Canadians planning trips to Central America should take note of updated travel advisories for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which highlight new guidance on the rules governing travel between the four countries.
Under the Central America-4 Border Control Agreement (CA-4), Canadian tourists can travel freely between these nations for up to 90 days without having to undergo entry and exit formalities at each border. However, each country applies the agreement slightly differently, and travellers are advised to understand the rules clearly before their trip.
The CA-4 treaty, in place since 2006, allows movement between the four countries without repeated visa checks, but visitors must still stop at immigration counters upon entering and exiting. The length of your stay is determined by immigration officers at your first point of entry and is not automatically set at 90 days.
While Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua may grant stays of up to 180 days, and Honduras allows up to 120 days, the overall CA-4 region stay is limited to 90 days unless you receive an official extension. Extensions granted in one country do not automatically carry over to the others. Once your authorized stay ends, you must either apply to change your status, leave the CA-4 region, or travel to El Salvador, where an additional stay of up to 180 days may be possible. Failure to comply can result in fines and a requirement to leave within five days.
The updated travel advisory for Guatemala clarifies that while tourists and business travellers do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days, students do. Extensions can be requested through the Guatemalan Migration Institute, and business travellers staying more than six months must apply for a visa.
In Honduras, immigration officials now stamp passports with the number of authorized days upon entry, and the 90-day period is not guaranteed. Canadians are reminded to ensure their passports are stamped and to take note of their total authorized stay.
The Canadian government issued these updated advisories on October 3 to help travellers avoid confusion and potential penalties when moving through the region. Canadians can consult the official Travel Canada website for complete and up-to-date information on each country’s entry and stay requirements.