Promote:
Invest in Honduras
A short guide for companies expanding into Honduras: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Honduras at a glance
Population
11 million
The World Bank reports a population of 11,005,850 in 2025.
Source: World Bank, Honduras population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$39.6 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$39,601,409,103.3 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank, Honduras GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$3,598
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$3,598.2 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank, Honduras GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
3.8%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 3.8 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank, Honduras real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
6.3%
Consumer prices rose 6.28 percent over the 12 months to September 2026, according to the central bank.
Source: Central Bank, consumer price index, September 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$881.2 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$881.2 million in 2025, from UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows, Honduras (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Honduran lempira, the unit in which the central bank reports its accounts.
Source: Central Bank of Honduras, Annual Report 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Consejo Nacional de Inversiones (CNI) is the investment promotion body; in September 2026 it said it accompanies 12 companies reinvesting in Honduras.
Source: TNH, CNI reports $400 million executed, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 10, 2026
No operating investor one-stop shop was found; article 42 of Decree 51-2011 tasks the CNI with setting up investor facilitation offices, but no official page shows one.
Source: La Gaceta, Decree 51-2011 investment law, 2011 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 15, 2011
Article 3 of the investment law excludes toxic waste disposal, public-health activities, small-scale industry and commerce, and arms from its scope.
Source: La Gaceta, Decree 51-2011 investment law, 2011 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 15, 2011
Free zones run under the Ley de Zonas Libres (Decreto 356-76), the industrial processing zones law and the ZOLITUR law; no official list or count of zones is published.
Source: Finance Ministry, consolidated exemption regime texts, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Honduras
- Have a notary draw up the company deed, then register it with the commercial registry; the Francisco Morazán registry is run by the Tegucigalpa chamber.Cámara de Comercio e Industrias de Tegucigalpa1 to 2 days response time, per the chamber.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Tegucigalpa chamber, commercial registry page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- A foreign company brings its home-country registration certificate and names a permanent representative resident in Honduras.Cámara de Comercio e Industrias de TegucigalpaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SDE, investor guide 2020-2021, starting a business (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2021
- Register with the tax administration to get the national tax number (RTN).Servicio de Administración de RentasOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SAR, national taxpayer registry (RTN) page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- For food and beverage projects, get the establishment sanitary license from ARSA before you register products.Agencia de Regulación SanitariaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ARSA, frequently asked questions (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Foreign business owners and contract employees apply for a special stay permit through the migration institute.Instituto Nacional de MigraciónUS$100 per year plus L 200 for the certification; about 30 days (2020-2021 guide).Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SDE, investor guide 2020-2021, legal aspects (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2021
- To use a special regime such as a free zone or the Temporary Import Regime, apply through the SDE.Secretaría de Desarrollo EconómicoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SDE, special regimes and productive sectors page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Check profit transfers and currency sales against the investment law and the central bank rules.Banco Central de HondurasOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: La Gaceta, Decree 51-2011 investment law, 2011 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of July 15, 2011
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with CNI. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
National investment promotion council
CNI
Consejo Nacional de Inversiones
Promotes Honduras to investors and accompanies companies through administrative steps for new and reinvestment projects.
Visit CNI (opens in a new tab)Source: TNH, CNI reports $400 million executed, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 10, 2026
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCIT
Cámara de Comercio e Industrias de Tegucigalpa
Runs the commercial registry for Francisco Morazán, where companies there must register, and offers membership services.
Visit CCIT (opens in a new tab)Source: Tegucigalpa chamber, commercial registry page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BCH
Banco Central de Honduras
Authorizes the export declaration that every exporter files and sets the exchange rules for selling export proceeds.
Visit BCH (opens in a new tab)Source: Central Bank of Honduras, export declaration page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax administration
SAR
Servicio de Administración de Rentas
Registers taxpayers and issues the national tax number (RTN) that companies need for trade and investment filings.
Visit SAR (opens in a new tab)Source: SAR, national taxpayer registry (RTN) page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Finance ministry
SEFIN
Secretaría de Finanzas
Administers exemption regimes such as the Temporary Import Regime and publishes consolidated texts of the special tax regimes.
Visit SEFIN (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance Ministry, statement on Temporary Import Regime, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 13, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Industrial association
ANDI
Asociación Nacional de Industriales de Honduras
Represents industry, and the SDE sheet says its office sells the form for the generalized preferences certificate of origin.
Visit ANDI (opens in a new tab)Source: SDE, requirements for generalized preferences origin certificate (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Maquila industry association
AHM
Asociación Hondureña de Maquiladores
Represents about 330 member companies in textile and apparel manufacturing and automotive harnesses, with legal advice and training.
Visit AHM (opens in a new tab)Source: Honduran Manufacturers Association, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Get advice
Business federation
COHEP
Consejo Hondureño de la Empresa Privada
Brings together business organizations and takes private-sector positions on economic policy with the government.
Visit COHEP (opens in a new tab)Source: COHEP, home page with October 2026 news (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCIC
Cámara de Comercio e Industrias de Cortés
Organizes trade missions and business meetings and runs a business portal that gathers procedures from several institutions.
Visit CCIC (opens in a new tab)Source: Cortés chamber of commerce, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
United States tariffs on Honduras
Since July 24, 2026, Honduran goods face an added 10 percent Section 301 duty in the United States, with exemptions such as free-entry textiles and apparel under the trade agreement.
What to do: Check the heading and your agreement claim in the CBP guidance before you quote a buyer.
Sources: CBP, Section 301 forced labor duties guidance, July 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab); USTR, forced labor Section 301 action, July 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Inflation above target range
Annual inflation was 6.28 percent in September 2026, above the central bank tolerance range of 4.0 percent plus or minus 1 percentage point.
What to do: Review price clauses and cost forecasts in contracts that run past the next quarter.
Sources: Central Bank, consumer price index, September 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); Central Bank, consumer price index, December 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Electricity
The Ley de Justicia Energética, Decree 198-2026, took effect on publication in La Gaceta on September 29, 2026, and bars ENEE tariff increases for six months, which Congress may extend.
What to do: Read the decree and the regulator's tariff rules before you size power-heavy projects.
Sources: La Gaceta, Decree 198-2026, energy justice law, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); TNH, CNI presents 2026 strategy, June 16, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
The investment law excludes toxic waste, public-health activities, small-scale industry and commerce, and arms, and land within 40 kilometers of borders and coasts is reserved to Hondurans by birth.
What to do: Ask a Honduran lawyer whether your project touches a reserved activity or a land restriction.
Sources: La Gaceta, Decree 51-2011 investment law, 2011 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); SDE, Honduras list in treaty Annex I (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more
Special regimes change
Decree 2-2026 extended Temporary Import Regime benefits by five fiscal periods for companies whose 12-year term ended on December 30, 2025.
What to do: Confirm with the Finance Ministry whether your project can enter or renew a special regime.
Sources: La Gaceta, Decree 2-2026, Temporary Import Regime, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); Finance Ministry, statement on Temporary Import Regime, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Honduras with other countriesSet Honduras beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Honduras is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.