie to apply for residency.
• Traveling minors need authorization from both parents, or a court order, when a parent is not traveling with them.

Bring apostilled birth and marriage certificates, recently issued. See family unity.

The US has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras. See TPS terminations. If you are in the US and thinking about Mexico:

• A valid US visa or green card is generally accepted instead of a Mexican visitor visa. Other US documents may not be.
• Mexican consulates in the US accept residency applications from people who live legally in their district.
• Leaving the US can affect pending US cases. Talk to a licensed US immigration lawyer before you travel.

People who fear persecution or serious harm if they return can apply for refugee status with Mexico's Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). Claims generally must be filed within a set period after entry, and COMAR gives applicants a document while the case is pending. Recognized refugees can obtain permanent residency.

Talk to a licensed Mexican immigration lawyer or a recognized legal aid organization before you apply. Avoid anyone who charges to guarantee a result. See refugee status in Mexico.

• Work. You need residency with work permission, or a job offer visa. Regulated professions require a Mexican professional license, which starts with recognition of your degree by the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP).
• Settling in. Get your CURP, register your mobile line, and open a bank account. See CURP.
• Citizenship. As Latin Americans, Hondurans can apply for Mexican naturalization after 2 years of residence instead of 5, and take an exam on Mexican history and culture. See naturalization.