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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Honduras International Parental Child Abduction Information

International Parental Child Abduction

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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Honduras International Parental Child Abduction Information

Honduras

Honduras
Republic of Honduras
Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

  • Gracias a Dios Department, most eastern department, due to crime.

Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, remains common. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, narcotics, and human trafficking, is widespread. Local authorities may lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime incidents. Around resort areas in the Bay Islands, which include Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja, there is a concentration of resources, and these areas are better policed.

Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country and can be about a variety of political or economic issues. Protests, demonstrations, tire burnings, and roadblocks are frequent, unpredictable, and can turn violent. They can shutdown roads and highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. 

In December 2022, the Government of Honduras declared a “State of Exception” in response to high levels of extortion and other crimes. The declaration remains in effect and has been modified to include more cities. It allows the police to suspend constitutional rights in 226 of the country’s 298 municipalities. 

The Honduran Ministry of Health declared in June 2024 a national emergency in Honduras due to an increase in dengue cases. The Ministry of Health has carried out dengue prevention, control, and surveillance activities, along with the promotion of preventive measures through the media and educational campaigns. It also carried out clean-up operations and campaigns, including the use of chemical and biological agents for vector control.

Please review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and CDC Global Dengue for further information.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Honduras.

If you decide to travel to Honduras:

  • Avoid demonstrations.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Avoid walking or driving at night.
  • Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
  • Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
  • Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
  • Do not take public transportation, including white car taxis. U.S. government personnel and their family members are prohibited from using these forms of transportation.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter.
  • Review the Country Security Report for Honduras.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Gracias a Dios Department – Level 4: Do Not Travel

U.S. government personnel and family members are restricted from traveling to Gracias a Dios, the most eastern department. The department is an isolated region with high levels of criminal activity. Narcotics trafficking is widespread, and large portions of the department are particularly vulnerable to drug trafficking organizations. Infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police and military presence is scarce.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
Learn why the Hague Abduction Convention Matters.

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US
ALL / ALL /

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras
Telephone: +(504) 2236-9320 or +(504) 2238-5114
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(504) 2238-5114 or +(504) 2236-9320
Fax: +(504) 2238-4357
Business Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00p.m.  Friday, 7:30a.m. to 3:00 p.m

Consulates

U.S. Consular Agent - San Pedro Sula
Banco Atlántida Building
11th Floor, across the street from Central Park
San Pedro Sula
Honduras
Telephone: +(504) 2558-1580
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa: +(504) 2238-5114 or +(504) 2236-9320, extension 4100
Business Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Closed Fridays.

Honduras and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Convention (Hague Abduction Convention) since June 1, 1994.

For information concerning travel to Honduras, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Honduras.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here.

 

The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention.  In this capacity, the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Children's Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including Honduras.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority.

Contact information:

U.S. Department of State 
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children's Issues
CA/OCS/CI 
SA-17, 9th Floor 
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone:  1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Website:  travel.state.gov

The Honduran Central Authority for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Dirección de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia (DINAF) and is responsible for processing Hague applications. 

Contact Information:

Dirección de Niñez, Adolescencia y Familia (DINAF)
Programa de Migración y Sustracción Internacional de Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes
Colonia Humuya
Calle La Salud, No 1101 frente a puente desnivel de El Prado
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Telephone number: +504 2239 3131 
Website: www.dinaf.gob.hn
Email: convenciondelahayadinaf@gmail.com

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Honduras, the left-behind parent must submit a Hague application to DINAF through the USCA.  The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to DINAF, and to monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes.

There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the United States or Honduran Central Authority.  Attorney fees, if necessary, are the sole responsibility of the person hiring the attorney.  Additional costs may include, among others, airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained in, Honduras.  The U.S. Department of State can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

A person may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in Honduras. The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country. The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application for access.

Retaining a private attorney is not required to file Hague Convention applications with courts in Honduras.  For Hague return/access applications, public defenders are assigned to represent the Hague Abduction application in the court at no cost.  Public defenders only represent the Hague Abduction Convention applications; they do not represent the interests of a parent. Therefore, parents may want to consider hiring a private attorney to follow up on cases, provide information to courts, and advise on courses of action appropriate for their individual circumstances.  A privately-hired attorney should contact DINAF, the Honduran Central Authority, as soon as possible after the Hague Abduction Convention application has been filed.   

The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras posts a list of attorneys, including those who specialize in family law.

This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the persons or firms on the list. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

Mediation may be available for both abduction and access cases.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: June 26, 2018

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras
Telephone
+(504) 2236-9320 or +(504) 2238-5114
Emergency
 +(504) 2238-5114 or +(504) 2236-9320, extension 4100
Fax
+(504) 2238-4357
Email
USAHonduras@state.gov
Website
https://hn.usembassy.gov/embassy/tegucigalpa/

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