The government of Costa Rica has decided to impose the visa for Honduran travelers. The decision went into effect on Tuesday, citing security reasons. Costa Rica's Minister of Security, Mario Zamora, told journalists that the measure had been adopted "for security reasons".
A response to the increase in criminal groups
The Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs informed his Honduran counterpart that the new visa requirement was a response to a request from the Honduran government. increase in criminal groups in the coastal town of Limon and the arrival of Honduran criminals. According to Enrique Reina, the Honduran Minister of Foreign Affairs, this measure was taken in order to combat the rise in insecurity.
Honduras counters with the principle of reciprocity
Just a few hours after Costa Rica introduced this measure, the Honduras also imposed a similar requirement based on the principle of reciprocity. Costa Rican nationals now also need a visa to travel to Honduras. This rapid response shows how worrying the situation is for both countries, and raises serious security issues.
The consequences for travellers
With these new visa requirements, travellers of both nationalities will have to organize accordingly and meet the documentary requirements for travel to the other country. There could be potential delays in travel between the two countries, especially during the first few weeks following the implementation of these measures.
Other possible impacts
Beyond the effects on individual travelers, relations between the two nations could be affected by these new visa requirements. Commercial, cultural and tourist exchanges could slow down or even suffer in the short term, until the authorities find a more permanent solution to the security problems.
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