Honduras: Residency card (carné de residente), the procedure for renewing it, the rights granted to card holders and their family members, and the reasons a card could be revoked

In a 15 July 2009 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a consular affairs official from the Embassy of Honduras in Ottawa stated that the residency card (carné de residente) must be renewed annually and in person at the Honduran Immigration Service (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería). Under the regulation of the law on migration and foreigners (Reglamento de la Ley de Migración y Extranjería), the following documents are required to renew a residency card: two recent photographs of the applicant, the old residency card and a receipt for the payment of the required fee (Honduras 3 May 2004, Sec. 85). The fee is approximately 10 United States (US) dollars (Honduras 15 July 2009).

Individuals whose residency card has expired should visit the Immigration Service and apply to renew it (ibid.). The Consular Affairs Official stressed that when expired cards are being renewed, [translation] "in lieu of fines, the required fees will be slightly higher than usual" (ibid.). Further information on the fees to be paid or on other possible consequences in these situations could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The Consular Affairs Official stated that [translation] "residency card holders and family members (spouse and children) who have also obtained resident status, have the same rights and privileges (such as access to education, health care and employment) as other citizens" (Honduras 15 July 2009). However, he explained that [translation] "they are not allowed to vote, and in order to be able to do so, they must obtain citizenship [naturalización]" (ibid.).

According to the Consular Affairs Official, resident status [translation] "is rarely revoked, but it is possible to have it revoked if the holder requests it" (ibid.). However, he stated that [translation] "status is automatically revoked from any card holder who commits a serious offence" (ibid.). Section 58 of the law on migration and foreigners (Ley de Migración y Extranjería), published on 3 March 2004 and effective 60 days after its release, sets out situations in which residents or foreign nationals who hold a special permanent residence permit in the country could have their status revoked:

[translation]

1) making misrepresentations in the various documents presented;

2) failing to comply with the obligations under the Act;

3) residing abroad for more than a consecutive six-month period without the required authorization, for foreign nationals holding a special permanent residence permit;

4) residing abroad for more than a consecutive twelve-month period without the required authorization, for residents. (Honduras 3 Mar. 2004, Sec. 58)

The special permanent residence permit can be issued, for a maximum period of five years, to students, refugees, refugee protection claimants and to migrant workers (Honduras 3 Mar. 2004, Sec. 39).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Honduras. 15 July 2009. Embassy of Honduras in Ottawa. Telephone interview with a consular affairs official.
_____. 3 May 2004. Reglamento de la Ley de Migración y Extranjería. [Accessed: 15 July 2009]
_____. 3 March 2004. Decreto Nº 208-2003, Ley de Migración y Extranjería. (UNHCR) [Accessed: 15 July 2009]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Honduras – Embassy of Honduras in Washington, DC; Honduras – Secretaría de Gobernación y Justicia.