Marrying and Sponsoring a Honduran
Listen to this articleMarriage to a Honduran Citizen
Every country own laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country. Getting married to a Honduran citizen with the goal of eventually bringing them to Canada to live is a process with many steps.
You must demonstrate to Honduran officials that they are not currently married to anyone else – either you have never been married, or all divorces are finalized – that your identity is proven and that you have never committed any crimes in Honduras. This is done by providing various documents, including an Affidavit of Single Status, to the Honduran government either in Honduras or via a Honduran embassy.
If you want to bring your Honduran spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for a visitor visa. For more information, please see our family sponsorship page and our visitor visa page.
Honduran Marriage Basic Requirements
Registro Civil or Civil Registry in Honduras will produce a marriage certificate after legally marrying a couple under the laws (and presentation of required documents).
If you are not a Honduran citizen, you will be required to produce the following documents:
- A valid passport
- A certified copy of your birth certificate (1)
- A certified copy of your police record (2)
- An Affidavit of Single Status (3)
If you are marrying a Honduran citizen, your future spouse will require the following documents:
- A Honduran identity card (“tarjeta de Identidad”)
- A Certificate of Single Status issued by the Civil Registry (“Certificado de Soltería del Registro Civil”)
If you have been married before, you will require these additional documents:
- A certified copy of the divorce decree (1) or
- A certified copy of your previous spouse’s death (1)
Note: You will need two witnesses to your wedding, non-relatives preferred. They must have the following documents:
For non-Honduran citizens:
- A valid passport for at least six months
For Honduran citizens:
- A Honduran Identity card (“Cédula de Identidad”)
Marriages legally performed and valid in Honduras are also legally valid in other countries.
Your marriage will be legally recognized in the Canada when you or your lawyer who performed the ceremony submits your marriage certificate with the appropriate certifications to the Canadian Embassy in Honduras.
Family Members
If your Honduran spouse has dependent children, this does not affect the Honduran Marriage document application.
If you have dependent children, they have no effect on the application to marry a Honduran citizen.
List of Honduran Consulates in Canada
Calling Honduras from Canada
To make a direct call to Honduras from Canada, you need to follow the international dialling format given below. The dialling format is the same when calling Honduras mobile or land line from Canada.
Dial 011 – 504 – prefix – local number
Follow the dialling format shown above while calling Honduras from Canada.
- 011 – Exit code for Canada, and is needed for making any international call from Canada
- 504– ISD Code or Country Code of Honduras
- Prefix – Honduras uses the prefix “2” for landlines and four separate prefixes for cells.
Landlines
Dial 011 – 504 – 2 – 3 digit area prefix + remainder of telephone number. Each area in Honduras has a prefix that follows the pattern 2200, 2201, 2202 up to 2899. These prefixes are included in the 8-digit local telephone number.
Cells
The prefix is determined by which company the phone service is with:
- Dial 9 + seven-digit number for calls placed to subscribers of Celtel (Tigo)
- Dial 8 + seven-digit number for calls placed to subscribers of Digicel Honduras
- Dial 7 + seven-digit number for calls placed to subscribers of Hondutel
- Dial 3 + seven-digit number for calls placed to subscribers of Sercom (Claro)
How to Call Canada From Honduras
To make a direct call to Canada from Honduras, you need to follow the international dialling format given below. The dialling format is the same when calling Canada mobile or land line from Honduras.
To call Canada From Honduras Dial
- 00 – 1 – Area Code – TEL #
- Follow the dialling format shown above while calling Canada from Honduras.
- 00 – Exit code for Honduras, and is needed for making any international call from Honduras
- 1 – ISD Code or Country Code of Canada
Area codes
There are numerous area codes in Canada. The area code is the first three digits of your telephone number.
| Province | Code | Province | Code |
| Alberta | 403 / 587 (southern Alberta)
587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta) |
Nunavut | 867 |
| BC | 236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC)
236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver) |
Ontario | 226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario)
249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario) |
| Manitoba | 204 / 431 | PEI | 782 / 902 |
| New Brunswick | 506 | Quebec | 418 / 581 (eastern Quebec)
438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 709 | Saskatchewan | 306 / 639 |
| Northwest Territories | 867 | Yukon | 867 |
| Nova Scotia | 782 / 902 |
Time Difference
Honduras is in the Central Standard Time Zone. They do not participate in Daylight Saving Time.
| Canadian Time Zone | # of Hours Honduras is Ahead or Behind | # of Hours during DST |
| Pacific (BC, Yukon) | 2 hours ahead | 1 hour ahead |
| Mountain (Alberta, western Nunvaut, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan) | 1 hour ahead | Same Time |
| Saskatchewan | Same Time | Same Time |
| Central (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, central Nunavut, northwestern Ontario) | Same Time | 1 hour behind |
| Eastern (most of Ontario, most of Quebec) | 1 hour behind | 2 hours behind |
| Atlantic (Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, eastern Quebec) | 2 hours behind | 3 hours behind |
| Newfoundland | 2.5 hours | 3.5 hours behind |
Emergency Information for Canadians in Honduras
Office of the Embassy of Canada in TegucigalpaCentro Financiero CITI, 3rd Floor Postal Address: Telephone: (504) 2232-4551 |
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Embassy of Canada in San JoseLa Sabana Executive Business Centre, Building No. 5, 3rd Floor Postal Address: Telephone: 506 2242-4400
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Government of Canada’s Travel Alerts for Honduras
Honduran Money
The lempirais the currency of Honduras. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. The lempira was named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned in Honduran folklore for leading the (ultimately unsuccessful) local native resistance against the Spanish conquistador forces. He is a national hero, and is honoured on both the 1 lempira note and the 20 and 50 centavos coins.
The lempira was introduced in 1931, replacing the peso at par. In the late 1980s, the exchange rate was two lempiras to the U.S. dollar. As of July 18th, 2011, the lempira was quoted at 18.875 HNL to 1 USD. U.S. dollars are widely accepted as currency on the Bay Islands, but the mainland mainly deals in Lempiras. Businesses in major tourist centers on the mainland will also generally accept dollars.
Source: ExchangeRates.org.uk
Coins
In 1931, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 20 & 50 centavos & 1 lempira. 1, 2 & 10 centavos coins were added in 1935, 1939 & 1932 respectively. The silver 1 lempira coins ceased production in 1937, with the other silver coins (20 & 50 centavos) replaced by cupro-nickel in 1967.
Banknotes
The Bank of Honduras and the BancoAtlantida issued the first lempira banknotes in 1932. They were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 lempiras. The Central Bank of Honduras took over production of paper money in 1950, introducing 50 lempiras notes in 1951. In 1975, 100 lempiras notes were added, followed by 500 lempiras in 1995.
In January, 2010, a new 20 Lempira note was introduced to market made by a polymer base, 60 million notes were issued.
Banknotes in circulation are:
- The Honduran L1 Banknote depicts on the front Lempira who was a war captain of the Lencas of western Honduras in Central America during the 1530s, when he led resistance to Francisco de Montejo’s attempts to conquer and incorporate the region into the province of Honduras.
- The Honduran L2 Banknote depicts on the front Marco Aurelio Soto who was President of Honduras from 27 August 1876 until 19 October 1883. He was known as a liberal. He was a reforming President and had a great impact on the Honduras of his time, including the establishment of the Biblioteca Nacional de Honduras in 1880.
- The Honduran L5 Banknote depicts on the front Francisco Morazán who was born in Honduras and was the first Central American president and united Central America in different periods of time from 1827 to 1842 during turbulent times after its Independence from Spain.
- The Honduran L10 Banknote depicts on the frontJose Trinidad Cabañas who served as President of Honduras for two separate terms: From 1 March to 6 July 1852. And 31 December 1853 to 6 June 1855. He was a General and liberal politician whose role in Honduran history began during the Civil War 1826-29. He became a Central America hero, when he attempted to reunite Central America, during Francisco Morazán’s tenure and after the unionist’s death.
- The Honduran L20 Banknote depicts on the frontDionisio de Herrera who was a Liberal Honduran politician, head of state of Honduras from 1824 to 1827 and head of state of Nicaragua from 1830 to 1833. During his terms, Honduras and Nicaragua were states within the Federal Republic of Central America. Herrera was an uncle of the Liberal Central American general Francisco Morazán.
- The Honduran L50 Banknote depicts on the frontJuan Manuel Galvez who was President of Honduras from 1 January 1949 until 5 December 1954. His election, for the National Party of Honduras (PNH), ended the 16-year dictatorship of Tiburcio Carías Andino.
- The Honduran L100 Banknote depicts on the front Jose Cecilio del Vallewas a philosopher, politician, lawyer, and journalist and one of the most important figures in Central America during the transition from colonial government to independence, displaying a wide-ranging expertise in public administration management
- The Honduran L100 Banknote depicts on the frontRamon Rosa
Honduran Wedding Customs
In Honduras, three forms of marriage are accepted; the religious, the civil and the free unions. The type of marriage couple chooses will usually depend on their wealth. Generally upper class will go with the religious, where the middle-to-low will settle for the civil service. For Hondurans, the ideal marriage includes a formal engagement, a religious wedding ceremony and then a large festive fiesta. Also, both monogamy and polygamy are accepted in Honduras, but only if the male can afford to have many brides.
Church weddings are the most traditional marriage celebrations in Honduras. The bride wears a white wedding gown and is attended by bridesmaids. The groom wears a grey or black suit with a white shirt and tie, and he is supported by a best man and groomsmen
Many wedding practices in Honduras are similar to those of the western world, for example, the traditional wedding ceremony exchange of rings, the wedding cake and the reception attended by friends and extended family are mainly of the Western world.
The Honduras’ wedding is always characterized by music, dance, songs, food and drinks. The speeches and toasts are always undertaken by the father of the bride, best man and the groom. It is the duty of the best man to read out telegrams, letters cards and faxes from absent well-wishers on this occasion.
Traditionally Hondurans’ wedding ceremonies and receptions include all members of the bride’s as well as the groom’s families. The reception is always held at a venue often set aside for this sole purpose by the couples. Sometimes Honduras’ wedding receptions may sometimes take place at the wedding venue or a place hired specifically for the purposes of the reception.
Generally marriage in Honduras is based on the Western ideal of falling in love. There are few formal rules prohibiting marriage with people of different social backgrounds, although people tend to marry neighbours or people they meet at school or work. Almost everyone eventually marries or lives with someone and has children. Founding a household is a financial struggle for most couples in Hondursa, and so women’s earnings are appreciated. Divorce and remarriage are fairly common and are slightly stigmatized. Monogamy is the formal rule, although a middle-aged man who can afford to may set up a separate house with a younger woman. If they find out about the younger women, most wives find the idea disgusting and threatening to the marriage.
The ideal household of a couple and their children in Honduras is not always possible. When young couples cannot afford housing after they marry, they may live with their parents until they have several children of their own. As in other Latin American countries, when a couple marries, their new family assumes both of their names. For example, if a woman named María García marries a man named Carlos Martínez, they and their children become the Martínez-García family.
Since majority of Hondurans are Catholics, couples normally have a Wedding Rosary during wedding ceremony. Basically, the maternal grandmothers place a side of a Lazo (Lasso) rosary on the bride and the groom. It symbolizes Christ being the centre of the Marriage and is for hopes that prayer will always be a part of their marriage.
Wedding Food
Tortillas
Tortillas are a mealtime staple in Honduras. Tortilla chips served with a combination of cheese, cornmeal and bell pepper make a popular appetizer; tortilla chips are also served with a bean dip. Balleadas, or wheat tortillas stuffed with cheese and beans, are a filling main dish.
Carne Asada
Carne asada is a grilled beef dish enjoyed throughout Central America. Recipes can be elaborate, but the most common way to enjoy the dish is to prepare the meat with a combination of onions and citrus juice.
Soups and Stews
Honduran people take advantage of the area’s available food supply to make filling soups and stews. Sopa de Caracol is a soup made from conch, coconuts and other native fruits and vegetables. Tapado is a stew made from meat or fish, vegetables and coconut. Cilantro is a common herb in Honduran soups and stews.
Native Fruits and Vegetables
Fried plantains are a popular dish in Honduras. Other fruits native to the country are mangoes, coconuts, avocados and citrus fruits. Honduran cooks often use pineapple to make a homemade fruit vinegar to use in vinaigrettes and salads. Honduran cooking is also known for its use of corn, beans and peppers.
Wedding Presents
You must declare all gifts to the Canada Border Services Agency. Gifts worth CDN $60 or less each may be brought into Canada duty-free and tax-free, but they must be declared. For gifts worth more than CDN $60, you may have to pay duties and taxes on the excess amount. Tobacco and alcohol cannot be imported as gifts.
Wedding gifts
If you got married in Honduras within three months before coming to Canada or if you plan to marry no later than three months after arriving in the country, you can bring in your wedding gifts free of duty and taxes. However, you must have owned and possessed the gifts while in Iceland and before you arrived in Canada. At this instance, the requirement to have used the goods does not apply. These same conditions apply to household goods you bring in as part of a bride’s trousseau from Honduras.
Ownership, possession and use requirements
To import goods duty- and tax-free, settlers must have owned, possessed and used the goods prior to their arrival in Canada and Former Residents must have owned, possessed and used the goods for at least six months before returning to resume residency from Honduras.
It is important that you meet these three requirements. For example, if you owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods will be subjected to duty and taxes. Please note that leased goods are subject to duty and taxes because the Canada Border Services Agency does not consider that you own them. If you have bills of sale and registration documents, they can help you prove that you meet these requirements
Declaring your goods
You must give your list of goods to the border services officer when you arrive at your first point of entry in Canada from Iceland even if you have no goods with you at the time. The officer will complete a Form B4 , Personal Effects Accounting Document, assign a file number to it and give you a copy of the completed form as a receipt based on the list of goods you submit. To claim free importation of your unaccompanied goods when they arrive, you will need to present your copy of this form. Goods to follow may be subject to import restrictions before you can import them.
To facilitate the clearance process, you can complete Form B4, before your arrival at the first port of entry in Canada.
Romantic, Historic and Scenic Places in Honduras
Honduras has a wide variety of activities for travellers to experience, making it one of the more popular destinations to visit in Central America. Activities range from hiking in the numerous national parks, walking amongst the ancient Mayan ruins in Copan, Bird Watching, strolling through the colonial towns, and most popularly heading to the coast to encounter the beaches of Honduras. Honduras has two coastlines, a small Pacific coastline, and a much larger Caribbean coastline in the north of the country. The best beaches that the country has to offer can be found on the Caribbean coast and those located on the Bay Islands.
Hotels and Resorts
InterContinental Real Tegucigalpa
2005 World Travel Awards winner, the hotel Real InterContinental Tegucigalpa is strategically located in the new center of the city, in front of the biggest mall in Tegucigalpa, the Multiplaza. The International Airport Toncontin is just 7 miles away or 15 minutes driving from the hotel. The hotel Real InterContinental Tegucigalpa offers 157 spacious guest rooms fully equipped with high speed Internet access and wireless phones. The Club InterContinental 8th and 9th floors have 37 deluxe guest rooms. All the rooms have private access and desktop PC with flat screen (Internet included). The exclusive hotel services include 24 hours business centre, 24 hours room service, fitness facilities, massage room and outdoor pool. Splendid dining at Restaurant Azulejos with international cuisine and for more casual evenings, enjoy relaxing at the Bar Scenario. The hotel Real InterContinental Tegucigalpa features 8 meeting spaces with 750 square meters of event space, with bilingual friendly staff, advanced technology, video conference and high speed Internet.
Lodge at Pico Bonito
A luxury eco-lodge located between the 8,000 foot high Pico Bonito Mountains and the Caribbean sea. The 200 acre mountainside lodge adjoins the national park and has views of Nombre de Dios.
Banarama Diving Resort – Roatan
Bananarama is the perfect refuge from the condos being built along West Bay. They have private cabins and suites with either A/C or fans, TV (with whatever channels Roatan can get), a fridge, and a microwave. Visitors can call home or access their email from their main office. Trees and tropical fauna surround the resort so visitors can really feel like they are in a secluded area when they are at Bananarama. The beach is a few steps away, and West End is accessible by taxi from the dock off the cabins.
Paya Bay Bay Resort – Roatan
Paya Bay is a secluded boutique resort on the North East side of Roatan. Since the resort only has 10 rooms, visitors are guaranteed a peaceful vacation. Paya Bay resort has 2 private beaches that visitors can also enjoy. Visitors can spend their days scuba diving and enjoying the pristine coral reef.
Treasure Hunter Huts – Roatan
This is extremely unique place and difficult to describe. Two bamboo huts with about six beds each, some on the ground floor and some requiring ladders are the free accommodations provided to divers.
Although they sound like bunk beds the amount of room between is more like a two-story A-frame house. Restrooms and showers are in another building. Unless a visitor happens to come with others, he/she will have the hut to himself/herself.
The grounds are like having your own private yard in the country. A large grassy lawn complete with hammocks stretched between the cashew trees, a wild white bunny, domestic cat, chickens and roosters surround visitors. The plantain, bananas, and mango trees on the perimeter will be just part of visitor’s morning breakfast.
In the middle of the yard is huge oven used to make pizzas and homemade bread. Meals are eaten under a huge palapa with long tables and several chairs. Wolfgang served up various combinations of mango juice, banana bread, pancakes, and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Dinners included spaghetti, German potato pancakes (my favorite), pizza and others.Steps lead down to the beach and the dock where the skiff is tied up that takes visitors out to the treasure hunter boat.
InterContinental Real San Pedro Sula
Hotel Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula is certificated as the only five star hotel in the country by the Honduran Tourism Institute. The Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula is strategically located near one of the largest Malls in the city of San Pedro Sula, Mall Multiplaza, just at 7 miles from Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport. Minutes away from the commercial district, Bank areas, industrial parks manufacturing which is ideal for business travelers. Only 5 minutes from nightlife, Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and Casinos. In 2005, the Hotel recently renovated the public areas including the Lobby, Fitness Centre, Business Centre, Vertigo Bar and Bambu Restaurant which offers a variety of international and national cuisine. Exclusive hotel services include a 24 hour business center, room service, valet service and a fitness center. The hoteloffesr the best options with different packages for weekends and special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, honeymoon and seasonal packages. Hotel Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula features the best place for business and social events.
Scenic Places
Guanaja
Guanaja is the second largest island of the Bay Islands; it is thought to be the forgotten island, as tourists do not frequently visit it. However, along with the main island there are approximately 15 smaller cays. Miles of natural reef encompasses the island and the surrounding cays. The island is covered in pine forests with numerous walking trails. The beaches on the north side of the island span huge distances. The waters here offer excellent conditions for snorkelling and swimming.
Pico Bonito National Park
Dense tropical jungle foliage, wildlife, and birds; high waterfalls with swimming pools at their feet, Located off the Caribbean coast, Pico Bonito is the largest park in Honduras.
Half Moon Bay – Roatan
When arriving in the town of West End the first thing you see is the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Half Moon Bay is located at the entrance of the popular town of West End in Roatan. The town of West End is a small settlement consisting of one street, which has been built along the edge of the water. The waters are clean, and the reef passes right into the mouth of this bay, and makes it a great and easily accessible place to snorkel. Many travellers have been lucky enough to see turtles and rays from these waters.
West Bay Beach – Roatan
A ferry or short plane ride away from La Ceiba are the Bay Islands, the largest one being Roatan. Pristine coral reef and gorgeous tropical beaches surround Roatan. West Bay is one of Roatan’s best beaches; it has everything a tropical beach should offer. It is one and half kilometres of shimmering white sand, with palm trees scattered along the beach, and clean turquoise waters. At the far end of the beach, the coral reef makes contact with the open sea and makes it a great place to snorkel and experience swimming with the local marine life. The waters are calm, and ideal for swimming or snorkelling. West Bay is located 4km south of the popular town of West End, and is easily accessible from this town by walking or by boat, therefore making it a great place to relax away from this busier town.
Trujillo
Trujillo is one of the oldest settlements in Honduras, and is famed for its beautiful palm laced beaches and gentle waters which the bay protects. The town is never overcrowded with flocks of tourists, mainly due to its more isolated location, making it an ideal destination for those wanting to enjoy a beach without having to share it with too many people. The beach directly in front of the town is clean and a safe place to relax. However the best beaches in Trujillo can be found near the airstrip. The beach also stretches on either side of the town. Towering over Trujillo are a range of mountains called Cerro Calentura, which is part of the Capiro and Calentura National Park where visitors can follow several trails through the tropical forest.
Sponsoring Your Honduran Spouse to Canada
The sponsorship process can be a long and complicated one. To learn more about the ins and outs, click the button below:
Sponsorship Review
Immigroup will review your completed spousal sponsorship application. . Immigroup will make sure you have not made any mistakes on your application or in gathering the documentation of your relationship. We will assess your sponsorship letter and give you peace of mind that you are submitting an application with a very good chance of success. Don’t lose sleep at night worrying about whether you’ve done enough. Call us at 1-866-760-2623 for a review.
