Rentista Residency

Honduras's Rentista Residency (Residencia como Rentista) is an income-based residency program for foreign nationals who receive permanent passive income from rents, investments, deposits, bonds, or other non-employment sources. Established under Decreto No. 93-91 (Ley para los Residentes, Pensionados y Rentistas) and updated by Decreto No. 208-2003 (Ley de Migracion y Extranjeria), the program is administered by the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) and the Instituto Hondureno de Turismo (IHT). Like the related Pensionado category, rentista residents enjoy income tax exemption on qualifying income, duty-free import of household goods, and duty-free import of one personal vehicle. A 2025 ministerial agreement (Acuerdo Ministerial No. 374-2025) introduced an exceptional pathway allowing applicants with at least USD 1,250/month (50% of the standard threshold) to qualify on a discretionary basis.

Applicants must demonstrate permanent, lawful, and stable passive income of at least USD 2,500 per month. Qualifying sources include rents from property, interest from deposits, returns from bonds and securities, dividends, and other passive income generated abroad or from investments in the Honduran national financial system. Each accompanying dependant adds USD 150 per month to the requirement. The income must be received through a Honduran financial institution. A certificate from a Honduran consul or foreign service official confirming the income is required.

All applications must be prepared and submitted by a licensed Honduran lawyer. The process can be initiated from abroad through Honduran diplomatic or consular representatives, or in person if the applicant is already in Honduras on a tourist visa (up to 90 days for most nationalities under the CA-4 agreement). Upon approval, residents must register in the National Registry of Foreigners and obtain the resident alien identification card. Processing takes approximately 3 to 9 months.

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Criminal background certificate from country of origin (apostilled, translated to Spanish)
• Medical certificate confirming no contagious diseases (issued within 6 months)
• Certificate confirming minimum passive income of USD 2,500/month from Honduran consul or foreign service official, with proof of assets, securities, or income-generating means
• Evidence that income will be received through a Honduran financial institution
• All foreign documents must be officially translated and apostilled

Rentista residents may not engage in remunerated work in Honduras. However, they may invest in authorized productive projects (industrial, agricultural, tourism, and other sectors of national interest) with authorization from the Secretary of State, and may provide professional services to government entities, universities, or technical institutions.

Passive income received under this permit is exempt from Honduran income tax. Honduras additionally operates a territorial tax system where only Honduran-source income is subject to taxation, so any foreign-source income beyond the qualifying passive income is also exempt. Income from authorized investment activities within Honduras remains taxable.

The resident alien identification card is valid for 2 years and must be renewed with proof that qualifying income continues to be received and deposited in Honduras. Residents must live in Honduras for at least four consecutive or alternating months per year. Those unable to comply must request advance permission from the IHT. Residents who remain outside Honduras for more than 12 consecutive months without prior authorization lose their status. Household goods imported duty-free cannot be transferred to third parties within three years. A duty-free imported vehicle cannot be sold within five years.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, rentistas may apply for inmigrado (permanent settlement) status. Naturalization requires 3 consecutive years of residence for most foreigners, with shorter periods for Central Americans (1 year) and Spanish/Ibero-Americans (2 years). Naturalization requires a civics exam and demonstrated Spanish proficiency.