Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras (March 21, 2020)
Location: Honduras
Event: The unprecedented health crisis we are experiencing in Honduras is taking place all over the globe. The Embassy has been working to help you get home as soon as possible.
On Friday, March 20, the government of Honduras provided authorization for commercial, charter, and private aircraft to land in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and Roatan to fly out stranded foreigners.
We understand some air carriers have begun setting up those flights. Continue to check with your airline on flight availability.
While the embassy has been in daily contact with airline headquarters, we do not have access to their booking information. You must seek specific flight information from the company you are ticketed with or seeking to purchase a ticket from.
For charter and private flight requests, we can help you with making a request to the Honduran government for landing approval. To do that, we need the following information:
- Aircraft tail number:
- Aircraft type:
- Pilot-in-Command:
- Arrival Date and Time in Honduras
- Departure Date and Location from the United States
- Departure Date, Time, and Location in Honduras
- Passenger list including full names, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and passport expiration date)
- Full names, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and passport expiration date for crew members
- Routing (cities transiting through)
The government of Honduras has been very helpful and flexible in granting these requests. We will work with them to get approval as soon as possible, but please be patient as the government deals with multiple requests. Charter flights shouldn’t depart the United States until they have landing approval and they need at least 24 hours to be approved by the Honduran government.
The government is enforcing a total curfew until at least March 29 in the whole country. Supermarkets, pharmacies, groceries, and other delivery services are authorized to provide delivery service. You can find more information about how to obtain food and medication, as well as other vital information, on our website: hn.usembassy.gov/
On March 20, the government of Honduras announced that foreigners who would like to return to their countries – can depart/travel air or land, with an authorized letter of transit from SINAGER, a government entity similar to FEMA in the United States. The government is still finalizing its procedures for distributing that letter and the embassy in in close contact with them as they do.
U.S. citizens who are present in Honduras should enroll in the Department of State’s SmartTraveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Enrollment in STEP enables the American Citizen Services unit in Tegucigalpa to reach out directly to U.S. citizen in need of assistance. STEP also allows U.S. citizens to receive alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc.
Also, U.S. citizens, especially those in need of medical assistance, should consider contacting 504 Assist, which is a travel insurance provided by the government of Honduras free of charge, as they may be able to assist stranded travelers. The web address and phone numbers are: www.504assist.com, +504 2276-3780 or +1 888-296-9541 (from the United States). They have bilingual operators and are open 24/7.
For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.
You are encouraged to visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Please also visit the website of COVID19honduras.org to see information on entry restrictions, foreign quarantine policies, and urgent health information provided by local governments.
In an emergency, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or call the following numbers: 1(888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions.
Actions to Take:
- Consider returning to your country of residence immediately using whatever commercial means that become available.
- Review and follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus.
- Check with your airline, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.
- Visit our Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’swebsite on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
- Visit Keeping workplaces, homes, schools, or commercial establishments safe.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras:
Telephone: +(504) 2238-5114
After-hours telephone: +(504) 2236-8497
E-mail: usahonduras@state.gov
Webpage: https://hn.usembassy.gov/
State Department – Consular Affairs:
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
