All of the countries in Central America require a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country. If you’re traveling to a Central American nation from an area with any risk of yellow fever (like Panama’s Kuna Yala region), you’ll also need to provide a vaccination certificate. Generally, visas are not needed in most countries unless you plan on extending your stay for more than 90 days.
Several nations are part of the Central America-4 (CA-4) Border Control Agreement, which simplifies travel regulations. Under this agreement, eligible foreign visitors can travel within El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua for up to 90 days without fulfilling entry and exit formalities at border checkpoints. The CA-4 entry agreements can only be extended once. Moreover, travelers can leave the member countries for 72 hours and return to apply for a new 90-day allowance. It is important to note that if they overstay without obtaining the necessary extension, they could face fines.
Costa Rica
All travelers need a valid passport to enter Costa Rica, ideally with more than six months’ validity and ample blank pages. Nationals from the USA, Canada, Australia, Britain, and the European Union do not require visas for stays of fewer than 90 days. However, if you plan to stay longer, it’s necessary to acquire a tourist visa for $160 USD and exit Costa Rica for at least 72 hours before re-entering. Technically, travelers should demonstrate they have over $500 USD in their bank account upon entry, though this is seldom verified.
Honduras
To enter Honduras, all travelers must present a passport valid for at least three months post-entry, in addition to a return ticket. As part of the CA-4, Honduras allows tourists to move between Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala for up to 90 days without handling immigration formalities at the borders.
El Salvador
All travelers must possess a passport to enter El Salvador, which should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry, and also a return ticket. Nationals from Canada, Greece, Portugal, and the USA are required to purchase a tourist card for $10 USD on entry, which is valid for 30 days. Tourists from Australia and Britain do not require a visa.
Panama
Travelers must hold a passport valid for a minimum of six months to enter Panama. Occasionally, proof of a return ticket and at least $500 USD in available funds may be required. Nationals from the USA, Australia, and Canada are issued tourist cards that allow for stays of up to 30 days. Given that these tourist cards only cost $5 USD, they are often included in international airfare. Therefore, be sure to check with your airline’s ticketing agent at the airport to see if your flight already covers the tourist card.
Guatemala
To enter Guatemala, all travelers need a passport valid for at least six months. A visa is not required if you’re staying for less than 90 days, per the CA-4 agreement.
Belize
Entering Belize requires a valid passport that extends six months beyond the date of arrival. Though travelers are expected to prove they have a minimum of $60 USD per day for entry, this requirement is often overlooked. All tourists and non-Belizean citizens must pay an exit fee of $55.50 USD, typically included in airfare for American travelers. If it’s not included, you’ll need to pay this fee in cash at the airport. For those crossing the border into Guatemala or Mexico, the exit fee drops to $20 USD.
Nicaragua
A valid passport is required for all travelers entering Nicaragua; for all countries except the USA, the passport must be valid for at least six months. Travelers can obtain tourist cards upon arrival for $10 USD, valid for up to 90 days. Additionally, a departure tax of $32 USD must be paid when leaving the country.
