In Honduras, according to the Migration and Alien Law, a refugee is a person who:

1. For fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social or political group, as well as their opinions, and who are outside the country of their nationality and are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of their country due to such fears;
2. Lacking nationality and for the reasons set forth in the preceding paragraph, are outside the country in which they had their habitual residence and are unable or unwilling to return to it;
3. Have fled their country because their life, security or freedom have been threatened due to generalized, serious and continuous violence; war and internal armed conflicts; massive, permanent and systematic violence against human rights; and, who suffer persecution through sexual violence or other forms of gender-based persecution based on human rights violations.
4. All persons who are directly dependent on the refugee and who constitute a family group, and persons accompanying the refugee or who have subsequently joined him/her, provided that they are dependent on him/her, shall also be considered as refugees. If you are unable to return to your country because your life is in danger.

1) You have the right to request protection as a refugee in Honduras in writing or orally at:

• At the National Migration Institute (INM);
• At any INM border post (land, air or sea);
• In case there is no INM office near the locality, you can go to the nearest National Police station.
• Important

When you report your intention to request protection as a refugee, the authorities will give you a form to fill out with your personal information and that of the family accompanying you on the trip.

• If you are a minor (under 21 years of age) and traveling alone, you have the same right as adults to file your application for refugee protection with the same authorities.
• It is important to know that immigration officials and police officers are obliged to:

a) Allow you to explain to them the reasons why you want to apply for protection.

b) Allow you to enter the territory of Honduras, and under no circumstances can they return you to your country. Even if you do not bring your identity documents with you.

c) To help you, providing you with orientation towards the authorities that should know your request.

d) Assist you, without destroying or altering your documents or charging you for any service.

e) For no reason may they destroy your documents or charge you for any service.

• Applicants for refugee status have the right not to be discriminated against for any reason.

You should know that all procedures related to the application process are completely free of charge. No one can ask you for money at any time during the process.

2) After the application:

From the moment of your application, you will be considered an asylum seeker and the National Migration Institute (INM) will process a provisional permit for you as an asylum seeker, valid while a ruling is issued as to whether or not you are recognized as a refugee.

Until your application has received a definitive response, the provisional permit will represent your official identification document in Honduras. With this document you cannot be detained, except in cases of committing a crime. Likewise, your provisional permit will guarantee your right not to be returned to the country where you are afraid to return.

3) The Interview:

• Once you have filed your application with the INM, the INM will inform you of the day and time to conduct an interview. The interview is your opportunity to explain in detail the reasons that forced you to leave your country of origin.
• During the interview, the officers will ask you for information about yourself and your family members. The INM will analyze and verify the information provided through your interview and your case will be analyzed by the INTERNAL COMMISSION FOR THE REVIEW, ANALYSIS AND DECISION OF REFUGEE APPLICATIONS (CIRADR) known as the "Refugee Commission", made up of other national and international institutions. In no case may the INM request or share information with the authorities of your country of origin without your prior permission (including representations abroad such as consulates and embassies of your country in Honduras).

4) Resolution: at the end of the verification phase, the Refugee Commission will issue a decision, granting or denying you refugee status.

• The INM will take care of notifying you of the decision of the Refugee Commission on the application for refugee status.
• In case you have been granted refugee status, you will be provided with a card to prove it.
• You may have access to other rights such as:

a) Request family reunification. Important for the Honduran State.

b) Voluntary repatriation. If the refugee voluntarily declares that he/she wishes to return to his/her country of origin, he/she must do so in writing.

c) Coexistence and local integration. The Honduran authorities shall provide refugees with the facilities and appropriate treatment that will allow them to coexist and integrate into Honduran society.

d) Authorization to travel. The refugee who wishes to travel abroad shall submit an application to the Directorate General of Migration and Aliens, which shall issue the respective travel document. It will not be issued when there are clearly justified reasons of national security or public order.

5) Finally, it is important to note that not all asylum seekers qualify for refugee status. If your application is denied you have the right to file an appeal for reconsideration of the decision. You may also be granted complementary protection on humanitarian grounds.

Important:

Asylum status will be lost for the following reasons:

1. Leaving the country without the corresponding permission from the competent authority.
2. Carrying out acts that endanger the sovereignty and security of the State.
3. For committing acts that threaten the good relations between Honduras and other States.
4. For the commission of crimes within the national territory. In the first case, deportation shall proceed, and in the last three cases, expulsion. In the event that the deportation or expulsion of an asylum seeker is agreed upon, under no circumstances will he/she be handed over to the country whose government claims him/her.
5. While the General Directorate of Immigration and Foreign Affairs is in charge of the case, the Department of International Migration shall authorize the temporary stay of the applicant foreigner for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, extendable for thirty (30) days when necessary.

National Institute of Migration of Honduras: Phone: (504) 2221-0855.

More information here.